Ann Kramer

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Policyholders grapple with strategies for responding to New York’s new insurance disclosure law

Insurance disclosure requirements have just become far more complex and onerous for parties that face litigation in New York state courts. In our January article (updated in February), we discussed the particulars of New York’s new Comprehensive Insurance Disclosure Act as it stood when the legislation was signed into law in late December 2021 and as … Continue Reading

NY’s new comprehensive insurance disclosure law is in flux

On December 31, New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law a change to the insurance disclosure requirements that applies to all civil cases filed in New York state’s courts. CPLR section 3101(f).  The new statute by its terms applies to both pending cases and new filings, with continuing disclosure obligations through appeals, and places … Continue Reading

Lightening the load: New York Appellate Division rejects heightened pleading standard for policyholders seeking Bi-Economy Market consequential damages

In a recent unanimous decision, the Appellate Division First Department provided clarity on the pleading requirements for policyholders seeking special or consequential damages allowed under the landmark decision of Bi-Economy Market v. Harleysville Insurance Company of New York, 856 N.Y.S.2d 505 (N.Y., Feb. 19, 2008). Under Bi-Economy, policyholders may seek special or consequential damages resulting … Continue Reading

Recent New York decision offers hope for long-overdue end to Resolute’s free pass

In a promising development for policyholders, a New York state trial court recently signaled a potential end to the free pass courts often have provided to third-party claims administrators (TPAs), such as Resolute Management, Inc. (Resolute), that has enabled TPAs to act with near impunity when handling or adjusting claims on behalf of their insurer clients. … Continue Reading

Reinsurance Deal Raises Red Flags

American International Group, Inc. (“AIG”) recently announced that it entered into a significant reinsurance agreement with a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (“Berkshire”). Reportedly, that agreement “covers 80% of substantially all of AIG’s U.S. Commercial long-tail exposures for accident years 2015 and prior.”  While AIG states that it “will retain sole authority to handle and … Continue Reading

‘Sorry, But You Have Nothing in Common’: The New York Court of Appeals’ Recent Rejection of the ‘Common Interest Doctrine’ Outside the Context of Litigation

The New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, recently rejected an attempt to apply the “common interest doctrine,” an exception to the general rule that communicating privileged information to a third party waives the attorney-client privilege, to situations where separately represented parties communicate attorney-client privileged information in connection with transactions or other circumstances … Continue Reading

Harmonizing Risk Transfer: Avoiding Pitfalls With Additional Insured Provisions

Insurance requirements in commercial agreements and corresponding additional insured provisions in insurance policies are important tools to manage and transfer risks. However, far too often those efforts are thwarted by inattention and, in some cases, sloppiness. As exemplified by the disastrous outcome for the contracting parties in Cincinnati Insurance Company v. Vita Food Products, Inc., No. 13 C 05181 (E.D. Ill. January 30, 2015), there are many pitfalls to successfully transfer risk and secure additional insured coverage.… Continue Reading

Another Listeria Outbreak Reminds Food Industry to Revisit Insurance Program

On December 19, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that U.S. consumers not eat any commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples and that retailers not sell or serve them as they continue to investigate an outbreak of listeria monocytogenes which has infected at least 28 people from 10 states. The CDC has yet to identify the producer of the contaminated apples. Accordingly, the number of market players in the supply chain who will be affected by this recommendation - from farms through supermarkets - remains unknown.… Continue Reading

Reed Smith’s Insurance Recovery Group Ready to Help Policyholders after U.S. Congress Fails to Extend TRIA

Last week, the U.S. Congress adjourned for the year without making any provision for extending the federal Terrorism Risk Insurance Act ("TRIA"). Absent some sort of extension, TRIA thus will expire next week - on December 31, 2014. As a result, insurers will no longer be required to offer terrorism insurance, and even those insurers that do offer the coverage may well reassess their risk and price the coverage at substantially increased premium rates.… Continue Reading

A free pass for NICO and Resolute?

