On InsureReinsure.com, we strive to provide information about issues involving the insurance and reinsurance world and we rarely deal with criminal proceedings but there are instances, however, when alleged criminal activities become relevant to our industry.

We have blogged regularly about Richard (“Dickie”) Scruggs and the Scruggs Katrina Group, a group of attorneys representing thousands of policyholders in Katrina-related coverage disputes with their insurance companies.
Read More Dickie Scruggs Indicted for Attempting to Bribe a Judge

A New York state appeals court recently held that an insured’s statements made pre-litigation to an insurer’s investigator, as well as subsequent testimony in the investigation regarding those statements, are inadmissible hearsay. …
Read More New York State Appellate Court: An Insured’s Statements During and Regarding an Insurance Investigation Are Not Admissible at a Subsequent Hearing Under the Business Records Exception to the Hearsay Rule

In late June, as previously reported here, both houses of the New York state legislature passed a bill proposing to reverse New York’s longstanding “no-prejudice rule,” which provides that an insurer need not establish prejudice in order to disclaim coverage on late notice grounds. 

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Read More New York Remains a No-Prejudice State. . . For Now

Last week, a federal appellate court affirmed the denial of a motion filed by State Farm Fire and Casualty Company (“State Farm”) to disqualify Richard (“Dickie”) Scruggs, his law firm, and other attorneys and firms in the Scruggs Katrina Group from representing plaintiffs in the case of McIntosh v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co.  …
Read More Fifth Circuit Affirms Denial of State Farm’s Motion to Disqualify Dickie Scruggs and the Scruggs Katrina Group

In the wake of the successful prosecution of ex-Brocade CEO Greg Reyes, government prosecutors are trying their luck a second time — this time with Brocade’s former vice president of human resources, Stephanie Jensen. 

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Read More Brocade Stock Options Backdating Criminal Trial: Episode II

Scott Kipper has been selected to replace Joel Ario as the administrator of Oregon’s Insurance Division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services (“DCBS”).  As previously reported here, Joel Ario left the Insurance Division to become the insurance commissioner of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Kipper’s appointment will be effective on December 27. …
Read More Oregon Selects Scott Kipper To Head Insurance Division

The Securities and Exchange Commission recently filed an amicus brief in the Vigilant Ins. Co. et al. v. The Bear Stearns Cos., Inc. insurance coverage litigation. On June 19, 2007, an intermediate New York State appellate court held that a question of fact existed as to whether a component of an SEC settlement that was specifically labeled as disgorgement actually constituted the kind of disgorgement that many courts have deemed uninsurable as a matter of public policy. 

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Read More SEC Files Amicus Brief in Bear Stearns Insurance Coverage Litigation

Matt Denn, the Delaware Insurance Commissioner, announced in early November that he will institute a significant worker’s compensation premium cut for the start of the next calendar year.  For most businesses who participate in the “voluntary” workers compensation market, premiums will be cut by an average of 17.75 percent. 

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Read More Delaware Insurance Commissioner to Cut Average Worker’s Compensation Premiums for 2008