New Jersey, California and North Carolina join list of jurisdictions that have enacted "revival windows” for time-barred sex abuse claims. New Jersey “revival window” for time-barred sex abuse claims effective as of December 1, 2019; California and North Carolina to follow in January 2020 This year has been a busy one for state legislatures, many of which … [Read more...] about States Open The Window For Sex Abuse Claims
Legislation/Statutes
Allegations of Clergy Misconduct
In the wake of the recent release of another investigating grand jury report regarding abuse of minors by clerics, Pennsylvania state lawmakers have introduced a proposal to revive previously time-barred civil claims arising out of allegations of childhood sexual abuse. If passed, the new law would open a two-year “window” during which victims could file such claims without … [Read more...] about Allegations of Clergy Misconduct
Legacy Watershed: Capitalizing on the New Legislative Options for Runoff
New legislation is loosening the tight regulatory knot that’s been wrapped around legacy insurance business in the U.S. Upcoming game-changers include: Key amendments to the Rhode Island Voluntary Restructuring Statute (the ‘Rhode Island Statute’), which, among other amendments (House Bill 8163), would allow (re)insurers to transfer eligible portfolios without requiring … [Read more...] about Legacy Watershed: Capitalizing on the New Legislative Options for Runoff
The Impact of the Tax Reform Act on the Insurance Industry
Touted as the most significant federal tax legislation since 1986, Public Law 115-97 – informally known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (the “TCJA”) – was enacted on December 22, 2017. This article examines the potential impact of several provisions of the TCJA on the insurance industry. The changes in the TCJA to domestic corporate tax provisions, including the corporate tax … [Read more...] about The Impact of the Tax Reform Act on the Insurance Industry
The Legacy Market: Resistance. Protection. Equivalence. Vision. That Order.
In The Legacy Market article that ran in the Spring 2017 issue, we discussed the various exit and capital release tools available to the European insurance market with each providing different degrees of finality and capital relief. The second Legacy Market article which ran in the Fall issue, discussed the first finality statute available in the U.S. and steps taken by other … [Read more...] about The Legacy Market: Resistance. Protection. Equivalence. Vision. That Order.
Separate but Not Equal
Recent developments indicate that U.S. regulators are responding to these market realities. In 2015, Rhode Island passed regulations providing for “insurance business transfers” for commercial P&C runoff business. The Rhode Island Insurance Business Transfer (RI IBT) is modeled on the U.K.’s Part VII Transfer that has been British law for almost 20 years and has resulted in … [Read more...] about Separate but Not Equal
“Eyes-On” Management: Watch Lists for Effective Management of Significant P&C Insurance Risks
All insurance and reinsurance companies want to avoid public disclosures or headlines regarding significant reserve increases, such as the recent newsworthy reserve adjustments that more than a few companies have taken for asbestos, silicosis, or other large tort liability claims. But how? The secret lies in the early identification of “bad” claims when there is time to alter … [Read more...] about “Eyes-On” Management: Watch Lists for Effective Management of Significant P&C Insurance Risks
Twisting in the Wind: Covered Agreement Dangling by Uncertainty and Politics
On January 13, 2017, the United States and the European Union (EU) concluded negotiations on the first insurance covered agreement after this novel multilateral international agreement, envisioned and promoted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) and the U.S. state insurance regulators who are its members, was authorized by Title V of the Dodd-Frank … [Read more...] about Twisting in the Wind: Covered Agreement Dangling by Uncertainty and Politics
USF&G v. American Re Settles
What does that mean? If rumors are to be believed (and there is no reason to think that they should not be), the long running dispute of United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. American ReInsurance Co. (“USF&G v. Am Re”) settled with trial looming. As many will remember, in February 2013, the New York Court of Appeals (the state’s highest court) issued an important … [Read more...] about USF&G v. American Re Settles
Rhode Island Regulation 68: Voluntary Restructuring of Solvent Insurers Act
Recently Rhode Island revised its Voluntary Restructuring of Solvent Insurers Act as implemented by DBR Regulation 68. This is, in many respects, modeled after the UK’s Part VII Transaction, which, subject to court approval, enables companies to transfer/novate a book of business (and divest itself of all residual liability), to another unrelated insurer that assumes all … [Read more...] about Rhode Island Regulation 68: Voluntary Restructuring of Solvent Insurers Act
Sixth Circuit Follow-Up: Court Interventions in Arbitration Proceedings
In the Fall 2016 edition of AIRROC Matters, we discussed a series of contentious arbitration disputes between Meadowbrook and National Union that led to a noteworthy Sixth Circuit decision concerning the involvement of courts in arbitration proceedings and the impact of ex parte communications. In August 2016, in Star v. National Union, 2016 WL 4394563, at *1 (6th Cir. 2016), … [Read more...] about Sixth Circuit Follow-Up: Court Interventions in Arbitration Proceedings
Lifting the Veil on Arbitration Proceedings: Who’s Your Arbitrator: Arbitrator Disqualification by the Courts
In the Spring 2016 issue of AIRROC Matters, we featured Part 1 of a multipart arbitration series by Michael Goldstein and Dan Endick titled, “When Courts Peek Under the Arbitral Veil: The Role of the Courts in Managing Your Reinsurance Arbitration.” Part 2 was “Lifting the Veil on Arbitration Proceedings: Who’s Your Counsel – Disqualification of Counsel by Courts” and it … [Read more...] about Lifting the Veil on Arbitration Proceedings: Who’s Your Arbitrator: Arbitrator Disqualification by the Courts
Lessons of ROM v. Continental: Who Decides Whether Claims are Timely and Under What Circumstances?
