Storm Shutters

Pursuant to the Connecticut Insurance Code, “[n]o insurer that delivers, issues for delivery, renews, amends or endorses a homeowners insurance policy in this state shall refuse to renew or issue such a policy solely on the basis that the insured or prospective insured has failed to install permanent storm shutters on his or her residential dwelling as a means of mitigating loss from hurricanes or other severe storms.” 
Read More Connecticut Lawmakers Consider Bill that Would Mandate Coverage by Insurers for Homes that Lack Permanent Storm Shutters; Provides Authority for Private Insurers to Offer Flood Insurance Coverage

Earlier in 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo introduced a series of tax reforms in his budget bill (the “Bill”) which is currently being addressed by the state legislature. 
Read More Potential New York Legislation to Introduce Tax Changes With Respect To Captive Insurers

In Impact Funding Solutions Limited (Impact) v. Barrington Support Services Limited (Barrington) v. AIG Europe Limited (AIG) (third party) [2013] EWHC 4005 (QB), the Court had previously ordered that Barrington (a company providing legal services) pay Impact (a third party litigation funder) £581,353.80 in damages for Barrington’s breaches of a Funding Agreement between Barrington and Impact. Under the Funding Agreement, Impact would provide a loan to Barrington’s clients to fund personal injury claims. 
Read More UK: Case Illustrates Need for Third Party (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010 to be Enacted

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined HomeServe Membership Limited (HomeServe) £30,647,400 for breaching several of the FCA’s Principles of Business. The FCA states its final notice that HomeServe’s failings were “serious, systemic and long running”. 
Read More FCA Imposes Record Fine for HomeServe’s Widespread Breaches of FCA’s Principles of Business

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin has signed H. 198, titled the Legacy Insurance Management Act (“LIMA”), in an effort to attract new domestic insurance companies dedicated to run-off business in Vermont. LIMA allows for the formation of Vermont-domiciled insurance companies whose sole purpose is to acquire closed blocks of P&C commercial insurance and reinsurance business from non-admitted companies. 
Read More Vermont Enacts “Legacy Insurance Management Act” for Commercial Run-Off Business

A federal district court in Washington handed Validus Reinsurance a major win on Wednesday, declaring that the IRS has no authority to assess excise tax on retrocessions. The decision in Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. v. United States of America, No. 13-0109 (D.D.C. Feb. 5, 2014), is available here
Read More Validus Wins Round One: Retrocessions Not Taxable Under 26 USC § 4371(3)