{ "id": 5454708, "name": "EMERSON ELECTRIC COMPANY et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. AETNA CASUALTY AND SURETY COMPANY et al., Defendants-Appellees", "name_abbreviation": "Emerson Electric Co. v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co.", "decision_date": "2004-08-30", "docket_number": "No. 1-02-3661", "first_page": "399", "last_page": "442", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "352 Ill. App. 3d 399" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "42 Cal. Rptr. 2d 324", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal. Rptr. 2d", "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "913 P.2d 878", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "10 Cal. 4th 645", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal. 4th", "case_ids": [ 1992355 ], "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/cal-4th/10/0645-01" ] }, { "cite": "259 S.W2d 854", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1953, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "860" }, { "page": "859-60" }, { "page": "860" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "643 N.E.2d 1226", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1230-31, 1252-56", "parenthetical": "applying \"continuous trigger\" approach" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "268 Ill. App. 3d 598", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 381801 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "604-05, 639-45", "parenthetical": "applying \"continuous trigger\" approach" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/268/0598-01" ] }, { "cite": "215 N.E.2d 412", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1966, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "415-16" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "5 Ohio App. 2d 294", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ohio App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1460118 ], "year": 1966, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "299" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ohio-app-2d/5/0294-01" ] }, { "cite": "580 S.W.2d 740", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 9948436 ], "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "743-45", "parenthetical": "en banc" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/580/0740-01" ] }, { "cite": "913 S.W.2d 7", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 9997185 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "11" }, { "page": "11" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/913/0007-01" ] }, { "cite": "768 N.E.2d 133", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "143", "parenthetical": "reversing summary judgment where the trial court's conclusion ignored the totality of evidence and merely focused upon a single statement taken out of context, which amounted to impermissible weighing of evidence or judgment of credibility" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "329 Ill. App. 3d 666", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1472375 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "676-77", "parenthetical": "reversing summary judgment where the trial court's conclusion ignored the totality of evidence and merely focused upon a single statement taken out of context, which amounted to impermissible weighing of evidence or judgment of credibility" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/329/0666-01" ] }, { "cite": "577 F. Supp. 1326", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 3631019 ], "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1331-33, 1339-40" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/577/1326-01" ] }, { "cite": "570 F. Supp. 913", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 3593153 ], "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/570/0913-01" ] }, { "cite": "5 Cal. Rptr. 2d 358", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal. Rptr. 2d", "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "35 Cal. App. 4th 335", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal. App. 4th", "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "68 Notre Dame L. Rev. 549", "category": "journals:journal", "reporter": "Notre Dame L. Rev.", "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "565-66" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "399 F. Supp. 1242", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 3818890 ], "year": 1975, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1244" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/399/1242-01" ] }, { "cite": "974 S.W.2d 572", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 11699409 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "574" }, { "page": "575" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/974/0572-01" ] }, { "cite": "165 S.W.2d 277", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "year": 1942, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "281" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "980 S.W.2d 56", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 11792009, 11792055 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "58" }, { "page": "58" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/980/0056-01", "/sw2d/980/0056-02" ] }, { "cite": "642 S.W.2d 113", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 9928552 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "116" }, { "page": "116" }, { "page": "116" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/642/0113-01" ] }, { "cite": "974 S.W.2d 647", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 11701075 ], "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "649" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/974/0647-01" ] }, { "cite": "50 S.W.3d 329", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.3d", "case_ids": [ 11080680, 11080655 ], "weight": 4, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "332" }, { "page": "332" }, { "page": "332" }, { "page": "332-33" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw3d/50/0329-02", "/sw3d/50/0329-01" ] }, { "cite": "808 S.W.2d 369", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 9979444 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "371", "parenthetical": "en banc" }, { "page": "371" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/808/0369-01" ] }, { "cite": "558 S.W.2d 255", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 9933385 ], "year": 1977, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "259-60" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/558/0255-01" ] }, { "cite": "42 U.S.C. \u00a7 6928", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "U.S.C.", "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "15 F.3d 699", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.3d", "case_ids": [ 1527466 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "703" }, { "page": "704" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f3d/15/0699-01" ] }, { "cite": "986 S.W.2d 477", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 11592181 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "481-83" }, { "page": "480-81" }, { "page": "482" }, { "page": "483" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/986/0477-01" ] }, { "cite": "968 F.2d 707", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 10517065 ], "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/968/0707-01" ] }, { "cite": "783 F. Supp. 1199", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 7410706 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1210", "parenthetical": "hereinafter General Dynamics" }, { "page": "1210" }, { "page": "1207-08" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/783/1199-01" ] }, { "cite": "440 S.W2d 497", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 10140208 ], "weight": 8, "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "504-09" }, { "page": "499" }, { "page": "510" }, { "page": "499" }, { "page": "499" }, { "page": "508" }, { "page": "499, 510" }, { "page": "507" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/440/0497-01" ] }, { "cite": "70 P.3d 547", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.3d", "case_ids": [ 9118160 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "557" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/p3d/70/0547-01" ] }, { "cite": "11 F.3d 732", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.3d", "case_ids": [ 11319950 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "736" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f3d/11/0732-01" ] }, { "cite": "135 U. Pa. L. Rev. 595", "category": "journals:journal", "reporter": "U. Pa. L. Rev.", "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "598-99" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "1967 Utah L. Rev. 1", "category": "journals:journal", "reporter": "Utah L. Rev.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "631 N.E.2d 813", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "815" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "259 Ill. App. 3d 560", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2871982 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "563" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/259/0560-01" ] }, { "cite": "757 N.E.2d 481", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "491" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "197 Ill. 2d 278", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 259023 ], "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "292" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/197/0278-01" ] }, { "cite": "569 N.E.2d 162", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "165" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "210 Ill. App. 3d 443", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2534821 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "446" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/210/0443-01" ] }, { "cite": "682 N.E.2d 72", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "75" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "288 Ill. App. 3d 760", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1596900 ], "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "765" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/288/0760-01" ] }, { "cite": "607 N.E.2d 1204", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 8, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1209" }, { "page": "1212" }, { "page": "1210" }, { "page": "1210" }, { "page": "1210" }, { "page": "1212" }, { "page": "1210-11" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "154 Ill. 2d 90", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 4820940 ], "weight": 7, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "102" }, { "page": "108" }, { "page": "103-04" }, { "page": "103-04" }, { "page": "103-04" }, { "page": "107" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/154/0090-01" ] }, { "cite": "669 N.E.2d 596", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "598" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "282 Ill. App. 3d 1004", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 159561 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1006" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/282/1004-01" ] }, { "cite": "678 N.E.2d 369", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "372" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "287 Ill. App. 3d 330", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 521034 ], "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "334" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/287/0330-01" ] }, { "cite": "58 S.W3d 609", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.3d", "case_ids": [ 9463187 ], "weight": 7, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "622", "parenthetical": "hereinafter, TWA" }, { "page": "614" }, { "page": "614" }, { "page": "615" }, { "page": "623" }, { "page": "623" }, { "page": "621-22" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw3d/58/0609-01" ] }, { "cite": "42 U.S.C. \u00a7 9601", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "U.S.C.", "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "et seq." } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "743 N.E.2d 629", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 17, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "hereinafter Emerson I" }, { "page": "646, 647, 648-50, 655" }, { "page": "649" }, { "page": "648-49" }, { "page": "647" }, { "page": "651" }, { "page": "655" }, { "page": "654" }, { "page": "655" }, { "page": "655-56" }, { "page": "650-51" }, { "page": "649" }, { "page": "649" }, { "page": "654" }, { "page": "655-56" }, { "page": "655" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "319 Ill. App. 3d 218", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1527705 ], "weight": 17, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "hereinafter Emerson I" }, { "page": "241, 243, 244-46, 253-54" }, { "page": "245" }, { "page": "244-45" }, { "page": "243" }, { "page": "248-49" }, { "page": "254" }, { "page": "252" }, { "page": "253" }, { "page": "254" }, { "page": "246" }, { "page": "245" }, { "page": "245" }, { "page": "252" }, { "page": "253-54" }, { "page": "253-54" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/319/0218-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 2389, "char_count": 106756, "ocr_confidence": 0.756, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.547045151735746e-07, "percentile": 0.6739892943565435 }, "sha256": "23b12ee54aaf221b3dc34ae063a6282723533ab0bb116018f587eff1c4261d4d", "simhash": "1:1cdea78805a7d656", "word_count": 16875 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:57:06.765456+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "McNULTY and McBRIDE, JJ., concur." ], "parties": [ "EMERSON ELECTRIC COMPANY et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. AETNA CASUALTY AND SURETY COMPANY et al., Defendants-Appellees." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE GORDON\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nThis appeal arises from ongoing complex litigation pending in the circuit court of Cook County. In 1993, Emerson Electric Co. (Emerson) and 15 of its subsidiaries brought an action for declaratory judgment against 57 separate insurance carriers. Plaintiffs sought a determination that the insurers owed them coverage under comprehensive general liability (CGL) insurance policies purchased by Emerson for liabilities incurred as a result of damage to the environment at 64 sites located in 26 different states. The numbers of parties and sites have since been reduced, primarily through settlements and dismissals. Republic Insurance Company (Republic) is the only insurer party to this appeal.\nIn January of 2001, we considered an earlier appeal brought by plaintiffs and found that Missouri law applies to the interpretation of the insurance policies at issue. Our ruling, in relevant part, reversed an interlocutory order in favor of Republic concerning the site in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, reversed certain grants of summary judgment in favor of Republic concerning plaintiffs\u2019 claims for coverage with respect to sites in Maysville, Kentucky; Erie and York, Pennsylvania; and Dixiana, South Carolina, and remanded the matter for further proceedings.