The Second Circuit refused to hear an appeal in an action brought by Acumen Re Management Corporation, an underwriter, against a reinsurer, General Security National Insurance Company. The crux of the action was Acumen’s allegation that General Security breached the agreement between them by failing to pay Acumen certain commissions which General Security allegedly owed under the parties’ agreement. In the suit, Acumen alleged five distinct theories as to how General Security breached the agreement. The lower court entered partial summary judgment in favor of General Security on four of those theories and further held that, under all five theories, no more than nominal damages were available to Acumen. The lower court certified the partial final summary judgment as to the four counts under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b) which authorizes, under certain circumstances, entry of a partial final judgment as to one or more, but fewer than all, claims of the parties such that the partial final judgment becomes reviewable on appeal. The Second Circuit determined that the five theories Acumen alleged were not separate and distinct claims; instead, Acumen alleged five various ways in which General Security breached the agreement and the claims were interrelated and dependent upon each other. The Second Circuit concluded that it did not have jurisdiction to review the lower court’s entry of partial summary judgment. Acumen Re Management Corp. v. General Security National Insurance Co., No. 12‐5081‐cv (2d Cir. Oct. 3, 2014).
This post written by Leonor Lagomasino.
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