John Marshall Law School v. National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh

# Plain English Summary: John Marshall Law School v. National Union Fire Insurance **What Happened** John Marshall Law School had an insurance policy with National Union Fire Insurance Company. A dispute arose about whether the school's insurance covered legal claims related to employment discrimination. The disagreement centered on whether an EEOC complaint (a formal discrimination charge filed with the government) and a follow-up lawsuit counted as one claim or two separate claims under the policy. **What the Court Decided** The court found the insurance policy's language was unclear on this point. Because the wording was ambiguous, the court ruled the ambiguity should be interpreted in the school's favor, not the insurance company's. The court allowed the breach of contract case to move forward. However, the court dismissed other parts of the school's lawsuit seeking monetary damages and declaring the insurer acted badly. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that when insurance policies use unclear language about employment claims, courts will side with the person or organization filing the claim, not the insurance company. This principle can protect workers whose employers have insurance disputes, potentially ensuring better access to legal representation and coverage for employment discrimination cases.