\nOn remand, the trial court regranted summary judgments in favor of Republic with respect to plaintiffs\u2019 claims for coverage for polluted sites located in Erie and Hatfield, Pennsylvania, and Dixiana, South Carolina. The court also granted summary judgments in favor of Republic with respect to polluted sites not implicated in the prior appeal, which were located in Vernon, Alabama; Shreveport, Louisiana; Philadelphia, Mississippi; and Melville, New York. Plaintiff Emerson and its subsidiaries, Ridge Tool Company, Therm-O-Disc Inc., Wiegand Appliance, Poulan/Weed Eater, U.S. Electrical Motors, McPhilben Lighting Company and Brooks Instruments (hereinafter referred to collectively as plaintiffs), now appeal. For the reasons that follow, we affirm in part, and reverse and remand in part.\nBACKGROUND\nThe facts of this case were set out in detail in our opinion deciding the previous appeal in this matter in Emerson Electric Co. v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., 319 Ill. App. 3d 218, 743 N.E.2d 629 (2001) (hereinafter Emerson I). Therefore, we will only focus on the facts relevant to this appeal.\nThere are two categories of polluted sites at issue on this appeal: (1) two third-party waste disposal sites (third-party sites or waste disposal sites), with respect to which plaintiffs are seeking insurance coverage for costs associated with investigation and remediation of the sites, and (2) five sites owned by plaintiffs (owned sites), with respect to which plaintiffs are seeking insurance coverage for pollution arising out of manufacturing activities.\nRepublic had issued two excess CGL policies to Emerson in connection with those sites. Policy No. CDU15502 (the 1983-84 policy) was effective from November 1, 1983, to November 1, 1984, and Policy No. CDU16724 (the 1984-85 policy) was effective from November 1, 1984, to November 1, 1985. The 1983-84 policy contains the following relevant language:\n\u201cI. COVERAGES:\nTo indemnify the Insured for all sums which the Insured shall be obligated to pay by reason of the liability imposed upon him by law or liability assumed by him under contract or agreement for damages, and expenses, all as included in the definition of \u2018ultimate net loss, because of:\n(b) [p]roperty damage *** as defined herein and caused by or arising out of an occurrence!]]\nII. DEFINITIONS:\n10. Occurrence.\nThe term \u2018occurrence shall mean (a) an accident, or (b) an event, or continuous or repeated exposure to conditions, which results during the policy period, in personal injury, property damage, or advertising liability *** neither expected nor intended from the standpoint of the Insured.\nPOLLUTION EXCLUSION\nIt is agreed that this policy does not apply to liability for personal injury or property damage arising out of the discharge, dispersal, release, escape or seepage of smoke, vapors, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, toxic chemicals, liquids or gases, waste material, or other irritants, contaminants or pollutants into or upon land, the atmosphere or any watercourse or body of water, unless such discharge, dispersal, release or escape is accidental.\" (Emphasis added.)\nWith respect to the foregoing pollution exclusion, Emerson had requested and paid consideration for deletion of the words \u201csudden and\u201d from the standard-form \u201csudden and accidental\u201d exception to that exclusion, resulting in the language stated above in italics, which only utilizes the term \u201caccidental.\u201d The 1984-85 policy contains the same relevant language as the 1983-84 policy, with the only difference being that its exception to the pollution exclusion contains the standard-form language \u201csudden and accidental.\u201d\nIn Emerson I, we held, in pertinent part, that: (1) Missouri law must be applied to determine defendants\u2019 coverage obligations regardless of the location of the site; (2) under Missouri law, the standard-form \u201csudden and accidental\u201d language of the exception to the pollution exclusion means both abrupt and unexpected and precludes coverage for property damage caused by gradual, nonabrupt releases of pollutants; (3) under Missouri law, the amended \u201caccidental\u201d language of the exception to the pollution exclusion means unexpected and does not preclude coverage for property damage caused by gradual, nonabrupt releases of pollutants; (4) under Missouri law, in determining whether the pollution was accidental, the focus is on the resulting damage, as opposed to the initial discharge or shipment of pollutants, and whether the resulting damage was intentional; and (5) under Missouri law, plaintiffs\u2019 showing of an \u201cexposure to conditions\u201d resulting in continuing damage to property during the policy period satisfies the initial burden of proving an \u201coccurrence,\u201d as defined in the policies at issue; plaintiffs need not identify a specific event or release which caused the exposure to conditions. Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 241, 243, 244-46, 253-54, 743 N.E.2d at 646, 647, 648-50, 655. As noted, the matter was remanded for further proceedings.\nOn remand, the trial court granted summary judgments in favor of Republic concerning the two third-party waste disposal sites based on the lack of \u201coccurrence\u201d as it is defined in the 1983-84 policy, discussed more fully below. The court also granted summary judgments in favor of Republic concerning the owned sites based on the 1984-85 policy\u2019s standard-form \u201csudden and accidental\u201d exception to the pollution exclusion and the 1983-84 policy\u2019s customized \u201caccidental\u201d exception to the pollution exclusion, as detailed, respectively, below. Notably, in granting summary judgments with respect to the owned sites, the trial court, in contrast to its focus in determining coverage as to the third-party sites, did not look to the definition of \u201coccurrence\u201d but, rather, looked to the language of the pollution exclusion as precluding coverage because it found the pollution at the owned sites not \u201caccidental,\u201d irrespective of whether or not the discharges were \u201csudden.\u201d\nThe Third-Party Sites\u2019 \u201cNo Occurrence\u201d Judgments\nPlaintiffs moved for partial summary judgment on the issue of coverage under the 1983-84 policy with respect to the liabilities for the Pennsylvania and South Carolina third-party sites. In response, Republic cross-moved for summary judgment on the basis of several defenses, one of which being that plaintiffs either expected or intended the damage at the two third-party sites. The essential facts concerning each third-party site are as follows.\n1. The Erie, Pennsylvania, Waste Disposal Site\nFrom 1973 to 1981, Urick Foundry (Urick), a division of Emerson\u2019s Ridge Tool Company (Ridge Tool) located in Erie, Pennsylvania, hired a licensed local hauler, Sitter Trucking Company (Sitter), to dispose of Urick\u2019s foundry sand and other nonhazardous wastes at an off-site location to be selected by Sitter. Plaintiffs offered evidence that Urick expected and intended that Sitter would dispose of the wastes at a proper disposal facility and did not expect or intend the wastes to be discharged from a disposal facility or to cause damage to the environment.\nHowever, Sitter commingled Urick\u2019s foundry sand along with other companies\u2019 wastes and improperly disposed of the wastes at the Erie, Pennsylvania, site, an unlicensed landfill owned in part by Sitter. Plaintiffs offered evidence that Sitter\u2019s actions were unknown to Urick and contrary to its expectation and intention, that Sitter did not inform Urick that it was hauling Urick\u2019s foundry sand to the site, and that none of the shipping records indicate where Sitter was hauling the sand.\nThe landfill in question, known as the Millcreek Landfill, was operated from 1941 until it was closed by the State of Pennsylvania in 1981, subsequent to the state\u2019s discovery that it was being illegally operated. In 1982, pursuant to its Superfund authority, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA) conducted an investigation of soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water contamination at the site. The tests confirmed soil and groundwater contamination.\nAt or about the same time, a neighboring landowner, Ralph Riehl, filed a lawsuit against plaintiffs and other potentially responsible parties. In 1983, the Millcreek Landfill was proposed to the EPA\u2019s National Priorities List. On September 16, 1983, Urick received a notice of potential liability (PRP letter) from the EPA. On September 30, 1983, the law firm of MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton responded to the EPA\u2019s PRP letter by acknowledging that the firm represented Urick in conjunction with the Millcreek site. On October 2, 1983, the law firm, acting on behalf of Urick and other potentially responsible parties, participated in a conference with the EPA regarding the investigation and cleanup at the Millcreek Landfill.\nIn June of 1992, the EPA sued Urick pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) (42 U.S.C. \u00a7 9601 et seq. (1988)), seeking recovery of costs expended to investigate and remediate the site. Subsequently, in 1993, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (PADER) also sued Urick concerning the contamination at the site. Urick settled those suits in 1996.\n2. The South Carolina Waste Disposal Site\nThe facts relating to the Dixiana, South Carolina, site are similar to those relating to the Erie, Pennsylvania, site. On approximately 10 occasions between April of 1978 and March of 1980, South Carolina Recycling and Disposal, Inc. (SCRDI), a licensed hauler, removed chemical wastes from Emerson\u2019s former manufacturing facility, Therm-O-Disc Incorporated (Therm-O-Disc), in Aiken, South Carolina. Plaintiffs offered evidence that Therm-O-Disc expected SCRDI to dispose of the wastes properly and did not expect or intend the wastes to be discharged from a disposal facility or to damage the environment.\nPlaintiffs offered evidence that, unbeknownst to Therm-O-Disc and contrary to its expectations and intentions, SCRDI stored and handled Therm-O-Disc\u2019s wastes improperly at the waste disposal site. Between 1978 and 1980, SCRDI stored more than 1,100 drums containing various types of wastes at the site; many of the drums deteriorated and leaked as a result of SCRDI\u2019s allegedly improper handling practices. The EPA confirmed groundwater contamination at the site between 1980 and 1982, leading to the site\u2019s placement on the National Priorities List in December of 1982. The EPA and state environmental officials investigated the site from 1984 to 1986 and ultimately concluded that contamination was migrating through the groundwater underneath the site.\nIn December of 1988, the EPA sent Therm-O-Disc an information request concerning the site. By a letter dated February 14, 1989, the EPA demanded that Therm-O-Disc reimburse it for its costs associated with investigation and remediation of the site. The EPA alleged that Therm-O-Disc sent drums to the site and that releases from those drums caused or contributed to the contamination of the site. Subsequently, in April of 1992, pursuant to CERCLA, the EPA sued Therm-O-Disc and two other companies that allegedly shipped material to the site. In January of 1995, Therm-O-Disc settled with the EPA and agreed, as part of the settlement, to reimburse the government for past costs to a certain date and to take over operation and maintenance of the site\u2019s groundwater remediation system.\nTrial Court\u2019s Judgments With Respect to the Third-Party Waste Disposal Sites\nIn opposition to plaintiffs\u2019 motions for summary judgment and in support of its own motions for summary judgment, Republic argued, in part, that plaintiffs failed to prove a covered \u201coccurrence\u201d because they were aware of the property damage at the two third-party sites prior to the inception of the 1983-84 policy. Plaintiffs responded to Republic\u2019s cross-motion with evidence that disputed the accuracy and relevance of Republic\u2019s evidence and the inferences which Republic drew from that evidence.\nOn August 29, 2002, the trial court denied plaintiffs\u2019 motions for partial summary judgment and granted Republic\u2019s cross-motions. The trial court found that plaintiffs had failed to demonstrate a covered \u201coccurrence\u201d at either site because they \u201cexpected and intended,\u201d prior to the inception of the policy, the property damage that took place at the two sites.\nThe Owned Sites\u2019 \u201cIntentional Pollution\u201d Judgments\nRepublic moved for summary judgment on the issue of coverage for owned sites located in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and New York, based on the inapplicability of the \u201csudden and accidental\u201d exception to the pollution exclusion contained in the 1984-85 policy. Republic similarly moved for summary judgment on the issue of coverage with respect to those four sites and cross-moved for summary judgment in conjunction with its opposition to plaintiffs\u2019 motion for partial summary judgment as to the Hatfield, Pennsylvania, site, based on the inapplicability of the customized \u201caccidental\u201d exception to the pollution exclusion contained in the 1983-84 policy. Republic, in essence, argued that the discharges of pollutants were neither \u201csudden\u201d nor \u201caccidental,\u201d thereby precluding coverage. The essential facts concerning each owned site are as follows.\n1. The Alabama Owned Site\nEmerson\u2019s Wiegand Appliance Division (Wiegand) built the Vernon, Alabama, facility on undeveloped land in 1976. That facility began operations in 1976 and manufactured electrical resistance heating units.\nIn 1981, Wiegand constructed a state-licensed concrete storage pad that was designed to hold virgin and waste materials, including oils, trichloroethylene (TCE) and trichloroethane (TCA). The storage pad, surrounded by a concrete curb, contained no passageways, such as pipes or drains, through which chemicals could have traveled to other parts of the site. A grated concrete containment trench was built around the storage pad. The trench was built specifically to contain discharges that otherwise might have been released from the storage pad.\nTCA was stored on the storage pad in 55-gallon drums, and TCE was stored in a 5,000-gallon aboveground storage tank. TCE was delivered to the aboveground storage tank Ada a truck and distributed throughout the plant by an underground pipe.\nSometime in 1981 or 1982, Vernon\u2019s coordinator of environmental compliance observed stained soil around the storage pad. The soil was eventually removed and disposed of as hazardous waste. In the mid-1980s, the compliance coordinator also learned that some employees had, on an unspecified number of occasions, poured small amounts of spent TCA onto the ground near the storage pad, as was evidenced by dead grass.\nAt some point, a sump was constructed in the concrete storage pad to collect rainwater and other materials that would spill onto the storage pad. There was no drain or outlet from the sump. Liquids collected in the sump were periodically pumped out and discharged into a sanitary sewer. Visible staining of the soils showed that the sump may have overflowed in the past. In the event of an overflow, the water from the storage area would flow across an adjacent unpaved area for approximately 40 feet to a paved road. The water would then flow along the curb of the road to the point where the road ended. From the end of the road, the water would flow some 100 yards to a neighboring small creek. Republic alleged that overflows were routine occurrences over the years whenever heavy rains fell, resulting in contaminated water flowing down the road and toward the creek.