A federal judge in Missouri sided with Dollar Tree and liquid breath drops manufacturer Oralabs in an insurer's declaratory judgment action, finding that a total pollution exclusion did not bar coverage in an underlying products liability suit.

In a Sept. 20 opinion, U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry of the Eastern District of Missouri, determined that the plaintiff, Atain Specialty Insurance Co., failed to show that it did not owe coverage or a duty to defend Oralab's product in underlying litigation brought on behalf of a toddler who consumed the liquid breath drops. The product was distributed and sold by Greenbriar and Dollar Tree, which were also named as defendants.