COURT DENIES IN PART, GRANTS IN PART CROSS-MOTIONS TO COMPEL DISCOVERY IN ASBESTOS REINSURANCE DISPUTE
A federal court recently ruled on cross-motions to compel in the ongoing litigation between Travelers Casualty and Century Indemnity. The dispute arose from Century’s denial of certain payment claims (regarding asbestos losses) under a series of reinsurance contracts covering underwriting years 1969-1974. The court denied Century’s motion to compel coverage dispute documents, finding them irrelevant because the underlying coverage was undisputed. Travelers, however, must provide all non-privileged documentation concerning the evaluation of the reinsurance claims. The court also denied Century’s motion regarding Traveler’s communications with other insurers, finding these irrelevant. The court also ordered the parties to meet and confer in an attempt to reach an agreement regarding the discovery of information related to Century’s reinsurance of other companies that insured the underlying insureds for asbestos liability. Finally, Century was compelled to answer an interrogatory related to its allocation of asbestos losses under the reinsurance treaties. Travelers Casualty & Surety Co. v. Century Indemnity Co., No. 3:10-cv-00400 (USDC D. Conn. Nov. 16, 2011).
This post written by John Black.