\nIn 1988, Wiegand constructed a hazardous waste storage pad adjacent to the concrete storage pad. That hazardous waste storage pad, where spent TCE was stored, did not contain a sump or a trench.\nIn July of 1989, outside the coverage period of the policies at issue, Emerson\u2019s corporate representative conducted an internal environmental compliance audit of the facility. It appears that in his report he stated that he observed a leak in one of the pump seals to the 5,000-gallon TCE aboveground storage tank, a rusted drum containing TCE and other material dripping onto the concrete storage pad, and staining of the concrete storage pad and surrounding soil.\nAfter the audit, in 1990, Emerson retained Radian Corporation (Radian) to conduct an investigation of Wiegand\u2019s operations. Radian determined that the staining around the concrete storage pad was due to leakage from the underground pipeline, leakage from an aboveground pipe connected to the pipeline, as well as storm water runoff from the pad. Radian also discovered on-site and off-site soil and groundwater contamination caused by total petroleum hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds, including TCE and TCA. Although plaintiffs have admitted that the contamination at the Vernon facility was the result of slow leakage over a considerable period of time, plaintiffs claim that longtime Wiegand employees had also identified at least two abrupt, unexpected, and unintended releases of TCE during plant operations, which may have contributed to the contamination at the site. These releases allegedly occurred in 1975 and 1977 or 1978. Republic disputes this claim based on the fact that plaintiffs\u2019 corporate representative testified in a deposition that he could not recall any abrupt or accidental discharges having occurred at the Vernon site.\n2. The Louisiana Owned Site\nEmerson\u2019s Poulan/Weed Eater Division (Poulan/Weed Eater) manufactured chainsaws and consumer lawn trimmers at its Shreveport, Louisiana, facility from 1971 until 1983. In 1986, Emerson sold Poulan/Weed Eater to White Consolidated Industries (WCI). Subsequently, WCI, with the assistance of its environmental consultant, discovered soil and groundwater contamination caused by heavy metals and chlorinated solvents, including TCE and TCA, at the site.\nFrom 1971 to 1980, Poulan/Weed Eater operated a permitted wastewater treatment system that was designed to treat heavy metal and solvent wastes from the facility\u2019s manufacturing operations. Waste streams from Poulan/Weed Eater industrial processes contained cyanide, heavy metals and industrial solvents (TCA and TCE). These streams passed through a treatment facility and were separated to create a sludge that, depending on the time period, was directed to one of three industrial waste lagoons. The first lagoon was used from 1971 to 1975, the second lagoon was used from 1975 to 1979, and the third lagoon was used from 1979 to 1980. The lagoons were intended to hold the sludge permanently, while any water remaining in the sludge was intended to evaporate into the atmosphere or to percolate into the subsurface. The remaining treated water was discharged into a sanitary waste lagoon. Wastes from Poulan/Weed Eater\u2019s plating operations were sent to a series of underground tanks for treatment and then were pumped into one of the lagoons, where metal sludge would accumulate. On-site settling lagoons were discontinued in August of 1980 and a new continuous wastewater treatment system was installed.\nDuring the years the manufacturing facility was in operation, TCA and TCE were used in a degreasing unit and were kept in an aboveground storage tank located on a concrete pier or slab outside the plant building. That tank was taken out of service and removed in 1983. Acetone was used to clean the chainsaws and was stored in five-gallon cans in an oil storage shed in the back of the plant. Chromic acid was used in the plating operations, and cyanide was used in the heat-treating system. Spent TCA and TCE, as well as acetone and toluene (used during the installation of handlebars on the chainsaws), were stored in an underground storage tank. That tank was removed from the site in 1986. As noted above, used chromates and cyanide were pumped into treatment tanks, and then the sludge was pumped into one of the industrial lagoons.\nThe principal contaminants discovered at the site were TCA and TCE. The primary source of TCE in the groundwater was identified to be the three industrial waste lagoons. Contamination was also discovered at the location of the aboveground TCA/TCE storage tank, the concrete pier, and the underground solvent waste tank.\nPlaintiffs claim that some contamination may have been accidental and point to two separate incidents in 1973 and 1974, when magnesium, used to build chainsaws, spontaneously combusted as a result of inadvertent contact with water. With respect to the 1973 incident, the combusting magnesium resulted in a large fire and explosion that destroyed a solvent storage area and caused the death of an employee. The 1974 incident occurred in the same general area of the facility as the 1973 incident.\n3. The Mississippi Owned Site\nIn 1988, after an internal environmental audit, Emerson retained Radian to investigate the surface impoundment constructed in 1974 by Emerson\u2019s U.S. Electrical Motors Division at its Philadelphia, Mississippi, facility. Processed rinsewater from various plant operations was piped to that surface impoundment, where the water would either evaporate or be discharged into the sewer system for the City of Philadelphia. Plaintiffs claim that the impoundment was constructed with a specially lined clay surface. However, the report prepared by Radian states that the impoundment is unlined. Rather, the impoundment sits on top of approximately nine feet of natural clay. Radian\u2019s investigation determined that there was soil and groundwater contamination, which was caused by the seepage of wastes through the natural clay bottom of the impoundment.\n4. The New York Owned Site\nEmerson\u2019s McPhilben Lighting Company (McPhilben) manufactured industrial lighting fixtures at its Melville, New York, facility from 1963 until 1989, when McPhilben was sold. In preparation for its sale of McPhilben and in compliance with New York law, Emerson hired Radian to perform an environmental audit of the site. Radian discovered that contaminants had escaped into the surrounding soils and groundwater from two underground holding tanks and six dry wells, also called leaching pools, which were intended to hold wastes from plant operations while allowing treated water to escape. Additionally, Radian discovered an area of the facility where xylene, a volatile organic compound, negatively impacted the soil. That contamination arose from a hole that was cut in the bottom of a trench near wastewater tanks. The hole was apparently cut intentionally in order to clean out the pipe running underneath the trench.\n5. The Pennsylvania Owned Site\nFrom 1964 to 1969, Emerson\u2019s Brooks Instruments Division (Brooks) manufactured precision instruments and calibration equipment at a facility located on Church Road near Hatfield, Pennsylvania. In 1987, the EPA named Brooks a potentially responsible party with respect to the site, which had a contaminated aquifer running beneath it. Brooks\u2019 use of TCE at its facility allegedly contributed to the contamination of the aquifer. Brooks\u2019 longtime employees had no recollection of any spills or releases of TCE taking place at the Church Road facility. There was evidence that plant wastes were discharged through a pipe into an underground storage tank, and liquids from that tank were periodically pumped into the sewer system.\nTrial Court\u2019s Judgments With Respect to the Owned Sites\nWhen plaintiffs moved for summary judgment with respect to the Hatfield, Pennsylvania, site, they argued that based on this court\u2019s decision in Emerson I, plaintiffs had proven an \u201coccurrence\u201d at that site and, in light of the fact that there was no evidence supporting Republic\u2019s defenses, Republic was required to provide coverage to Emerson for that site under the 1983-84 policy. Republic cross-moved for summary judgment arguing, in part, that coverage was precluded for the site under the pollution exclusion and the releases of pollutants did not fall within the customized \u201caccidental\u201d exception to the pollution exclusion, i.e., the property damage was not accidental. Emerson responded to Republic\u2019s cross-motion contending, in part, that the customized exclusion did not even apply because Republic failed to meet its burden of demonstrating that the property damage at the site was caused by specific nonaccidental releases of pollutants.\nWith respect to opposing Republic\u2019s motions for summary judgment on the issue of coverage for owned sites located in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and New York, under the customized \u201caccidental\u201d exception to the pollution exclusion contained in the 1983-84 policy and in support of their cross-motion for partial summary judgment on the New York site, plaintiffs argued that property damage at the Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and New York owned sites was caused by unintended and unexpected releases of pollutants from permitted containment structures at the sites, and that under this court\u2019s decision in Emerson I, as well as under Missouri law, the releases were \u201caccidental.\u201d\nLastly, in opposition to Republic\u2019s motions for summary judgment on the basis that the standard-form exception to the pollution exclusion contained in the 1984-85 policy did not apply, plaintiffs argued that the meaning of the term \u201csudden,\u201d as used in the \u201csudden and accidental\u201d exception to that exclusion, was an open question under Missouri law, as expressed in the Missouri Court of Appeals\u2019 decision in Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Associated Aviation Underwriters, 58 S.W3d 609, 622 (Mo. App. 2001) (hereinafter, TWA):\n\u201cNo Missouri case has addressed the issue of whether \u2018sudden and accidental\u2019 in pollution exclusion clauses of insurance policies is ambiguous.\u201d\nAlternatively, even if the term \u201csudden\u201d were held to mean \u201cabrupt,\u201d plaintiffs argued that summary judgment was inappropriate because they had presented evidence of abrupt, unexpected, and unintended releases of pollution with respect to the Alabama and Louisiana sites.\nOn August 29, 2002, the trial court denied plaintiffs\u2019 motion for the Hatfield, Pennsylvania, site and cross-motion for the New York site, and granted Republic\u2019s motions and cross-motion concerning all five owned sites. Notably, the court relied on TWA, which was decided subsequently to Emerson 1 and which, according to the trial court, focused on whether the initial discharges of pollutants were intentional, in contrast to the focus in Emerson I on whether the resulting damage was intentional. The court held that none of the releases of pollution at any of the owned sites were either \u201csudden and accidental\u201d or \u201caccidental\u201d because the discharges that led to the pollution were not unintended, unexpected, unforseen or abrupt, since such discharges were deliberately carried out as part of plaintiffs\u2019 ordinary course of business or routine operations. The court further discounted abrupt releases of chemicals at the Alabama and Louisiana sites as having contributed to the contamination at those sites.\nThe above grants of summary judgment in favor of Republic are summarized as follows:\nOWNED SITES\n\u201cSudden and Accidental\u201d Exception to Pollution Exclusion under the 1984-85 Policy (trial court found that releases of pollution were not \u201csudden and accidental\u201d)\nVernon, Alabama Shreveport, Louisiana Philadelphia, Mississippi Melville, New York\n\u201cAccidental\u201d Exception to Pollution Exclusion under the 1983-84 Policy (trial court found that releases of pollution were not \u201caccidental\u201d)\nVernon, Alabama Shreveport, Louisiana Philadelphia, Mississippi Melville, New York Hatfield, Pennsylvania\nTHIRD PARTY SITES\nPlaintiffs now appeal.\nANALYSIS\nOn appeal, plaintiffs contend that the trial court made the following errors of law and/or fact that are reversible under Missouri law:\nI. In granting summary judgment with respect to the third-party waste disposal sites:\n(a) although the court based its rulings on certain inferences drawn from undisputed facts, other inferences \u2014 which support a finding of coverage \u2014 could have reasonably been drawn from those same facts;\n(b) the court improperly made credibility assessments and weighed the evidence;\n(c) the court confused the issue of whether there was an \u201coccurrence,\u201d as defined in the 1983-84 policy, which is to be judged by the insured\u2019s expectations at the time the injury-causing acts took place, with the separate legal issue of whether the loss was insurable or whether it was a known certainty at the inception of the policy, and\n(d) with respect to whether there was a covered \u201coccurrence,\u201d the court misapplied Missouri law, which holds that where, as here, the policy states that it will cover liability arising from property damage that is neither expected nor intended from the standpoint of the insured, a subjective test necessarily governs the \u201coccurrence\u201d analysis.\nII. In granting summary judgment with respect to the owned sites:\n(a) the trial court\u2019s decision is erroneous as a matter of law because the trial court ignored this court\u2019s prior ruling in Emerson I that, for the purposes of the pollution exclusion, a \u201crelease\u201d is the escape of pollutants from, not the intentional deposit of wastes into, places of expected containment;\n(b) even if the trial court were not bound by this court\u2019s decision in Emerson I, its decisions were inconsistent with the plain meaning of the insurance policy and Missouri law, which also provide that a \u201crelease\u201d under the pollution exclusion is a discharge from a place of expected containment;\n(c) the trial court\u2019s rulings, based on the amended \u201caccidental\u201d exception to the pollution exclusion in the 1983-84 policy, that releases at the owned sites could not be \u201caccidental\u201d because they were gradual, contravened both this court\u2019s decision in Emerson I and the established Missouri law;\n(d) there were genuine questions of material fact about the cause of the property damage at the Hatfield, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana sites, which made the grants of summary judgment improper;\n(e) the meaning of \u201csudden,\u201d as used in the standard-form \u201csudden and accidental\u201d exception to the pollution exclusion in the 1984-85 policy, was an unresolved question under Missouri law. In the absence of clear Missouri law, the trial court was required, but failed, to apply Illinois law, which (according to plaintiffs) holds that the terms \u201csudden and accidental\u201d mean \u201cunexpected and unintended\u201d; and\n(f) even if the trial court correctly held that \u201csudden\u201d means \u201cabrupt\u201d under Missouri law, the court improperly discounted evidence of abrupt and unintended releases of pollutants at the Alabama and Louisiana owned sites, and whether such releases may have contributed to the contamination.