Assume you are a reinsurer and you receive a number of arbitration demands. At least one of the demands pertains to a claim (“OLD CLAIM”) where you denied reinsurance coverage nearly 10 years ago. You agree to consolidate the arbitrations. You also name your arbitrator as a precaution because the treaties require that an arbitrator be named quickly and you still have to … [Read more...] about Lessons of ROM v. Continental: Who Decides Whether Claims are Timely and Under What Circumstances?
Light Speed Liquidation: A Roadmap of Reliance’s Steps to Rapid Closure of the Estate
On October 3, 2001, Reliance Insurance Company was placed into liquidation by Order of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. In her Petition to the Commonwealth Court seeking an Order to place Reliance into liquidation, Commissioner of Insurance Diane M. Koken indicated that Reliance had a negative surplus of over one billion dollars. Reliance, at the time, was considered to … [Read more...] about Light Speed Liquidation: A Roadmap of Reliance’s Steps to Rapid Closure of the Estate
Insurance Business Transfer: Rhode Island’s Answer to Part VII
Something new and important is coming to the $200 billion plus run-off market in the U.S. Proposed amendments to Insurance Regulation 68 are pending in the State of Rhode Island (RI) and are expected to be approved later this year. These amendments have the potential to invigorate and transform the market, similar to what has occurred in the UK run-off market over the last … [Read more...] about Insurance Business Transfer: Rhode Island’s Answer to Part VII
Assaulting the Bellefonte Citadel: Reinsurers Win…Not So Fast
In the 1990 landmark decision of Bellefonte Reinsurance Co. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 903 F.2d 910 (2d Cir. 1990), the Second Circuit Court of Appeals held that the reinsurer’s liability was capped at the dollar amount stated in the “Reinsurance Accepted” provision of the applicable facultative certificate. In doing so, the court relied on the portion of the … [Read more...] about Assaulting the Bellefonte Citadel: Reinsurers Win…Not So Fast
Test Drive the Future of Runoff: The Vermont Legacy Insurance Management Act of 2014
Companies and investors in the runoff space are generally aware that the State of Vermont’s new Legacy Insurance Management Act (LIMA), signed into law on February 19, 2014, has created a novel runoff business transfer method in a runoff market that has long been in need of growth and innovation, but the Act, its background and its potential applications have only begun to be … [Read more...] about Test Drive the Future of Runoff: The Vermont Legacy Insurance Management Act of 2014
Is the Duty of Utmost Good Faith in Runoff?
For centuries the venerable duty of utmost good faith has served as a bedrock principle of the reinsurance industry: a standard that has set reinsurance contractual relationships apart from other commercial transactions governed by “caveat emptor.” However, a number of commentators in the industry have questioned whether the duty of utmost good faith has been in … [Read more...] about Is the Duty of Utmost Good Faith in Runoff?
Walking the High Wire: The Discoverability of Insurer/Reinsurer Communications in Insurance Coverage Litigation
In insurance coverage litigation, cedants and reinsurers have a common financial interest in the investigation and adjustment of complex, high-dollar or questionable claims. In the real world, a joint financial interest is the firmest of foundations for expectations of confidentiality. Cedants have a duty to keep reinsurers informed, and reinsurers may decide to join in the … [Read more...] about Walking the High Wire: The Discoverability of Insurer/Reinsurer Communications in Insurance Coverage Litigation
