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NEW JERSEY’S “DIRECT ACTION STATUTE” IS NOT A BAR TO JUDGMENT CREDITOR’S COVERAGE ACTION

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A New Jersey appellate court recently addressed that state’s “direct action statute,” concluding that it did not prevent judgment creditors from pursuing a coverage action arising out of an LMX reinsurance spiral. The plaintiffs in the underlying action were former shareholders of certain insurance companies, and they sued the insurers’ managing general agent for professional negligence. The MGA, now defunct, failed to answer. On the eve of the damages hearing, the MGA’s professional liability and excess carriers (Travelers and ERSIC) asserted a variety of coverage defenses, and denied the claim. The plaintiffs obtained a $92 million judgment against the MGA.

After obtaining their judgment, the plaintiffs filed suit in New Jersey against Travelers and ERSIC seeking coverage under the two policies. The trial court dismissed the coverage case due to lack of standing. The trial court based its decision, in part, on New Jersey’s so-called “direct action statute,” N.J.S.A 17:28-2. That statute requires that certain types of policies (those addressing injury to a person and certain loss or damage to property) contain a provision “that the insolvency or bankruptcy of the person insured shall not release the insurance carrier from the payment of damages for injury sustained or loss occasioned during the life of the policy, and stating that in case execution against the insured is returned unsatisfied in an action brought by the insured person because of the insolvency or bankruptcy, then an action may be maintained by the injured person against the [insurer] under the terms of the policy.” The trial court accepted the defendants’ argument that the statute authorizes a direct action against an insurer only for the particular personal injury and property damage risk specified in the statute.

The appellate court disagreed, first noting the general principle that after an injured plaintiff obtains a judgment against an insured tortfeasor that remains unsatisfied due to insolvency, the plaintiff “stands in the shoes” of the insured with respect to the insurance policy and thus acquires standing to pursue an action against the insurer. The court rejected the “direct action statute” argument, holding that just because the statute mandates that certain specifically identified types of policies must contractually provide for the right to a post-judgment action, it does not follow that no such right exists in connection with other types of policies. The appellate court noted that “direct action statute” is a misnomer because the statute does not actually authorize direct actions. Rather, it prohibits insurers from contractually disclaiming, in the specifically enumerated policy types, an injured party’s right to sue the insurer for an unsatisfied judgment. The statute does not provide that derivative or post-judgment actions are available only in regard to those certain types of policies. Accordingly, the plaintiffs had standing to pursue their coverage action. Ferguson v. Travelers Indem. Co., Case No. A-3530-12T3 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. August 4, 2014).

This post written by Catherine Acree.

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ALASKA ISSUES BULLETIN ON REGULATIONS MODIFYING SURPLUS LINES REQUIREMENTS

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Alaska’s Division of Insurance has released a bulletin notifying licensees, surplus lines insurance companies in the State of Alaska, and other interested parties that it has adopted regulations modifying surplus lines requirements to conform to Alaska statutory changes due to the federal Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act of 2010. The regulations include modifications to diligent search requirements, additional requirements for the notice of nonrenewal and premium increases, and additional fees for certain licenses. All affected parties must comply with the new requirements as of September 4, 2014, the effective date of the regulations. Alaska Ins. Bulletin No. 14-05 (Aug. 13, 2014).

This post written by Renee Schimkat.

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NEW YORK STATE COURT APPROVES CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

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A New York state court approved a stipulation entered into among the parties in a reinsurance dispute which set forth the terms and conditions upon which the parties agreed produce and exchange confidential and/or proprietary documents and information. The agreement permitted the parties to designate documents and information as confidential and thereby restrict their use and dissemination outside the scope of the litigation. Granite State Insurance Co. v. R&Q Insurance Co., Index No. 654494/2013 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Aug. 4, 2014).

This post written by Leonor Lagomasino.

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COURT REJECTS CLAIMS OF PRIVILEGE, WORK PRODUCT, AND THE COMMON INTEREST DOCTRINE TO REINSURANCE INFORMATION

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In a discovery dispute between insurer Progressive and the FDIC, as receiver of the insured bank, a federal district court has rejected all claims of attorney-client privilege and work product protection to reinsurance information the court had previously directed Progressive to produce. As reported here, the court had compelled Progressive to produce certain reinsurance information to the FDIC, including communications with its reinsurers regarding potential coverage of the FDIC’s lawsuit against the bank’s directors and officers. Progressive then redacted portions of the communications on the grounds of attorney-client privilege and/or protected work product. The FDIC challenged both grounds. The court first found that the reinsurance information was not protected by work product because the information was created in the ordinary course of business and not “prepared or obtained because of the prospect of litigation.” The court then found that even if the documents contained attorney-client communications, any privilege was waived when Progressive voluntarily disclosed the documents to its reinsurers and broker. Progressive had argued that the common interest doctrine applied to the communications and, therefore, the attorney-client privilege was preserved. The court disagreed, finding the doctrine applied only when the parties shared a common legal interest, not a commercial or financial one. Further, there was no evidence establishing a joint strategy or legal enterprise, which is “central” to the common interest doctrine.

The court did reject the FDIC’s other claims as to alleged deficiencies in Progressive’s production, including Progressive’s failure to produce electronically stored information because Progressive was never previously required to retrieve it. Finally, the court rejected all of the reinsurer’s arguments that it need not comply with the FDIC’s subpoena for documents, including those of privilege, undue burden, and relevance. Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. v. FDIC, Case No. 12-CV-04041 (USDC N.D. Iowa Aug. 22, 2014).

This post written by Renee Schimkat.

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SECOND CIRCUIT FINDS THAT LATE NOTICE BARS CLAIMS AGAINST REINSURER

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The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a lower court’s ruling in favor of TIG Insurance Company, finding that AIU Insurance Company’s belated notice of claim to TIG under nine certificates of facultative reinsurance issued by TIG barred AIU’s claim. AIU submitted its claim almost four years after it settled with its insured regarding numerous asbestos-related lawsuits. Central to the Second Circuit’s ruling was its conclusion that, under New York’s choice of law rules, the substantive law of Illinois – and not New York – applied to the question as to the legal effect of the late notice. Under Illinois law, TIG was not required to prove it was prejudiced resulting from AIU’s late notice. AIU Insurance Co. v. TIG Insurance Co., No. 13-1580-cv (2d Cir. Aug. 27, 2014).

This post written by Leonor Lagomasino.

See our disclaimer.