\nSummary judgment is appropriate where \u201cthe pleadings, depositions, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.\u201d 735 ILCS 5/2\u20141005(c) (West 2002). Orders granting summary judgment are reviewed de novo. Rumford v. Countrywide Funding Corp., 287 Ill. App. 3d 330, 334, 678 N.E.2d 369, 372 (1997). On appeal from such an order, the reviewing court \u201cmust independently examine the evidence presented in support of and in opposition to a motion for summary judgment.\u201d Groce v. South Chicago Community Hospital, 282 Ill. App. 3d 1004, 1006, 669 N.E.2d 596, 598 (1996). Where a reasonable person could draw divergent inferences from undisputed facts, summary judgment is improper. Outboard Marine Corp. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., 154 Ill. 2d 90, 102, 607 N.E.2d 1204, 1209 (1992). If, from a review of the pleadings and evidentiary material before the circuit court, this court determines that a material issue of fact exists or that the summary judgment was based upon an erroneous interpretation of the law, a reversal is warranted. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. v. American National Bank & Trust Co., 288 Ill. App. 3d 760, 765, 682 N.E.2d 72, 75 (1997).\nConstruction of an insurance policy is a question of law and, therefore, may appropriately be disposed of through summary judgment. See American Standard Insurance Co. v. Allstate Insurance Co., 210 Ill. App. 3d 443, 446, 569 N.E.2d 162, 165 (1991). In construing the language of the policy, the court\u2019s primary task is \u201cto ascertain and give effect to the intent of the parties to the contract.\u201d Traveler\u2019s Insurance Co. v. Eljer Manufacturing, Inc., 197 Ill. 2d 278, 292, 757 N.E.2d 481, 491 (2001). In order to ascertain the meaning of the policy\u2019s language and the parties\u2019 intent, the court must construe the policy as a whole and take into account the type of insurance purchased, the nature of the risks involved, and the overall purpose of the contract. Outboard Marine Corp., 154 Ill. 2d at 108, 607 N.E.2d at 1212.\nPlaintiffs\u2019 principal argument on appeal, at least with respect to the owned sites, is that the trial court\u2019s reliance on the Missouri Court of Appeals\u2019 decision in TWA, which, as previously noted, was issued subsequent to Emerson I, was erroneous because the trial court was bound by our decision in Emerson I. We agree.\nThe law of the case doctrine provides that rulings on points of law made by a court of review are binding in that case upon remand to the trial court and on subsequent appeals to that same reviewing court unless a higher court has changed the law. Kennedy v. First National Bank of Mattoon, 259 Ill. App. 3d 560, 563, 631 N.E.2d 813, 815 (1994). The purpose of the doctrine is to protect settled expectations of the parties, ensure uniformity of decisions, maintain consistency during the course of a single case, effectuate proper administration of justice, and bring litigation to an end. 21 C.J.S. Courts \u00a7 149 (1990). An additional concern addressed by the law of the case doctrine is the maintenance of the prestige of the courts, for the reason that if an appellate court issues contrary opinions on the same issue in the same case, its prestige is undercut. See A. Vestal, Law of the Case: Single-Suit Preclusion, 1967 Utah L. Rev. 1. The law of the case doctrine is thus a stone\u2019s throw away from the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel. See J. Steinman, Law of the Case: a Judicial Puzzle in Consolidated and Transferred Cases and in Multidistrict Litigation, 135 U. Pa. L. Rev. 595, 598-99 (1987).\nThis court is not unaware that the doctrine \u201callows some flexibility, permitting a court to revisit an issue if an intervening change in the law, or some other special circumstance, warrants reexamining the claim\u201d (United States v. Thomas, 11 F.3d 732, 736 (7th Cir. 1993)). However, equally true is the proposition that courts presume case law to be in constant flux and are reluctant to reopen decided issues based on changes in decisional law alone. Buckley Powder Co. v. State, 70 P.3d 547, 557 (Colo. App. 2002). In any event, a careful examination of Missouri law to date fails to convincingly support the proposition that the controlling law in Missouri has, in fact, changed since our decision in Emerson I.\nIn Emerson I, we addressed the question of which \u201cdischarge\u201d or \u201crelease\u201d (\u201cinto or upon land\u201d) is relevant for the purpose of determining the applicability of the standard-form \u201csudden and accidental\u201d and customized \u201caccidental\u201d exceptions to the pollution exclusion \u2014 the initial disposal of a pollutant or the subsequent leakage of the pollutant from the place of disposal. As noted above, we held that the proper focus is on the subsequent migration or leakage, and whether it was expected or intended. We relied on the decision of Missouri\u2019s intermediate court of appeals in White v. Smith, 440 S.W2d 497, 504-09 (Mo. App. 1969), and on the persuasive authority of the decision of the District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. v. General Dynamics Corp., 783 F. Supp. 1199, 1210 (E.D. Mo. 1991) (hereinafter General Dynamics), rev\u2019d in part on other grounds, 968 F.2d 707 (8th Cir. 1992), both discussed immediately below.\nIn White, which involved an owned site, a slaughterhouse operator intentionally placed blood, offal, and waste material into a nearby lagoon, resulting in the contamination of a neighbor\u2019s well. White, 440 S.W2d at 499. In concluding that the damage to the neighbor\u2019s well was caused by accident, the Missouri Court of Appeals focused not on the policyholder\u2019s initial, intentional placement of the slaughterhouse wastes into the lagoon, but rather on the subsequent migration of those contaminants. White, 440 S.W2d at 510.\nIn General Dynamics, the court analyzed whether the pollution exclusion barred coverage for liability arising from shipping waste to certain landfills and in that context stated:\n\u201c[T]he behavior of the pollutants or their seepage into the ground is accidental if the permeation was unexpected.\u201d General Dynamics, 783 F. Supp. at 1210.\nIn our discussion of General Dynamics and White in Emerson I, we stated:\n\u201c[I]t made no difference *** in White whether the precipitating acts causing the damage were intentional, and it made no difference in White whether they were done over a period of time. Similar to General Dynamics [ ], the focus in each case is on the resulting damage and whether it was intentional.\u201d (Emphasis in original.) Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 245, 743 N.E.2d at 649.\nOur analysis and holding in Emerson I is further supported by Superior Equipment Co. v. Maryland Casualty Co., 986 S.W.2d 477, 481-83 (Mo. App. 1998), which is a Missouri insurance coverage case concerning liability arising from contamination at a third-party waste disposal facility. In Superior Equipment, the policyholder shipped its hazardous wastes to the waste disposal facility that ultimately became contaminated as a result of spills and leakage from the storage tanks. Superior Equipment, 986 S.W2d at 480-81. The underlying complaint alleged that releases of pollutants had occurred at the site \u201c \u2018including, but not limited to spills from bulk tanks, leaking drums and tanks, and explosions and resultant leaking from tanks.\u2019 \u201d Superior Equipment, 986 S.W.2d at 482. The court in that case reversed a grant of summary judgment in favor of the insurers and ruled that they had a duty to defend the policyholder despite the fact that it was uncontroverted that the policyholder had intentionally shipped the wastes to the facility. Superior Equipment, 986 S.W.2d at 483. Thus, the court recognized that a mere initial intentional placement of wastes within a facility was not a dispositive factor in determining whether the pollution exclusion precludes coverage.\nRepublic attempts to relegate the holding of Superior Equipment solely to third-party sites and makes the same effort to so restrict our entire holding in Emerson I with respect to this issue. We reject this attempt because under the relevant policy language, such a distinction between owned and third-party sites is a distinction without a difference and would be wholly arbitrary. This is evidenced by Republic\u2019s inability to cite any cases in support of its proposition or, for that matter, offer cogent reasons why such a distinction would be meaningful. A distinction between owned and third-party sites would be oblivious to the specific language of the policy, which has equal application under either scenario and which, as previously noted, provides:\n\u201c[Tjhis policy does not apply to liability for personal injury or property damage arising out of the discharge, dispersal, release, escape or seepage of smoke, vapors, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, toxic chemicals, liquids or gases, waste material, or other irritants, contaminants or pollutants into or upon land, the atmosphere or any watercourse or body of water, unless such discharge, dispersal, release or escape is accidental.\u201d\nBy its plain language, the pollution exclusion under the policy is limited to the \u201cdischarge, dispersal, release, escape or seepage\u201d of the pollutant. This language does not distinguish between a policyholder who disposes of waste on-site and a policyholder who instructs another to dispose of waste off-site. Whether the focus is on the initial placement, as urged by Republic, or on subsequent migration, as urged by plaintiffs, the outcome under the construction of this exclusion does not depend on the type of site involved. Under the focus on the initial placement, coverage is precluded for intentional deposits of waste, whether direct, on-site, or vicarious, off-site. Under the focus on subsequent migration, coverage depends on whether the escape of pollutants from the place of their deposit, but without regard to the ownership of the place of deposit, is sudden and accidental (or accidental).\nRepublic next questions the propriety of adherence to the law of the case in light of the subsequent decision of the Missouri Court of Appeals in TWA, discussed in detail below. Republic maintains that TWA is the only authoritative case on point decided by a Missouri court. This contention ignores the decision of the Missouri Court of Appeals in Superior Equipment, as well as its more broadly applicable analysis in White. Republic disagrees with the applicability of the Missouri appellate decision in White on the grounds that it focused solely on whether or not the damage was caused by \u201caccident,\u201d within the meaning of the policy\u2019s coverage, and did not purport to construe the scope of the exception to the pollution exclusion.\nThe language of the insurance policy in White reveals that it, in fact, was an \u201caccident\u201d-based policy issued prior to 1966, before the insurance industry adopted the use of the pollution exclusion. White, 440 S.W2d at 499. The policy provided that it would pay:\n\u201con behalf of the insured all sums *** which the insured shall become legally obligated to pay as damages because of bodily injury, sickness or disease . . . and as damages because of injury to or destruction of property, including the loss of use thereof, caused by accident and arising out of the hazards hereinafter defined.\u201d (Emphasis omitted.) White, 440 S.W2d at 499.\nThe court in White, consistent with other courts at that time, extended coverage to pollution-related damage, even if it arose from the intentional discharge of pollutants, so long as the ultimate loss was not intended:\n\u201c[W]e *** align ourselves with[ ] the holdings in a larger number of jurisdictions that damages not intentionally inflicted but resulting from an insured\u2019s negligence (and thus constructively foreseeable to him) may be \u2018caused by accident\u2019 and within the coverage afforded by a liability insurance policy.\u201d White, 440 S.W2d at 508.\nRepublic argues that the focus in White, on whether the resulting property damage was accidental, was dictated by the language of the policy involved. Republic points out that the language of the pollution exclusion in the instant case provides:\n\u201c[PJolicy does not apply to liability for *** property damage arising out of the discharge, dispersal, release, escape or seepage of *** pollutants into or upon land *** unless such discharge, dispersal, release or escape is *** accidental.\u201d\nRepublic contends that the very language of the policy here, in contrast with that in White, \u201cprovides coverage only if the discharge is accidental.\u201d The weakness in Republic\u2019s argument is highlighted by the very language upon which it relies. The language of the pollution exclusion refers to the discharge, escape, or seepage of pollutants into or upon land and denies coverage unless such discharge is accidental. Indeed, as Chief Judge Posner wrote in Patz v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Co., 15 F.3d 699, 703 (7th Cir. 1994), an \u201cintermediate\u201d interpretation of this clause\n\u201cdistinguish[es] between deliberately discharging waste materials into land, air, or water, whether or not \u2018harm\u2019 is intended, and placing those materials in a container that is buried in land or water and subsequently leaks or breaks, discharging waste materials into the land or water surrounding the container.\u201d\nSimilarly, the introduction of wastewater into an evaporation pit, although unlined,\n\u201cis different from just dumping wastes onto land or into a body of water. The discharge of wastes into the environment [does] not occur until the water leache[s] through the bottom of the pit ***.\nThis reading of the pollution-exclusion clause, which distinguishes between an intentional act not intended to discharge wastes into the environment and an intentional such discharge, is not inevitable, but it is plausible, and it is consistent with a number *** of the cases ***.\u201d Patz, 15 F.3d at 704.\nTherefore, the analysis and holding in White, although not dealing with a pollution exclusion specifically, is congruent with the specific policy language used in articulating the pollution exclusion and its exceptions. This is borne out by the fact that White\u2019s interpretation was mirrored by the pollution exclusion case of General Dynamics (applying Missouri law) and is fully reflected in the holding of the Missouri Court of Appeals itself in Superior Equipment.\nRepublic, nevertheless, argues that TWA represents a change in Missouri law and a departure from this analysis. We disagree. Although TWA was decided subsequent to our decision in Emerson I, it was not decided by Missouri\u2019s supreme court and, as such, would in any event be counterbalanced by the decisions of Missouri\u2019s intermediate courts of appeals in Superior Equipment and White. More overridingly, it is unclear, at the very least, what proposition the pertinent holding of TWA stands for. In TWA, the insured (TWA) sought coverage for costs incurred in connection with environmental contamination at its facility. At the facility, which was used as a maintenance and repair center for its aircraft, TWA had discharged hazardous waste for nearly 40 years through the operation of a wastewater treatment plant and associated basins for holding wastewater and waste oil, sludge drying beds, and a ravine field. TWA, 58 S.W.3d at 614. (During the 1970s, the sludge drying beds were excavated and the debris was first moved to the western edge of the facility, and later \u201cagain transferred and mainly dumped at a location at the east end of a Kansas City International airport runway.