Reinsurer Prevails on 'Premature' Claims in Hewlett-Packard Case

SAN FRANCISCO - A California federal judge has granted Munich Reinsurance America Inc. judgment on the pleadings in a dispute involving reinsurance coverage for deceptive advertising claims brought against Hewlett-Packard Co. The Tall Tree Insurance Co. v. Munich Reinsurance America Inc., No. 3:08-cv-01060 (N.D. Calif.).

On July 29, Judge Maxine M. Chesney of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that because the cedent, The Tall Tree Insurance Co., has not been found liable to its insured, its request for declaratory relief is premature.

Beginning in 2000, HP was hit with various class actions accusing …