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Media Liability Coverage in Connecticut

Connecticut allows two years from the complained-of act to bring a libel or slander action. A party may also have 30 days from the complaint's return date to seek a special motion to dismiss based on protected speech, petition, or association about a matter of public concern; defamation is expressly included despite a bodily-injury exclusion. 1,2

What Is Media Liability?

Media liability can help pay defense costs for claims about content you create or distribute, such as allegations of defamation or infringement. Consider it if you publish or produce content for your business or clients; match the quote to each activity. Read the national Media liability guide.

Connecticut Requirements

RequirementDetails
Libel and slander filing periodAn action for libel or slander must be brought within two years from the date of the act complained of. 1
Special motion deadlineA special motion to dismiss is due within 30 days after the complaint's return date, or filing of a qualifying counterclaim or cross claim; the court may extend for good cause. 2
Discovery and hearing scheduleFiling the motion stays discovery, subject to specified and limited discovery ordered by the court; an expedited hearing is generally due within 60 days, subject to statutory exceptions. 2

What to Watch for in Connecticut

  • Keep the lawsuit and policy clocks separate

    Connecticut's two-year statute runs from the date of the act complained of. It does not set the policy deadline for reporting a demand, correction request, or potential claim. 1

  • Route a complaint to counsel immediately

    The special-motion deadline is 30 days after the return date, and discovery generally stops when the motion is filed. Send served papers to counsel and the insurer promptly, even if the claim's merits are still being assessed. 2

  • Note the express defamation carve-back

    The statute generally excludes bodily-injury and wrongful-death claims but expressly says that exclusion does not apply to defamation, libel, or slander. This describes procedure only; check the policy wording for defense and coverage terms. 2

Who Regulates Insurance in Connecticut

Connecticut Insurance Department

The Connecticut Insurance Department licenses insurance producers and companies, oversees insurers and regulated insurance activity, and investigates insurance complaints. Its complaint and license-search services let you raise an issue or check an insurance professional or company. 3,4,5

Surplus-lines tax and stamping office

Reported tax rate: 4% of gross premium when Connecticut is the home state When Connecticut is the insured’s home state, surplus-lines tax is 4% of gross premium; certain state and local government insureds are exempt, and broker or policy fees are not part of the premium-tax base. Connecticut’s required notice says these policies are outside the state guaranty association. Most placements require three declinations or an export-list qualification; an exempt commercial purchaser may qualify for the federal § 8205 search exception after disclosure and a written request. 6,7,8

Providers With Documented State Licenses

These providers publish a national listing for Media liability; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Connecticut. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • CoalitionCoalition Insurance Solutions, Inc.Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28Coalition’s license page lists producer and surplus-lines licenses for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The page separately lists insurers; this record covers the brokerage entity only. 10
  • CorgiCorgi Insurance Services, Inc.Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. 11

Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Connecticut

  1. Who receives a served complaint so counsel can assess the 30-day motion deadline?
  2. Does the policy require consent before filing a special motion, and how are its fees and costs counted against limits?
  3. What is the policy's reporting deadline for a demand or circumstance?
  4. Does the quoted form identify which employees, freelance contributors, and publishing entities are insured?

Media Liability in Connecticut: FAQ

Does the two-year period give us two years to notify the insurer? 1

No. The statute limits when an action may be brought; policy notice is a separate contract requirement. 1

Are defamation claims excluded from Connecticut's special-motion procedure as bodily-injury claims? 2

The current statute expressly says its bodily-injury and wrongful-death exclusion does not apply to defamation, libel, or slander. Whether a motion is available depends on the facts and other statutory requirements. 2

Media Liability in Other States

Other Coverage in Connecticut

Sources

  1. Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 926 (2025 publication). Connecticut General Assembly; § 52-597: two years from date of act complained of; chapter used with 2026 supplement. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. Connecticut General Statutes 2026 Supplement, Chapter 900. Connecticut General Assembly; § 52-196a(a)–(h); P.A. 25-77 effective Oct. 1, 2025: scope, deadline, stay, hearing, fees and defamation inclusion. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. Connecticut Insurance Department. Connecticut Insurance Department; Official Department homepage; mission and department resources. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. Licensing. Connecticut Insurance Department; Department licensing resource landing page; links to state agent and company license lookup. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. Ask a Question or File a Complaint. Connecticut Insurance Department; Online complaint form and consumer affairs helpline. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  6. FAQs: Surplus Lines Brokers. Connecticut Insurance Department; Current tax rate, tax base and exemptions, diligent-search rules, guaranty-fund notice. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. FAQs: Surplus Lines Brokers. Connecticut Insurance Department; Question on surplus-lines notice states Connecticut Insurance Guaranty Association does not cover these policies. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  8. 15 U.S.C. § 8205: Streamlined application for commercial purchasers. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; Broker's due-diligence search exception for an exempt commercial purchaser requires prior disclosure that admitted-market insurance may offer greater protection/regulatory oversight and the purchaser's subsequent written request for nonadmitted placement. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  9. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
  10. Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
  11. Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  12. About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  13. Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  14. Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  15. Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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