A number of insurance companies have recently entered into reinsurance agreements with National Indemnity Company ("NICO"), a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. When this occurs - and the arrangements do not require the consent of policyholders - the policyholders unexpectedly find themselves involved with NICO and/or its "affiliated claims adjuster," Resolute Management, Inc. ("Resolute"). But, what happens when a policyholder disagrees with NICO's and/or Resolute's approach to adjusting, defending, or resolving claims?… Continue Reading

Bond Insurer FGIC Ordered To Stop Writing Policies and To Cease Paying Claims; ISDA Announces FGIC ‘Failure to Pay’ Credit Event

This post was written by David Schlecker and Andrea Pincus. 3rd Quarter Financials Lead to Action By NYS Superintendent of Insurance and ISDA On November 24, 2009, Financial Guaranty Insurance Company (“FGIC”), a New York- domiciled monoline financial guaranty insurer, was ordered by New York’s Superintendent of Insurance to cease writing any new policies and to … Continue Reading

Predictable Responses to Benmosche Leak

This morning’s WSJ report that Robert Benmosche, recently appointed CEO of AIG, is unhappy with government pay restrictions, has elicited predictable, less than sympathetic responses. “Tiny Violins” is the headline from the Daily Beast.  New York Magazine’s Daily Intel responded with sarcasm: Apparently, someone told Robert Benmosche that running the world’s largest and most [expletive withheld] insurer … Continue Reading

Delaware Chancery Court Opens the Door to “All Sums” Allocation in New York

On October 14th, Vice Chancellor Leo E. Strine, Jr. of the Delaware Court of Chancery blew some much needed fresh air into New York allocation jurisprudence. The Viking Pump consolidated cases, C.A. 1465-VCS, have already yielded very interesting and thoughtful rulings on the transfer of insurance in connection with complicated corporate transactions. Viking Pump, Inc. v. Liberty … Continue Reading

When will the chickens come home to roost? Insurers Use Reserve Releases to Buff Up Underwhelming Financials

Releasing reserves based on early developments is an optimist’s view, [Evan Greenberg, chairman and chief executive officer of ACE Limited] said. “Good news comes early in the casualty business. The bad news always comes late,” he said. “I do think some companies have released reserves early in an effort to goose earnings,” he said. “It … Continue Reading

Insurers Wait for a Hard Market: If Only Wishing Could Make It So

P&C insurance companies are in a tough spot right now. According to a recently released Insurance Services Offices report, their margins have dropped below break-even.  Investment income has fallen through the floor, and the commercial mortgage backed securities market hasn’t even begun to take the hit that analysts predict it will. On top of that, premiums are shrinking, … Continue Reading

Travelers v. Bailey

Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court handed a win to Travelers (and indirectly to chapter 11 debtors using insurance proceeds to fund bodily injury trusts), getting Travelers out of further liability arising from its actions “related to” its role as the primary insurer of Johns-Manville. These were not suits seeking proceeds of the insurance policies issued … Continue Reading

The Future of Monolines?

Felix Salmon reads the tea leaves left by Warren Buffet and concludes that the already disastrous monoline situation is unlikely to improve any time soon. Money quote: Given all these reasons to buy bonds rather than insure them, I do wonder what’s going to happen to the monoline market. Historically, it’s been a license to print … Continue Reading

Who Was Minding the Store?

For those of you interested in the role of regulators in the implosion of AIG [see prior posts Here and Here,] Planet Money (an award-winning joint project of NPR News and This American Life) had a fascinating program this past weekend: “The Watchmen”. Although it has already aired, it is available to listen to on-line or for … Continue Reading

The Path of the Umbrella

As Travelers takes AIG’s spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, or rather Dow Jones Non-Industrial Average take a moment to check out the path of the iconic red umbrella as it passed from Travelers to Citibank (ironically, Travelers former parent also exiting the Dow) and back again.… Continue Reading

AIG Hardball?

Bloomberg News yesterday carried a report of a court filing alleging that AIG reported a claimant to Homeland Security in order to avoid paying a verdict that now amounts, with interest, to $3 million. The worker, Aleksander Janda, was arrested today on charges related to using someone else’s Social Security number, including identity theft, said Helen … Continue Reading

The Equitas-Speyford Deal: The Train (Destination Solvent Scheme) is Leaving the Station

By now most of us have received notices of the Equitas-Speyford Part VII transfer. A court hearing to approve the transaction will take place in London on June 24th and the transaction is to take effect on the 30th of June. The letter asks policyholders to set forth any objections by June 9th: “If you intend to … Continue Reading
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