Nautilus sues over Ohio River demolition mess
Nautilus Insurance Company sued three defendants in federal court after a smokestack demolition sent concrete into the Ohio River. MCM Management hired Advantage Blasting & Demolition in April 2018 to bring down a 450-foot structure at the Duke Energy Beckjord Power Plant in Clermont County. The contractor was required to carry liability coverage and name MCM as an additional insured on both general and pollution policies.
About 75 cubic yards of debris landed in the river on February 26, 2021, when the demolition missed its target zone. The Army Corps of Engineers ordered cleanup and threatened daily fines under the Clean Water Act. MCM hired contractors to locate and remove the concrete using barges, cranes, and divers.
Nautilus paid most of the cleanup expenses and filed suit against Advantage Blasting, Everest Indemnity Insurance Company, and Tokio Marine Specialty Insurance Company. The insurer claims the contractor breached its agreement, and the other two companies failed to cover costs despite MCM being listed as an additional insured. The case seeks to recover more than 75,000 dollars.