\u201d TWA, 58 S.W.3d at 614.) Notably, the claims against TWA arose from a proceeding brought against it by the EPA for knowing violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (the RCRA) (42 U.S.C. \u00a7 6928 (2000)). TWA, 58 S.W.3d at 615. In holding that the disposal of the wastes that resulted in the pollution was not accidental, the court in TWA stated:\n\u201cTWA was aware of the implications of RCRA to its operations at [the site]. Such deliberate and frequent disposal of waste that resulted in pollution is not accidental.\u201d (Emphasis added.) TWA, 58 S.W.3d at 623.\nWhile TWA does appear to focus on the initial discharge of wastes, it is unclear whether the court did so because it decided that the relevant discharge was the initial placement of wastes, as opposed to subsequent migration, or whether it was because the court decided that the relevant discharge was the wrongful discharge, in knowing violation of the RCRA, and that such discharge would not be covered. Significantly, the court in TWA did not attempt to explain its focus on the initial placement, which is inconsistent with that of the other cases decided under Missouri law, namely, Superior Equipment, General Dynamics, as well as White, by distinguishing or explaining its departure from these cases. Republic argues that some of the so-called violations in TWA occurred before the effective date of the RCRA and, hence, the holding in that case was not premised on the RCRA violations. However, these contentions completely ignore the express language of the court articulating the underlying rationale for its holding:\n\u201cThe discharges were part of TWA\u2019s operation at the *** site. TWA discharged its waste products used in the overhaul of its aircraft at the *** site. After RCRA was enacted in 1976, TWA was expected to terminate its hazardous waste operations or apply for a permit under RCRA when it became effective in 1980. TWA notified the EPA of its operations, but ignored the effects of the statute. TWA was aware of the implications of RCRA to its operations at [the site]. Such deliberate and frequent disposal of waste that resulted in pollution is not accidental.\u201d TWA, 58 S.W3d at 623.\nIn sum, TWA is neither explicit, nor is it fully analytical. Given, on the one hand, the decisions under Missouri law in Superior Equipment, General Dynamics and White and, on the other hand, one possibly divergent holding relied upon by Republic that is neither clear nor explicit, Republic\u2019s claim that TWA represents a change in the controlling law in Missouri is merely speculative and would not warrant a repudiation of Emerson I. Thus, the law of the case as set forth in Emerson I controls this appeal with respect to both types of sites involved and, therefore, summary judgment in favor of Republic predicated upon the trial court\u2019s reliance on and interpretation of TWA cannot be sustained.\nNor is Republic entitled to summary judgment based on its contention that the resulting damage was not \u201caccidental\u201d within the meaning of either policy. As previously stated, in Emerson I, we held that the term \u201caccidental\u201d means unexpected and unintended, and does not preclude coverage for property damage caused by gradual, nonabrupt releases of pollutants. Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 244-45, 743 N.E.2d at 648-49. Although, at least with respect to the Alabama site, there is evidence, which plaintiffs dispute, that plaintiffs may have known of leaks or other malfunctions in their containment structures and/or treatment facilities, and there is evidence that some employees at the Alabama site had, on an unspecified number of occasions, poured small amounts of TCA directly onto the ground in the vicinity of the concrete storage pad, there is also evidence that plaintiffs deposited their wastes into licensed containment structures and/or treatment facilities. Thus, a trier of fact could reasonably find or infer that plaintiffs expected their wastes to stay within the confines of those structures. Accordingly, there exists a genuine question of material fact as to how much of the pollution at the Alabama site was \u201caccidental.\u201d\nWith respect to the Louisiana, Mississippi, and New York owned sites, plaintiffs similarly claim that they did not know and had no reason to believe that pollutants were migrating from their licensed waste containment structures into the soil and groundwater, as there were no visible or otherwise perceivable clues to put plaintiffs on notice that releases of pollutants were taking place. Plaintiffs further claim that they did not learn of the releases of pollutants and property damage at the above-mentioned sites until after the termination of the policies at issue, when environmental consultants were hired to investigate the sites either as part of the sales of the facilities (Louisiana and New York) or corporate compliance audits (Mississippi) and informed plaintiffs of the property damage.\nWe agree with plaintiffs that this evidence is sufficient to raise a genuine question of material fact as to whether the pollution was \u201caccidental.\u201d Therefore, as to coverage under the 1983-84 policy, which excepted \u201caccidental\u201d releases from the pollution exclusion, we conclude that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Republic on the grounds that the pollution was not \u201caccidental\u201d with respect to the Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and New York owned sites.\nHowever, our adherence to the law of the case is dispositive on the issue of coverage with respect to the Mississippi and New York owned sites under the \u201csudden and accidental\u201d exception to the pollution exclusion in the 1984-85 policy. While there remain questions of fact as to whether the pollution was \u201caccidental\u201d within the meaning of both policies involved, these issues of fact do not impact our disposition of the instant case with respect to whether the pollution at the Mississippi and New York sites was \u201csudden\u201d under the 1984-85 policy. As we held in Emerson I, it is not sufficient, under the \u201csudden and accidental\u201d language in the 1984-85 policy, that the pollution be unexpected, it must also be abrupt. Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 243, 743 N.E.2d at 647. Because there is no evidence of abrupt discharges at the Mississippi and New York sites, we affirm the trial court\u2019s grant of summary judgment with respect to those sites under the 1984-85 policy.\nIn contrast, the grants of summary judgment with respect to the Alabama and Louisiana sites under the 1984-85 policy were inappropriate because there exist questions of fact as to how much the abrupt and unexpected discharges at those sites contributed to the overall contamination. As previously noted, with respect to the Alabama site, plaintiffs presented evidence of two abrupt, unexpected and unintended spills of TCE which might have contributed to the contamination at the site, and that evidence renders summary judgment premature. As we stated in Emerson I, such evidence of a sudden and accidental spill raises a triable issue as to whether that spill, which satisfies the exception to the pollution exclusion, caused some of the damage for which plaintiffs are liable. Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 248-49, 743 N.E.2d at 651. Similarly, with respect to the Louisiana site, plaintiffs introduced evidence that spontaneous explosions of magnesium took place in 1973 and 1974, and that some contamination may have been caused by those accidental events. Thus, there are genuine issues of material fact, which may well necessitate additional expert discovery.\nPlaintiffs next contend that summary judgment in favor of Republic with respect to the Hatfield, Pennsylvania, site (under the 1983-84 policy) was inappropriate because Republic failed to meet its burden of proffering some evidence of a \u201crelease,\u201d within the meaning of the pollution exclusion, of contaminants at that site. As a general rule in Missouri, an insured bears the burden of proving all the elements that establish coverage under the terms of a policy, whereas the insurer has the burden of proving that the loss sustained was within a policy exclusion. Grossman Iron & Steel Co. v. Bituminous Casualty Corp., 558 S.W.2d 255, 259-60 (Mo. App. 1977). Plaintiffs thus claim that once they satisfied their burden of showing an \u201coccurrence,\u201d the burden then shifts to Republic to show that the pollution was caused by a \u201cdischarge\u201d or \u201crelease\u201d of pollutants, within the meaning of the pollution exclusion, and that Republic has not met that burden. We disagree.\nUnder Missouri law, plaintiffs have the burden of establishing a prima facie case that there has been property damage caused by or arising out of an \u201coccurrence\u201d and, moreover, establishing a prima facie case that they are entitled to coverage because the \u201caccidental\u201d or \u201csudden and accidental\u201d exception to the pollution exclusion applies. See TWA, 58 S.W.3d at 621-22. Plaintiffs have already shown, as we held in Emerson I, that there was an \u201cexposure to conditions\u201d resulting in property damage at the site. As we stated in Emerson I with respect to plaintiffs\u2019 burden of showing an \u201coccurrence,\u201d it is sufficient to show an \u201cexposure to conditions\u201d without having to identify a specific event or release which caused the exposure. Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 254, 743 N.E.2d at 655. By the same token, since plaintiffs were relieved of the burden of identifying a specific event or release which caused the exposure to conditions, within the meaning of the term \u201coccurrence,\u201d Republic is similarly relieved of the burden of identifying a specific \u201cdischarge\u201d or \u201crelease\u201d within the meaning of the pollution exclusion. Accordingly, what is truly at issue here is whether plaintiffs can show that the pollution was \u201caccidental.\u201d Republic argues that they cannot make that showing. We disagree.\nAlthough plaintiffs, in support of their argument that Republic cannot show a \u201cdischarge\u201d or \u201crelease,\u201d stressed the fact that plaintiffs\u2019 employees denied that any chemical spill ever took place, it does not necessarily follow that, as Republic contends, plaintiffs failed to establish that the pollution was \u201caccidental.\u201d The record shows that plaintiffs used TCE in their daily operations and that they discharged wastes into an underground storage tank and then into an adjacent sewer system. While it is unclear how the pollution resulted, the fact that no identifiable chemical spill ever took place does not foreclose the possibility that the resulting and, most likely, gradual pollution was, nevertheless, accidental. See White, 440 S.W.2d at 499, 510. We, therefore, agree with plaintiffs that questions of fact thus remain with respect to the Hatfield, Pennsylvania, site.\nWe next address plaintiffs\u2019 arguments with respect to the third-party sites. Plaintiffs contend that the trial court erroneously concluded that Urick and Therm-O-Disc knew that property damage had taken place at the Erie, Pennsylvania, and Dixiana, South Carolina, waste disposal sites and, therefore, the court erred in finding that the property damage at those sites was \u201cexpected or intended,\u201d and that plaintiffs thus failed to prove an \u201coccurrence.\u201d Plaintiffs specifically argue that the court used the wrong temporal standard as to plaintiffs\u2019 knowledge of the property damage when it focused on plaintiffs\u2019 knowledge prior to the inception of the 1983-84 policy rather than at the time the injury-causing acts took place.\nThe parties are in disagreement as to the temporal focus and whether a subjective or an objective standard should be used in deciding whether there is a covered \u201coccurrence.\u201d This disagreement is apparently compounded by the uncertainty as to which terms of the policy control the disposition of this issue \u2014 whether it is the language \u201cneither expected nor intended from the standpoint of the Insured,\u201d as used in the policy\u2019s definition of \u201coccurrence,\u201d or whether it is the term \u201caccidental\u201d in the pollution exclusion. As previously stated, \u201coccurrence\u201d is defined as follows:\n\u201cThe term \u2018occurrence\u2019 shall mean (a) an accident, or (b) an event, or continuous or repeated exposure to conditions, which results during the policy period, in personal injury, property damage, or advertising liability *** neither expected nor intended from the standpoint of the Insured.\u201d (Emphasis added.)\nOn the other hand, as previously noted, the pollution exclusion states, in relevant part, as follows:\n\u201c[Tjhis policy does not apply to liability for personal injury or property damage arising out of the discharge, dispersal, release, escape or seepage of smoke, vapors, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, toxic chemicals, liquids or gases, waste material, or other irritants, contaminants or pollutants into or upon land, the atmosphere or any watercourse or body of water, unless such discharge, dispersal, release or escape is accidental.\u201d (Emphasis added.)\nWe emphasize that the instant question focuses on a different facet of the \u201coccurrence\u201d definition than the one we addressed in Emerson I, where we dealt with a certified question as to whether it is sufficient to show an \u201cexposure to conditions,\u201d as that term is used in the definition of \u201coccurrence,\u201d without having to identify the specific event or release which caused the exposure and the resulting property damage. Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 252, 743 N.E.2d at 654. Because of the absence of clear guidance on that issue from either Missouri state courts or federal courts construing Missouri law, we presumed that Missouri law as to that issue was the same as the law of the forum, Illinois. Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 253, 743 N.E.2d at 655. Under Illinois law, it is sufficient to show an \u201cexposure to conditions,\u201d without also having to identify the specific event or release which caused the exposure. In that context, we stated:\n\u201cThe record evidence of TCE contamination at the *** site supports the conclusion that there was a continuous \u2018exposure to conditions\u2019 resulting in property damage during Republic\u2019s policy period. Under Illinois law Emerson has met its burden of proving an \u2018occurrence\u2019 as defined in Republic\u2019s 1983-84 policy.\u201d Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 254, 743 N.E.2d at 655-56.\nHowever, it is clear that in discussing this aspect of \u201coccurrence\u201d in the context of the parties\u2019 contentions, in no way did we purport to eliminate the plain-language requirement under the definition of \u201coccurrence\u201d that such exposure must be \u201cneither expected nor intended from the standpoint of the Insured.