defense within limits

A liability policy provision according to which amounts paid by the insurer to defend the insured against a claim or suit reduce the policy's applicable limit of insurance. General liability policies are ordinarily not subject to such a provision, although the standard commercial general liability policy provides for defense of the named insured's indemnitee “within limits” when the named insured has a contractual obligation to provide such a defense. Defense within limits is more common in professional liability policies. See Shrinking limits defense provision.


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