In a suit between AXA and AIG in which AIG prevailed over AXA’s claim that AIG fraudulently induced it to enter into two reinsurance facilities, a court has set aside AIG’s award of over $200,000 in litigation costs. AIG had prevailed in the case after the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a $35 million jury verdict in favor of AXA, which awarded compensatory and punitive damages, on the grounds that the case was barred by the statute of limitations. The court reasoned that it would be “inequitable to award costs to AIG,” especially in light of the fact that “after a two-week trial, a jury of twelve citizens unanimously found that AIG had defrauded AXA to such a deplorable extent that the conduct merited an award of punitive damages.” AXA Versicherung AG v. New Hampshire Insurance Co., Case No. 05-10180 (USDC S.D.N.Y. March 9, 2011).
This post written by Michael Wolgin.