Reorganization and Liquidation

COMMUTATION, SETTLEMENT, AND RELEASE AGREEMENT OF LEGION INSURANCE COMPANY (IN LIQUIDATION) FILED UNDER SEAL AND APPROVED

March 12, 2015 by Carlton Fields

A Pennsylvania Court has approved the commutation, settlement and release agreement between Legion Insurance Company (In Liquidation) and Midwest Employers Casualty Company. Legion was judicially determined insolvent in 2003, and the Pennsylvania insurance commissioner was appointed as liquidator. Legion and Midwest previously litigated in separate proceedings coverage of over 43 separate reinsurance certificates issued by Midwest to Legion between 1994 and 2001. In approving the commutation, settlement and release agreement, the Pennsylvania court noted that no objections to approval had been presented. The court also granted leave for the liquidator to file the agreement and its supporting affidavit confidentially under seal. In re Legion Insurance Co. (In Liquidation), 1 LEG 2002 (Pa. Commw. Ct. Dec. 30, 2014) (order approving commutation & order granting leave to file under seal).

This post written by Michael Wolgin.

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SEVENTH CIRCUIT DENIES REHEARING IN FAILED ATTEMPT TO COMPEL ARBITRATION AND TO REQUIRE PRE-PLEADING SECURITY FROM URUGUAY STATE-OWNED REINSURER

March 9, 2015 by Carlton Fields

On November 18, 2014, we reported on the Seventh Circuit’s decision in Pine Top Receivables of Illinois, LLC v. Banco de Seguros del Estado, in which Pine Top claimed that Banco de Seguros owed it $2,352,464.08 under certain reinsurance contracts. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the trial court’s ruling denying Pine Top’s motion to compel arbitration, agreeing that Pine Top’s assigned rights under the reinsurance contracts were limited to the collections of certain debts and did not include the right to arbitrate. The Seventh Circuit also had affirmed the trial court’s denial of a motion to strike Banco Seguros’s pleading for failure to post security, holding that such pre-judgment security is a form of attachment that violates the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. On December 22, 2014, the Seventh Circuit denied Pine Top’s petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc, as no judge requested a vote on the petition, and the judges on the prior panel voted to deny rehearing. Pine Top Receivables of Illinois, LLC v. Banco de Seguros del Estado, No. 13–1364 (7th Cir. Dec. 22, 2014).

This post written by Michael Wolgin.

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DELAWARE COURT ORDERS BANK TO TURN OVER $156 MILLION OF REINSURER’S ASSETS TO STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

February 26, 2015 by Carlton Fields

The Delaware Court of Chancery has denied U.S. Bank, N.A.’s request for an order establishing its right to retain cash and securities valued at $156 million and maintained by Freestone Insurance Company, a reinsurer now in receivership, in a custodial account at the Bank. When Freestone’s delinquency proceedings began, it maintained assets valued at $175 million with the Bank, which held the assets in trust to secure the insurer’s right to payment from Freestone (and others) as reinsurer. The Bank turned over only $19 million of the assets and moved for an order establishing its right to retain the rest, arguing it was entitled to keep the assets as security for potential indemnification claims and present and future expenses. The court denied the Bank’s motion, finding the Bank was not entitled to retain indefinitely assets valued at $156 million nor was it entitled to a security interest in those assets. Instead, the court ordered the Bank to turn over the $156 million to the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Delaware, allowing the Bank to keep only its current administrative fees to the extent incurred as of a date thirty days after the date the commissioner demanded the assets’ return. In the Matter of the Liquidation of Freestone Insurance Co., C.A. No. 9574-VCL (Del. Ch. Dec. 24, 2014).

This post written by Renee Schimkat.

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COURT APPROVES $7 MILLION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH REINSURER IN RELIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY’S LIQUIDATION

January 13, 2015 by Carlton Fields

A Pennsylvania court overseeing Reliance Insurance Company’s liquidation proceedings approved the settlement agreement between Reliance and XL Reinsurance Company. The agreement allowed the liquidator to terminate and commute the obligations between Reliance and XL under the parties’ reinsurance agreement, such that the estate would receive a $7,248,830 economic benefit. In re Reliance Insurance Company in Liquidation, 1 REL 2001 (Pa. Commw. Ct. Oct. 2, 2014).

This post written by Leonor Lagomasino.

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SOUTHERN TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED INSOLVENT AND ORDERED LIQUIDATED

October 29, 2014 by Carlton Fields

In July of this year, the State Corporation Commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia issued an Order declaring Southern Title Insurance Company insolvent and ordering its liquidation. Among other things, the Order authorized the receiver to use approximately $10 million of its assets “to enter into contracts of reinsurance to pay all policyholder claims.” The Order also set a Claims Filing Deadline and established other procedures and guidelines for the liquidation. Commonwealth ex rel. State Corp. Comm’n v. Southern Title Ins. Co., No. INS-2011-00239 (Va. State Corp. Comm’n July 28, 2014).

This post written by Catherine Acree.

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