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Daniel International Corporation v. Travelers Indemnity Company — 4th Cir. (Oct 27, 2026)

No. 25-2082 Argued October 27, 2026 Published October 29, 2026

The Fourth Circuit considers whether liability insurance must provide a defense in a dispute over asbestos claims. Daniel International, a construction company, was sued for indemnification over asbestos-related injury claims. Indemnification means covering another party's losses under an obligation to do so. Daniel sought a defense from its liability insurer, but the South Carolina federal district court found no duty to defend. It reasoned that the underlying suit sought a declaration of contractual rights, rather than damages. A declaratory judgment states the parties' legal rights and obligations. The appeal concerns a defense against the indemnity suit, not an award to the asbestos claimants. John Wilson represents Daniel. Michael Scavelli represents the insurers. The central question is whether the kind of relief requested takes that suit outside the defense coverage.

Daniel International Corporation v. Travelers Indemnity Company (No. 25-2082) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, argued October 27, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — official Fourth Circuit original:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/OAarchive/mp3/25-2082-20261027.mp3
Official recording, argument date and arguing counsel — October 27, 2026:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/oral-argument/oral-argument-audio-files
Official argument calendar — 25-2082, October 27, 2026:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/cal/internetcalOct272026.pdf
Asbestos-indemnity background and prior no-duty-to-defend ruling — Hope Patti, Law360, August 12, 2025; public summary, not the outcome of this appeal:https://www.law360.com/insurance-authority/articles/2376113/travelers-units-freed-from-builder-s-asbestos-injury-dispute
Appeal and counsel entries — public appellate docket:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca4/25-2082
Indemnification — Cornell Legal Information Institute:https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/indemnify
Declaratory relief under South Carolina law — S.C. Code §§ 15-53-20, 15-53-30 and 15-53-40:https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c053.php
Federal declaratory remedy — 28 U.S.C. § 2201:https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/2201

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