To embed, copy and paste the code into your website or blog: An Illinois appellate court has held that a professional liability insurer has a duty to defend suits seeking only declaratory and injunctive relief, even though the suits did not allege potentially covered damages. MHM Correctional Servs., Inc. v. Evanston Ins. Co., 2021 WL 689525 (Ill. Ct. App. Feb. 23, 2021). The policy was issued to healthcare providers that contract with state departments of corrections to provide medical care to inmates. The contracts required the providers to name the departments of correction as additional insureds and to indemnify the departments of correction for liability arising out of the providers’ performance of the contracts. In three separate lawsuits, inmates named the departments of correction and/or the providers as defendants, alleging failure to provide adequate healthcare services to inmates. The suits sought declaratory and injunctive relief that would compel the departments of correction and providers to deliver sufficient healthcare to the inmates. The suits also sought to rectify other institutional problems beyond insufficient medical care. None of the suits expressly sought monetary damages.