\u201d\nTo summarize, under Emerson I, if the evidence shows that the property damage occurred, in part, during the relevant policy period, the fact that no specific causative event has been identified does not preclude plaintiffs from recovering costs associated with remediating the site(s). Clearly, the policy next requires plaintiffs to show that the \u201coccurrence\u201d or, more precisely, the \u201cexposure to conditions\u201d was \u201cneither expected nor intended from the standpoint of the Insured.\u201d\nIn accordance with the above-stated requirements of the policy, plaintiffs supported their motions for summary judgment with respect to the Erie, Pennsylvania, and Dixiana, South Carolina, waste disposal sites with evidence, undisputed and conceded by Republic, that there was an \u201cexposure to conditions resulting in property damage\u201d at both sites during the 1983-84 policy period. In addition, as noted above, plaintiffs also presented evidence that the \u201cexposure to conditions\u201d was \u201cneither expected nor intended from the standpoint of the Insured.\u201d\nTwo issues arise at this juncture: (1) whether plaintiffs must show that the property damage was unexpected and unintended at the time the haulers removed the wastes from plaintiffs\u2019 facilities and disposed of those wastes at the two sites, or whether they must show that the property damage was (still) unexpected and unintended at a later date, prior to the inception of the 1983-84 policy, and (2) whether a subjective or an objective standard should govern the trial court\u2019s determination of plaintiffs knowledge of the property damage.\nPlaintiffs contend that under Missouri law, the focus of the \u201cexpected or intended\u201d analysis is the subjective expectation and intention of the policyholder at the time the acts giving rise to liability took place. In support, plaintiffs rely on American Family Mutual Insurance Co. v. Pacchetti, 808 S.W.2d 369, 371 (Mo. 1991) (en banc), and Cameron Mutual Insurance Co. v. Moll, 50 S.W.3d 329, 332 (Mo. App. 2001). Plaintiffs thus argue that summary judgment was inappropriate in light of the evidence that plaintiffs did not expect or intend that property damage would take place at the time the wastes were removed by the haulers.\nBoth Pacchetti and Moll dealt with clauses similar to the one involved here. In Pacchetti, the Supreme Court of Missouri held that whether the insured expected or intended injury is a question of fact, and \u201c[i]t must be shown not only that the insured intended the acts causing the injury, but that injury was intended or expected from these acts.\u201d Pacchetti, 808 S.W.2d at 371. Similarly, the court in Moll interpreted Pacchetti to stand for the proposition that the fact that an insured\u2019s conduct was intentional does not, by itself, preclude coverage; rather, at that point, the focus is on whether the insured expected or intended, presumably at the time of the act, to cause injury. Moll, 50 S.W.3d at 332.\nAlthough neither Pacchetti nor Moll involved injuries that resulted long after the insured\u2019s intentional act, nothing in those cases purports to limit their holdings to injuries that immediately or shortly follow the act. Moreover, Republic cites no authority in support of its contention that coverage should be barred in cases where, at the time of the act, an insured did not expect or intend latent harm. Rather, Republic merely relies on certain fundamental principles of insurance law, as articulated in American States Insurance Co. v. Mathis, 974 S.W.2d 647, 649 (Mo. App. 1998), i.e., that the intent of a commercial general liability policy, such as the policy at issue, is to protect against unpredictable liability that can result from accidental injuries to persons or property. This argument more appropriately invokes the \u201cknown loss\u201d doctrine, involving the insurability of losses that have occurred by the time the policy\u2019s coverage took effect, and losses which were \u201csubstantially certain to occur\u201d or which were a \u201csubstantial probability\u201d (see 7 Couch on Insurance 3d \u00a7 102:8 (1997)), separately discussed in detail later on. However, Mathis lends no support to Republic\u2019s contention that under the \u201coccurrence\u201d analysis, the applicable standard is whether or not plaintiffs expected or intended the property damage before the inception of the policy, rather than at the time the wastes were removed from plaintiffs\u2019 facilities and disposed of. Accordingly, we find that the reasoning of Pacchetti and Moll applies with equal force to latent injuries, such as the ones involved in the instant case, and thus agree with plaintiff that the focus must be on whether, at the time the injury-causing acts took place, plaintiffs intended or expected an injury to result.\nPlaintiffs next contend that under Missouri law, when a policy\u2019s \u201coccurrence\u201d clause requires an evaluation from the standpoint of the policyholder, the standard for judging whether there was an \u201coccurrence\u201d is the subjective knowledge and intent of the policyholder. In support, plaintiffs rely on Moll, 50 S.W3d at 332, which held that a subjective standard applies where a policy\u2019s \u201coccurrence\u201d definition requires, as is the case here, that the damage be unexpected and unintended \u201cfrom the standpoint of the insured.\u201d Plaintiffs thus argue that the trial court misapplied the terms of the 1983-84 policy by utilizing both a subjective and an objective standard to determine plaintiffs\u2019 expectations and intentions concerning the third-party sites, and that the trial court\u2019s application of an objective standard deprived plaintiffs of the protection of the policy.\nRepublic, on the other hand, argues that under Missouri law, courts can infer an insured\u2019s subjective knowledge and intent from the nature and circumstances of the insured\u2019s act. In support, Republic relies on Truck Insurance Exchange v. Pickering, 642 S.W.2d 113, 116 (Mo. App. 1982), which construed an \u201coccurrence\u201d definition almost identical to the one at issue. In deciding what is a proper analysis of the terms \u201cfrom the standpoint of the insured,\u201d the court noted that under Missouri law, an act of an insured need not be expressly intentional, but can be inferred as a matter of law from facts and circumstances surrounding the act. Pickering, 642 S.W.2d at 116. We agree.\nWe note that Moll and Pickering are not inconsistent. The court in Moll reasoned that a subjective standard must be used in determining whether the injuries were expected or intended because the policy language was clear and unambiguous in requiring a fact finder to look at whether the injury was expected and intended \u201cfrom the standpoint of the insured.\u201d However, the court went on to explain:\n\u201cIn the context of exclusion clauses such as this one, where an insured claims there was a benign intent behind a harmful act, Missouri courts have employed two different tests to assess the intent of the insured. American Family Mutual Ins. v. Franz, 980 S.W.2d 56, 58 (Mo. App. W.D. 1998). Under the \u2018subjective\u2019 test, the coverage is excluded based upon the insured\u2019s own actual subjective intent to cause harm. Id. Conversely, under the \u2018objective\u2019 test, coverage is excluded if it is determined that a hypothetical reasonable person would have foreseen harm from his or her acts. Id.\n*** Whether a subjective or objective approach was used, however, makes little practical difference. Franz, 980 S.W2d at 58. Even when the subjective approach is used, an insured\u2019s subjective intent to cause injury can still be inferred from the nature and circumstances of the insured\u2019s intentional acts, especially when an intentional act results in injuries which are the natural and probable consequence of such an act. Id. This is because courts are reluctant to accept the insured\u2019s own testimony as conclusive on the question of intent[.] Id. Thus, \u2018an admission of specific intent is not the only way to show intent to cause harm; it can be inferred from facts and circumstances surrounding an act.\u2019 Truck Insurance Exchange v. Pickering, 642 S.W.2d 113, 116 (Mo. App. W.D. 1982), citing, Camp v. John Hancock Mut. Life Ins. Co., 165 S.W.2d 277, 281[5] (Mo. App. 1942).\u201d (Emphasis added.) Moll, 50 S.W3d at 332-33.\nIn sum, the inquiry under the \u201coccurrence\u201d analysis should be whether, at the time the wastes were removed for disposal from plaintiffs\u2019 facilities, plaintiffs expected or intended the pollution to result; such expectation or intent may be inferred from the nature and circumstances of plaintiffs\u2019 intentional acts.\nFor the reasons that follow, the trial court erred in ruling that no \u201coccurrence\u201d can be proven under these facts. As previously noted, plaintiffs satisfied the first component of showing an \u201coccurrence\u201d by producing evidence of \u201ccontinuous or repeated exposure to conditions\u201d with respect to wastes deposited at the third-party sites. Next, as noted above, plaintiffs were required to show that the \u201cexposure to conditions\u201d was \u201cneither expected nor intended from the standpoint of the Insured.\u201d\nWith respect to the Erie, Pennsylvania, site, we have already found in Emerson I, albeit in the context of our discussion as to whether the damage at the site was \u201caccidental\u201d within the meaning of the pollution exclusion, that plaintiffs presented evidence demonstrating that they expected and intended for their wastes to be disposed of properly and neither expected nor intended any resulting harm to the environment and, correspondingly, plaintiffs at a minimum raised a triable issue as to whether the releases of pollutants at the Erie site were accidental. Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 246, 743 N.E.2d at 650-51. While we acknowledge the apparent difference in terminology between \u201cneither expected nor intended from the standpoint of the Insured,\u201d as used in the definition of \u201coccurrence,\u201d and the term \u201caccidental,\u201d within the meaning of the pollution exclusion, the two terms essentially mean the same thing. In Emerson I, we held that property damage was \u201caccidental\u201d under Missouri law, where the policyholder \u201c \u2018neither expected nor intended the illegal and improper activity of the hazardous waste transporter that resulted in hazardous waste contamination.\u2019 \u201d (Emphasis added.) Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 245, 743 N.E.2d at 649, quoting General Dynamics, 783 F. Supp. at 1207-08. In other words, under Missouri law, the term \u201caccidental,\u201d within the meaning of the pollution exclusion, means unexpected and unintended from the standpoint of the insured. Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 245, 743 N.E.2d at 649. Accordingly, the same conclusion, that plaintiffs at a minimum raised a triable issue as to whether the releases of pollutants at the Erie site were accidental, must be reached under the \u201coccurrence\u201d analysis.\nBy the same token, the same conclusion must be reached with respect to the Dixiana, South Carolina, site, where plaintiffs offered evidence that Therm-O-Disc expected that the hauler would dispose of the wastes properly and did not expect that the wastes would, or intend them to, be discharged from a disposal facility or damage the environment.\nPlaintiffs, given the underlying context of cross-motions for summary judgment, further contend that the trial court erred in failing to conclude that they demonstrated an \u201coccurrence\u201d at both waste disposal sites because Republic conceded the fact that the damage at the waste disposal sites was unexpected and unintended at the time the wastes were removed from plaintiffs\u2019 facilities. Our review of the record, however, does not support plaintiffs\u2019 claim of such concession on the part of Republic. Rather, more discovery is needed, as the parties marshalled their respective evidence with regard to the wrong temporal standard, as discussed above.\nWe must, however, now determine whether the grant of summary judgment in favor of Republic was proper on other grounds because the \u201cknown loss\u201d doctrine may apply and preclude coverage. As a general rule in Missouri, it is against public policy to insure a loss that is known or apparent to the insured. United Capitol Insurance Co. v. Hoodco, Inc., 974 S.W.2d 572, 574 (Mo. App. 1998); Presley v. National Flood Insurers Ass\u2019n, 399 F. Supp. 1242, 1244 (E.D. Mo. 1975). The \u201cknown loss\u201d doctrine is rooted in preventing fraud on the part of the insured, who would obtain an insurance policy knowing that it has suffered or is in imminent danger of suffering a loss, and who would fail to disclose these facts to the insurer. Hoodco, 974 S.W.2d at 575. The practical application of this doctrine invokes two questions: (1) what is a \u201closs\u201d and (2) when does a loss become \u201cknown\u201d? Insurers would like to interpret both terms expansively\u2014 including in the definition of loss spills, discharges or contamination\u2014 and urge that such loss becomes known, thereby precluding coverage, at the time spills and discharges occur, contamination is first discovered, or when a third-party waste disposal facility used by the insured is closed and/or placed on the National Priorities List. See G. Rothschild, Resolving Environmental Insurance Claims, 20 No. 1 Prac. Real Est. Law 15, 25 (2004). Many states, including Missouri, have not had occasion to address this issue in the context of coverage under a comprehensive general liability (CGL) policy for damages due to environmental pollution. Of those that have, many hold that an environmental loss is not known until a policyholder learns that it has potential liability for investigation and/or remediation. See 20 No. 1 Prac. Real Est. Law at 25. However, as discussed below, there is disagreement as to whether the precise standard should be (1) that of policyholder\u2019s awareness of conditions, facts, or events that may lead to a future claim and the imposition of environmental liability; (2) that of substantial awareness of either impending environmental contamination or imminent CERCLA liability; or (3) that of awareness of a known liability, rather than merely a potential liability, at the time the insurance was purchased. See K. Kolesar, Insurance Coverage for CERCLA Claims Under Comprehensive General Liability Policies: Cleaning Up Hazardous Waste in the Legal Environment, 68 Notre Dame L. Rev. 549, 565-66 (1993).\nRepublic appears to argue that the applicable standard governing the outcome of this matter is the second standard, namely, that of substantial awareness on the part of plaintiffs of either impending environmental contamination or imminent (or known) liability. Republic specifically argues that even if plaintiffs did not intend or expect the property damage at the time they disposed of the waste, as long as plaintiffs knew or should have known, at the time they purchased the 1983-84 policy, that there was a substantial probability that they would suffer or had already suffered a loss, plaintiffs\u2019 claim for coverage should be barred.