Insurance group won't back school district in lead fight

Here is one of the case that makes insurance face looks bad. The Island Trees School District's insurance carrier won't defend the district against a family's claims that their four children have developed health problems from exposure to lead contamination in the high school.

In a letter sent last month, the insurance carrier, New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal (NYSIR), said that school officials knew or should have known of the lead contamination and that the district's policy, like most, excludes coverage for certain claims related to exposure to pollutants.

The refusal means the district could have to pay damages if a lawsuit results from the family's claims and a court later rules in their favor.

The claim, filed by Brian and Lisa Kelty of Levittown, says their four children have suffered "various and several injuries" from the presence of lead. It did not specify the injuries other than "emotional trauma."