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Great American seeks court ruling on YMCA abuse coverage timing
Great American told the court the alleged abuse at a YMCA camp occurred decades before the policies at issue took effect, and it is seeking a declaration of no coverage.
Great American insurance companies have asked a federal court to rule they owe nothing to the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties in connection with a child sexual abuse lawsuit, arguing coverage turns on timing rather than the seriousness of the alleged conduct, Insurance Business reports.
The coverage dispute centers on allegations that a YMCA employee “groomed and sexually abused” the claimant, identified as A.C., at a YMCA-operated camp in approximately 1979 to 1980, when A.C. was around nine or ten years old.
The underlying complaint, filed in June 2026 and supported by allegations that the YMCA knew or should have known about the employee’s danger to children, also claims the organization concealed the abuse to protect its reputation and prevent other victims from coming forward.
In the coverage case filed September 23, 2026 in the Western District of Washington, the insurer says four decades and four policy types point to the same conclusion that no coverage applies, after the YMCA requested defense coverage on July 16, 2026.