\nPlaintiffs, on the other hand, contend that the third standard is applicable here. More specifically, plaintiffs argue that under Missouri law, claims under CGL policies, such as the one involved here, are not uninsurable under the \u201cknown loss\u201d doctrine as long as all the material facts are not concealed and the extent of legal liability is yet to be determined. In support, plaintiffs principally rely on Monsanto Co. v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., No. 88C\u2014JA\u2014118 (Del. Super. December 9, 1993) (purporting to apply Missouri law).\nIn Monsanto, the insurers agreed to indemnify the policyholder against \u201closs,\u201d \u201cexcess net loss,\u201d or \u201cultimate net loss\u201d arising out of the hazards covered in the policy, such loss being defined in relevant part as \u201csums paid in settlement of losses for which the insured is liable.\u201d Monsanto, slip op. at_. The court found that, \u201cas dictated by the policies themselves, it is not the physical damage to person or property which triggers the policies\u2019 coverage; what triggers the coverage is the settlement reached or judgment rendered which imposes upon Monsanto the obligation to pay for that harm.\u201d (Emphasis in original.) Monsanto, slip op. at_.\nThe court reasoned that due to a crucial difference between first- and third-party insurance contracts \u2014 namely, that in the case of first-party insurance, the insurer is to pay money due under the policy upon the happening of physical harm or property damage to the insured, whereas when one purchases third-party insurance (which is what CGL policies usually provide) one insures against the possibility of legal liability due to damages sustained by a third party \u2014 the reasoning and holding of the Presley line of cases, which involved first-party insurance only, does not apply with the same force to third-party insurance contracts. Monsanto, slip op. at_. In the absence of Missouri authority applying the \u201cknow loss\u201d doctrine to a third-party insurance policy, the court in Monsanto relied on Montrose Chemical Corp. of California v. Admiral Insurance Co., 35 Cal. App. 4th 335, 5 Cal. Rptr. 2d 358 (1992), and In re MGM (Grand Hotel Fire Litigation, 570 F. Supp. 913 (D. Nev. 1983), and agreed with those cases:\n\u201c[A]n occurrence which may give rise to coverage may already exist while the insurable loss is still undetermined and thus, unknown. Therefore, as long as all the material facts are not concealed and the extent of legal liability is yet to be determined, the issuance of insurance to cover the liability resulting from a known occurrence is not violative of public policy. Granted, in such instances, the insurer may find the risk of liability too great, or the insured may find the cost of such insurance exorbitant, and so a policy may never materialize. But these are decisions for underwriters and consumers to make as a result of arms-length negotiations.\u201d (Emphasis in original.) Monsanto, slip op. at_.\nThe court, therefore, held that if the insured\u2019s legal liability was known in advance of coverage, then a \u201cknown loss\u201d existed and coverage is thereby precluded as a matter of Missouri public policy. Monsanto, slip op. at_.\nSimilar to the policies in Monsanto, the 1983-84 policy here requires Republic to \u201cindemnify the Insured for all sums which the Insured shall be obligated to pay by reason of the liability imposed upon him by law or liability assumed by him under contract or agreement.\u201d The policy further defines \u201cultimate loss\u201d to mean \u201cthe total sum which the Insured *** becomes legally obligated to pay as damages *** either through adjudication or compromise.\u201d\nPlaintiffs thus contend that the \u201cknown loss\u201d doctrine does not preclude coverage in the instant case because although the occurrence giving rise to liability may have transpired, plaintiffs\u2019 legal liability was yet to be determined when the policy incepted. In other words, plaintiffs argue that the \u201cknown loss\u201d doctrine does not preclude coverage even if the trial court was correct in concluding that plaintiffs knew of property damage at the two waste disposal sites prior to the inception of the 1983-84 policy because plaintiffs were not legally liable for the property damage at the Erie, Pennsylvania, and Dixiana, South Carolina, waste disposal sites until, at the earliest, 1995 or 1996, when they resolved their respective liabilities with the EPA. Plaintiffs point out that, as of November of 1983, they had not incurred liability resulting from the waste haulers\u2019 improper disposal of the wastes at the third-party sites and further claim that they had no reason to believe that they could be held liable for property damage at either site. In addition, plaintiffs argue that no legal basis for holding Urick liable even existed prior to United States v. Wade, 577 F. Supp. 1326, 1331-33, 1339-40 (E.D. Pa. 1983), which was decided December 20, 1983, after the inception of the policy, and held that shipment of nonhazardous wastes \u2014 such as Urick\u2019s foundry sand, which did not contain a reportable quantity of hazardous substances under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act \u2014 could result in retroactive liability under CERCLA. Lastly, plaintiffs point out that there is no evidence that they misrepresented or concealed material facts concerning the claims that had been, or likely could have been, asserted against them concerning the waste disposal sites, notwithstanding the fact that the trial court had presented Republic with an opportunity to provide such evidence.\nWe agree that under the approach to the \u201cknown loss\u201d doctrine taken in Monsanto, coverage is not precluded under these facts. However, Monsanto was decided by a trial court of Delaware and, as such, has weak persuasive authority. Moreover, although the court in Monsanto purported to decide the question of applicability of the \u201cknown loss\u201d doctrine under Missouri law, in fact, as discussed above, in the absence of Missouri authority applying the \u201cknow loss\u201d doctrine to a third-party insurance policy, the court relied on California and Nevada cases. As we held in Emerson I, where Missouri law does not address the issue at hand, we presume that Missouri law as to that issue is the same as that of the forum, Illinois. Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 252, 743 N.E.2d at 654. For the foregoing reasons, we decline to follow Monsanto and, instead, will follow the decision on point of our supreme court in Outboard Marine Corp., 154 Ill. 2d 90, 607 N.E.2d 1204.\nIn Outboard Marine Corp., 154 Ill. 2d at 103-04, 607 N.E.2d at 1210, our supreme court applied the \u201cknown loss\u201d doctrine to a CGL policy. In contrast to the Monsanto court, our supreme court did not distinguish between a first- and third-party insurance policy. Outboard Marine Corp., 154 Ill. 2d at 103-04, 607 N.E.2d at 1210. Rather, the court adhered to the same general principles of insurance law as enunciated under Missouri law in Hoodco and Presley:\n\u201cBy its very nature, insurance is fundamentally based on contingent risks which may or may not occur. [Citations.] One dictionary defines \u2018insurance\u2019 as \u2018[a] contract whereby one undertakes to indemnify another against loss, damage, or liability arising from an unknown or contingent event and is applicable only to some contingency or act to occur in [the] future.\u2019 (Emphasis added.) (Black\u2019s Law Dictionary 721 (5th ed. 1979).) If the insured knows or has reason to know, when it purchases a CGL policy, that there is a substantial probability that it will suffer or has already suffered a loss, the risk ceases to be contingent and becomes a probable or known loss. [Citation.] Where the insured has evidence of a probable loss when it purchases a CGL policy, the loss is uninsurable under that policy (unless the parties otherwise contract) because the \u2018risk of liability is no longer unknown.\u2019 [Citations.] Therefore, the insurer has no duty to defend or indemnify the insured with respect to the known loss ah initio, unless the parties intended the known loss to be covered. [Citations.]\u201d (Emphasis in original.) Outboard Marine Corp., 154 Ill. 2d at 103-04, 607 N.E.2d at 1210.\nIn the context of coverage under a CGL policy for environmental contamination, the supreme court stated:\n\u201c[T]he known loss doctrine may be invoked if the insurers demonstrate that [the insured] knew or had reason to know, at the time it purchased the CGL policy, that there was a substantial probability that loss or liability would ensue due to the *** contamination for which it is seeking coverage.\u201d Outboard Marine Corp., 154 Ill. 2d at 107, 607 N.E.2d at 1212.\nThe supreme court further found that coverage is barred if the insured, prior to the commencement of the policy, received an administrative order from the EPA confirming environmental contamination due to the insured\u2019s operations \u2014 because such an order, as a matter of law, gives the insured knowledge of a substantial probability that claims would be made against it. Outboard Marine Corp., 154 in. 2d at 105-06, 607 N.E.2d at 1210-11.\nFor the reasons stated below, Republic is entitled to summary judgment under the \u201cknown loss\u201d doctrine with respect to the Erie, Pennsylvania, site, but is not entitled to summary judgment with respect to the Dixiana, South Carolina, site. As previously noted, the trial court in the instant case, albeit as part of the \u201coccurrence\u201d determination, made a finding of fact that the property damage at the Erie, Pennsylvania, site was expected and intended in light of the facts that, prior to the policy\u2019s inception in November of 1983, the site was placed on the National Priorities List, Urick was named as a potentially responsible party, and Urick was sued by neighboring landowners. The trial court similarly found that the property damage at Dixiana, South Carolina, site was expected and intended because in 1978 a state court ordered that operations at the Dixiana site cease, by 1980 water contamination was confirmed, and in 1982 plaintiffs began defending themselves against the EPA for the pollution at the site. Plaintiffs, nevertheless, argue that summary judgment in favor of Republic would be inappropriate. While plaintiffs acknowledge that the facts involved are undisputed, they argue that reasonable minds could disagree as to the proper inferences to be drawn from these undisputed facts. Plaintiffs contend that the following inferences could reasonably be drawn from the undisputed facts concerning the Pennsylvania site: (1) prior to the inception of the 1983-84 policy on November 1, 1983, Urick had no reason to believe or anticipate that its wastes caused property damage at the Millcreek Landfill, and (2) prior to the inception of the 1983-84 policy, Urick had no reason to anticipate liability in connection to its shipment of wastes to the site. It is, therefore, plaintiffs\u2019 position that summary judgment at this juncture was inappropriate.\nIn support, plaintiffs point to the evidence that prior to July of 1983, Urick was unaware of the allegations that Sitter had commingled Urick\u2019s foundry sand and nonhazardous wastes with those of other companies and had disposed of the wastes improperly at the site. Plaintiffs admit that in July of 1983, Urick received a copy of a complaint in a contribution action which was brought against any persons who may have used Sitter for waste disposal. However, plaintiffs claim that it was not until Urick received the EPA\u2019s September 16, 1983, notice letter that it became aware of the \u201cEPA\u2019s belief that Urick\u2019s non-hazardous waste may have been disposed of at the site.\u201d Although plaintiffs further admit that, shortly thereafter, Urick discussed the matter with its counsel, they point to the fact that Urick\u2019s counsel advised it that there appeared to be no evidence against Urick or other foundries to link them to the Millcreek Landfill site. Moreover, plaintiffs maintain that because the EPA at that time refused to provide Urick with specific documentation or evidence that \u201caffirmatively linked\u201d Urick to the site, Urick did not learn about its connection with the site until \u201cwell after\u201d the inception of the 1983-84 policy on November 1, 1983.\nWe uphold the grant of partial summary judgment with respect to the Erie, Pennsylvania, site. As previously stated, our supreme court held in Outboard Marine Corp. that, as a matter of law, the receipt of an administrative order from the EPA, similar in nature to the September 1983 EPA notice letter to Urick, gave an insured knowledge of substantial probability that claims would be made against it. Moreover, in July of 1983, Urick, in fact, received a copy of a complaint of the lawsuit filed against it and other defendants by landowners whose properties were in the vicinity of the Millcreek Landfill. Accordingly, there can be no question of fact, nor can reasonable persons draw divergent inferences, as to plaintiffs\u2019 knowledge of a substantial probability that claims could be made against Urick.\nWith respect to the South Carolina site, plaintiffs similarly contend that Therm-O-Disc was unaware, prior to the inception of the 1983-84 policy, of property damage caused by SCRDI\u2019s operations at the site. Plaintiffs claim that Therm-O-Disc first became aware of the existence of the site, let alone property damage at the site and the EPA\u2019s allegations of Therm-O-Disc\u2019s possible liability in connection with the site, when it received a notice letter from the EPA in December of 1988. Plaintiffs further claim that Therm-O-Disc had no reason to know about problems at the site prior to receiving the EPA\u2019s 1988 letter because it did not own the site and did not know that SCRDI had taken Therm-O-Disc\u2019s wastes to the site, nor was it party to litigation or administrative proceeding concerning the site.\nPlaintiffs, however, concede that Therm-O-Disc\u2019s former senior environmental affairs employee had reported in a memorandum, dated February 25, 1991, total costs expended by Therm-O-Disc for the site since December 1982, the date the EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List. The portion of the memorandum relating to the site states, in pertinent part:\n\u201cDixiana Site\nThis site appears to be a transfer station where waste was stored before it went to the Bluff Road landfill. Since 1982, this was listed as a superfund site by the EPA. Since 1982, we have incurred legal expenses of $38,928.00 defending [Therm-O-Disc\u2019s] position that their wastes were not disposed of at the Dixiana Site. No correspondence or activity since February 23, 1990.\u201d (Emphasis added.)\nPlaintiffs, nevertheless, argue that the trial court erred in interpreting this evidence \u2014 consisting of a \u201csingle sentence taken out of context\u201d \u2014 to mean that Therm-O-Disc actually began defending itself with respect to the site in December of 1982.