“Given the turbulence affecting the financial services industry these days—including recent announcements concerning Lehman Brothers—you may be wondering what would happen to your securities account if your brokerage firm closed its doors.” 

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Read More FINRA Publishes Release Entitled “If a Brokerage Firm Closes Its Doors”

The Acquisitions Directive
HM Treasury and the FSA have published a joint CP entitled “Implementation of the Acquisitions Directive: a consultation document “.

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Read More UK: HM Treasury and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) publish a consultation paper (CP) on the Acquisitions Directive

Two federal district courts recently reached different results on the question whether a subpoena received by an insured constitutes a “claim” under an insurance policy. …
Read More Whether a Subpoena Is a “Claim” Depends on the Policy Language and the Nature of the Subpoena

On September 23, 2008, at the NAIC Fall meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, the Life Insurance and Annuities (A) Committee (the “Committee”) covered a number of issues with respect to viatical settlements.  Specifically, the Committee discussed whether it should revise the NAIC Viatical Settlement Model Act to incorporate provisions from the NCOIL Model Act to address, among other things, the issue of stranger initiated life insurance trusts. …
Read More NAIC Life Insurance and Annuities Committee Discussed Viatical Settlements

In Insurance Institute of Michigan, et al. v. Commissioner, No. 262385, 2008 WL 190394 (Mich. Ct. App., Aug. 21, 2008), the appellate court opinion of Presiding Judge Helen N. White vacated a lower court’s permanent injunction against regulations prohibiting the use of credit scores in home and auto insurance. …
Read More Michigan Court of Appeals Reinstates Regulations Prohibiting the Use of Credit Scoring in Home and Auto Insurance

On September 24, 2008, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) adopted a Model Regulation on the Use of Senior-Specific Certifications and Professional Designations in the Sale of Life Insurance and Annuities (the “Model Regulation”). …
Read More NAIC Adopts Model Regulation to Protect Seniors

The annual conference of the American Bankers Insurance Association was held on September 22-24 in Phoenix, and attended by EAPD attorneys Ted Augustinos, Chuck Welsh and Brian Green. Ted gave a presentation with Joan Cleveland of Prudential entitled “Using Customer Information to Drive Revenues,” and Brian co-chaired a panel discussion with Tim Tobin of Bank of America on reinsurance and risk management issues. …
Read More Report from the American Bankers Insurance Association Annual Conference

In James River Ins. Co. v. Ground Down Engineering, Inc., No. 07-13207 (11th Cir. August 20, 2008), the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that a Florida state appellate court erred by refusing to give effect to an absolute pollution exclusion in a professional liability policy. …
Read More Environmental Claims – 11th Circuit Applies Absolute Pollution Exclusion

During the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) Fall Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, the Surplus Lines Task Force (“Task Force”) chaired by Commissioner James Donelon (LA) received a report on the status of the proposed 2007 Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act (H.R. 1065/ S. 929) (the “Bill”). 

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Read More NAIC Surplus Lines Task Force Makes Progress Despite Likelihood that the Bill will not Pass this Year

EAPD lawyer Machua Millett is participating in the American Conference Institute’s ReAct Brazil International Forum on Positioning for Success in the Brazilian Reinsurance Market.  This morning’s presentations included “Entering the Brazilian Market: What You Must Consider to Launch and Maintain Successful Reinsurance Operations in Brazil” and “Regulator’s Perspective on the New Brazilian Reinsurance Law.” …
Read More Breaking News: Industry Participants and Regulators Discuss Development of the Brazilian Reinsurance Market