When a dispute arose over reinsurance for commercial general and professional liability insurance, and the reinsurance agreements were silent as to choice of law, a United States District Court has held that the choice of law provisions of the law of the forum state of the court control choice of law issues. ERC v. Laurier, case no. 03-1650, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (June 16, 2006).
Reinsurance Claims
RICO claims against GenRe dismissed
A United States District Judge dismissed RICO claims asserted against GenRe by the Insurance Commissioners of Tennessee and Virginia in an MDL action relating to the liquidation of Reciprocal of America and various risk retention groups, due to the failure to adequately plead reliance. In re Reciprocal of America Sales Practices Litigation, case no., MDL 04-1551 (June 12, 2006). The claims alleged that GenRe provided illusory reinsurance, under which it did not assume substantial risk.
Court of Appeals vacates summary judgment, finding reinsurance agreements ambiguous
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated orders entered granting Republic Insurance Company summary judgment interpreting facultative reinsurance certificates, finding that the provisions regarding when definitive statement of loss were required to be submitted were ambiguous, requiring consideration of extrinsic evidence and resolution of the ambiguity by a trier of fact. Folksamerica Reinsurance Co. v. Republic Ins. Co., Case No. 04-2716 (May 26, 2006).