Larry Golub was quoted in an Aug. 9, 2012, article by The Recorder (subscription required) on the state Supreme Court ruling in State of California v. Continental Insurance, involving the cleanup of the Stringfellow Acid Pits, a notorious hazardous waste site in Riverside County. The court ruled that the insurance company defendants must pay “all sums” due on the insurance policies. It also allowed for the “stacking” of policies.

While considered a blow to insurance companies, the court did say that insurers could include anti-stacking clauses in future policies and rules to limit indemnity.

"Assuming an insurance company puts that language in there, and it's clear and unambiguous ... that may be a way to solve the problem for insurance companies," Golub said. "But a lot of these cases go back a long time."

Click here to read Mr. Golub's full analysis of the decision.