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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
The travesty that is the Solvent Scheme of Arrangement has been dealt another blow; one hopes a fatal one. A month after issuing a blistering attack on the practice, Lord Glennie entered final judgment this week refusing to sanction the Scottish Lion scheme. It is worth taking a long look at Lord Glennie’s lengthy opinion. The issue, … Continue Reading
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
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
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
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
Because this is a policyholder blog, you might think this is an odd question since RREs are usually insurers or TPAs; but the fact is that most large corporate policyholders probably are RREs ― not just for worker’s comp claims, but for tort claims as well. MMSEA-111 [Medicare Secondary Payer Mandatory Reporting Provisions in Section … Continue Reading
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
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
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
Finally, we can all rest easy. AON is taking over the Manchester United shirt sponsorship rights from AIG, starting in 2010. According to Reuters: The deal represents a coup for Aon, which has secured one of the most prestigious advertising deals in sport with United’s huge global fan base making them one of the top prizes in … Continue Reading
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
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