\nWe observe that it may very well be that the date of 1982 was merely a reference point marking the year when the Dixiana, South Carolina, site was placed on the National Priorities (Superfund) List. The memorandum does not purport to state that costs were, in fact incurred in 1982 or 1983, prior to the inception of the policy. Plaintiffs also point out that the trial court was also presented with evidence to the contrary, such as the deposition of Therm-O-Disc\u2019s former outside environmental counsel, that Therm-O-Disc did not begin defending itself against potential liability with respect to the South Carolina site until after receiving the EPA\u2019s 1988 letter. Plaintiffs thus contend that the evidence in the record demonstrates the existence of a question of fact, and the trial court, therefore, impermissibly and erroneously weighed evidence and made credibility determinations.\nWe agree with plaintiffs that summary judgment on these facts is premature with respect to the Dixiana, South Carolina, site. See Kraut-sack v. Anderson, 329 Ill. App. 3d 666, 676-77, 768 N.E.2d 133, 143 (2002) (reversing summary judgment where the trial court\u2019s conclusion ignored the totality of evidence and merely focused upon a single statement taken out of context, which amounted to impermissible weighing of evidence or judgment of credibility). There is a genuine question of fact as to whether plaintiffs actually began defending against potential liability with respect to the Dixiana site prior to November of 1983. Furthermore, reasonable minds could disagree as to whether plaintiffs had knowledge prior to the inception of the policy of a substantial probability that claims would be made against them in connection with the Dixiana site, given that in 1978 a state court ordered operations at the Dixiana site to cease, by 1980 water contamination was confirmed, and the ongoing pollution problems in connection with the site were covered in local newspaper articles during the late 1970s and early 1980s.\nRepublic next argues that there are alternative grounds not reached by the trial court for affirming all summary judgment rulings. However, in its brief on appeal, Republic raises the two alternative grounds \u2014 breach of notice and voluntary payment provisions of the 1983-84 policy \u2014 only with respect to two of the seven sites at issue, the Erie and Hatfield, Pennsylvania, sites. In light of this apparent waiver of its arguments with respect to the remainder of the sites and because of our disposition of this case, specifically, our affirmance of the trial court\u2019s grants of summary judgment with respect to the Erie, Pennsylvania, site, we will only address Republic\u2019s arguments as they pertain to the Hatfield, Pennsylvania, site.\nThe 1983-84 policy contains the following conditions precedent to coverage:\n\u201cCONDITIONS\n7. Notice of Occurrence. When an occurrence takes place, which, in the opinion of the insured, involves or may involve liability on the part of the Company, prompt written notice shall be given by or on behalf of the insured ***. Such notice shall contain particulars sufficient to identify the insured and also reasonably obtainable information respecting the time, place and circumstances of the occurrence ***. Failure to so notify the company of any occurrence which at the time of its happening did not appear to involve this policy but which, at a later date, would appear to give rise to a claim hereunder shall not prejudice such claim provided that notice is then given.\n8. Assistance and Cooperation of the Insured. *** The insured shall not, except at his own cost, voluntarily make any payment, assume any obligation or incur any expense other than for such immediate medical and surgical relief to others as shall be imperative at the time of the occurrence.\u201d\nRepublic argues that plaintiffs breached the relevant notice provisions because they did not provide Republic with notice of their claim for the Hatfield site until March of 1993, seven years after being named a potentially responsible party (PRP) and four years after allegedly having exhausted their self-insured retention under the policy. The record shows that as early as 1986, plaintiffs engaged in extensive negotiations with state and federal authorities, retained counsel to represent their interests, hired consultants to perform analyses and evaluations at the site, and conducted investigations and interviews with current and former employees, thereby incurring most or all of the costs they claim against Republic. Republic argues that it has suffered prejudice from plaintiffs\u2019 late notice as a matter of law because all of the costs that plaintiffs seek to recover from Republic consist of defense and investigation costs, and with respect to those costs Republic alleges that it could have investigated the loss and possibly settled it for an amount less than what plaintiffs now seek.\nRepublic similarly contends that plaintiffs breached the voluntary payments provision of the policy by incurring defense and investigation costs without first obtaining Republic\u2019s acquiescence and consent. Republic claims that as a result, it was denied the opportunity to investigate the facts, to settle the loss early on, and to oversee and dispute the amount of defense and investigation costs incurred by plaintiffs.\nPlaintiffs dispute that their notice was untimely and argue that the voluntary payments clause does not apply to prenotice conduct. They further argue that Republic cannot prevail on its late notice or breach of voluntary payments clause defenses unless it proves that it suffered actual and substantial prejudice as a result, and that mere speculation and conclusory allegations are insufficient for the purposes of establishing prejudice. Plaintiffs further cast doubt on the viability of Republic\u2019s claim of prejudice by pointing out that excess carriers, such as Republic, generally do not investigate claims and, in fact, once plaintiffs provided notice, Republic chose not to conduct any investigation.\nWe note that Missouri courts historically have been reluctant to excuse an insurer from its contractual obligations because of an insured\u2019s breach of notice or similar policy provisions that do not prejudice the insurer, and the burden of showing prejudice is on the insurer. See Tresner v. State Farm Insurance Co., 913 S.W.2d 7, 11 (Mo. 1995) ien banc). Thus, we need not examine whether plaintiffs had, in fact, breached the notice and voluntary payment provisions because Republic cannot prevail on these defenses unless it proves that it suffered prejudice as a result. The presence of prejudice in such a context is a question of fact to be determined on the particular facts of each case. Tresner, 913 S.W.2d at 11. Mere speculation and conclusory allegations are insufficient for purposes of establishing prejudice. See Hendrix v. Jones, 580 S.W.2d 740, 743-45 (Mo. 1979) (en banc). We thus agree with plaintiffs that there exists, at a minimum, a triable question of fact as to whether Republic suffered prejudice. Accordingly, the grant of summary judgment in favor of Republic as to the Hatfield site cannot be sustained on the alternative grounds of breach of notice and voluntary payment provisions.\nFor the reasons set forth above, we reverse, in part, the judgment of the trial court granting summary judgment in favor of Republic with respect to the Vernon, Alabama; Shreveport, Louisiana; Philadelphia, Mississippi; Melville, New York; and Hatfield, Pennsylvania, owned sites as to coverage under the 1983-84 policy. We also reverse the grants of summary judgment in favor of Republic with respect to the Vernon, Alabama, and Shreveport, Louisiana, owned sites as to coverage under the 1984-85 policy. Lastly, we reverse the grant of summary judgment in favor of Republic with respect to the Dixiana, South Carolina, third-party site. In accordance with the foregoing, the cause is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.\nWe affirm the remainder of the judgment of the trial court, namely, the grants of summary judgment in favor of Republic with respect to the Philadelphia, Mississippi, and Melville, New York, owned sites as to coverage under the 1984-85 policy, and the grant of summary judgment in favor of Republic with respect to the Erie, Pennsylvania, third-party site.\nAffirmed in part and reversed in part; cause remanded.\nMcNULTY and McBRIDE, JJ., concur.\nThe cause has since been transferred to the law division,\nimmediately prior to the entry of the orders from which this appeal is taken, there remained nine plaintiffs and seven defendants, with plaintiffs\u2019 claims relating to 40 sites in 20 states.\nOn June 13, 2003, Home Insurance Company (Home), whose policies are also implicated in this appeal, was declared insolvent. On August 14, 2003, we granted Home\u2019s motion to abate and/or enjoin appeal and permanently enjoined plaintiffs from continuing this appeal as to Home.\nEmerson Electric Co. v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., 319 Ill. App. 3d 218, 743 N.E.2d 629 (2001).\nMore precisely, we held that as long as plaintiffs can prove an \u201cexposure to conditions\u201d component of the definition of \u201coccurrence,\u201d they were not required to identify a specific event or release which caused the exposure. However, as discussed in detail below, such a showing, by itself, is not sufficient to prove an \u201coccurrence\u201d because, under the express language of the policy, plaintiffs have to further show that the \u201cexposure to conditions\u201d was unexpected and unintended.\nBecause of our holding in Emerson I that under Missouri law, the standard-form \u201csudden and accidental\u201d exception to the pollution exclusion precludes coverage for property damage caused by gradual, non-abrupt releases of pollutants, plaintiffs are precluded from coverage of gradual pollution at the third-party sites under the 1984-85 policy.\nThe National Priorities List is the EPA\u2019s list of the most serious sites of known or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants throughout the United States.\nThe Hatfield, Pennsylvania, site was a subject of our prior opinion in Emerson I. We held that plaintiffs had proven the \u201cexposure to conditions\u201d component of the definition of \u201coccurrence\u201d at that site and were not required to identify a specific event or release which caused the exposure. Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 253-54, 743 N.E.2d at 655-56. However, as previously noted, having cleared that hurdle, plaintiffs still had to prove that the exposure was unexpected and unintended.\nThe EPA defines a surface impoundment as a topographic depression, excavation, or diked area, primarily formed from earthen materials (lined or unlined) and designed to hold accumulated liquid wastes, wastes containing free liquids, or sludges.\nThe TWA court, likewise, did not decide that question, having found that, irrespective of whether the term \u201csudden\u201d must be interpreted with a temporal connotation, the releases were not \u201caccidental.\u201d\nAs noted above, plaintiffs limited their motion as to the Hatfield, Pennsylvania, site to the 1983-84 policy.\nFor the purposes of this analysis, we need not draw a distinction between the standard \u201csudden and accidental\u201d exception to the pollution exclusion and the customized \u201caccidental\u201d exception.\nThe court emphasized that \u201c \u2018[t]here is a vast difference between an intended act, and an intended result.\u2019 \u201d White, 440 S.W.2d at 507, quoting Murray v. Landenberger, 5 Ohio App. 2d 294, 299, 215 N.E.2d 412, 415-16 (1966).\n\u201cAlthough the court discussed the decision of the Eighth Circuit reversing in part the district court\u2019s holding in General Dynamics, it did so solely in reference to whether the term \u201csudden\u201d in the \u201csudden and accidental\u201d exception to the pollution exclusion has a temporal element.\nAs previously noted, both the 1983-84 and the 1984-85 policies contain the \u201caccidental\u201d requirement \u2014 the former policy requiring the resulting pollution to be \u201caccidental,\u201d and the latter policy requiring it to be \u201csudden and accidental.\u201d\nIt does not matter that the abrupt and accidental events, such as the magnesium explosions, occurred sometime before the policy went into effect. As we discussed in Emerson I, where the property damage is \u201cprogressive\u201d and \u201cinseparable,\u201d such as that caused by chemical seepage, every policy in place during the ongoing destructive process is triggered. Emerson I, 319 Ill. App. 3d at 253-54, 743 N.E.2d at 655, citing United States Gypsum Co. v. Admiral Insurance Co., 268 Ill. App. 3d 598, 604-05, 639-45, 643 N.E.2d 1226, 1230-31, 1252-56 (1994) (applying \u201ccontinuous trigger\u201d approach).\nMoreover, summary judgment is inappropriate with respect to the Louisiana site on alternative grounds. While conceding that the industrial waste lagoons at the Louisiana site caused soil contamination, plaintiffs dispute Republic\u2019s contention that the lagoons also caused groundwater contamination, and they offered evidence to rebut that contention.\nWithin the meaning of the pollution exclusion in the 1983-84 policy.\nDelaware Superior Court was exercising original (trial) jurisdiction in Monsanto, ruling on motions for summary judgment. Apparently, plaintiffs are citing to Monsanto for persuasive value.\nPlaintiffs also cite to M.F.A. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Quinn, 259 S.W2d 854, 860 (Mo. App. 1953), for the proposition that under Missouri\u2019s \u201cknown loss\u201d doctrine, mere knowledge that a claim has been, or potentially might be, asserted against a policyholder does not make the resulting loss uninsurable. In Quinn, the insured had no knowledge that an automobile accident involving his automobile (which was driven by a family member) had occurred when he paid in person to the insurer\u2019s agent a premium to renew his policy, and the insurer accepted the premium at its home office after it had full knowledge of the collision and investigated its circumstances. Quinn, 259 S.W.2d at 859-60. For this reason, Quinn is inapposite. Moreover, the court apparently limited its holding to the facts of the case, stating:\n\u201cIt would not be against the public interest to permit an insurance company to fulfill a contract which it had invited its customer to accept, where the facts are as they appear in this case.\u201d Quinn, 259 S.W.2d at 860.\nSince affirmed and superceded by Montrose Chemical Corp. of California v. Admiral Insurance Co., 10 Cal. 4th 645, 913 P.2d 878, 42 Cal. Rptr. 2d 324 (1995).\nPlaintiffs were named a PRP in May of 1987, some six years before notifying Republic.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE GORDON" } ], "attorneys": [ "Stephan G. Weil, Mark H. Kolman, Keisha A. Gary, and Erica J. Dominitz, all of Dickstein, Shapiro, Morin & Oshinsky, L.L.E, of Washington, D.C., and Kevin M. Forde, of Kevin M. Forde, Ltd., of Chicago, for appellants.", "Maria G. Enriquez and Nina Markoutsis, both of Bates & Carey, of Chicago, for appellee Republic Insurance Company." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "EMERSON ELECTRIC COMPANY et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. AETNA CASUALTY AND SURETY COMPANY et al., Defendants-Appellees.\nFirst District (1st Division)\nNo. 1\u201402\u20143661\nOpinion filed August 30, 2004.\nStephan G. Weil, Mark H. Kolman, Keisha A. Gary, and Erica J. Dominitz, all of Dickstein, Shapiro, Morin & Oshinsky, L.L.E, of Washington, D.C., and Kevin M. Forde, of Kevin M. Forde, Ltd., of Chicago, for appellants.\nMaria G. Enriquez and Nina Markoutsis, both of Bates & Carey, of Chicago, for appellee Republic Insurance Company." }, "file_name": "0399-01", "first_page_order": 417, "last_page_order": 460 }