OneBeacon Seeks Appointment of Umpire to Oversee Reinsurance Arbitration

NEW YORK – OneBeacon America Insurance Co. has asked a New York federal judge to appoint an umpire to oversee an arbitration with its reinsurer involving non-products asbestos claims against Avondale Shipyards Inc.

In a June 27 petition, OneBeacon is urging Judge Cathy Seibel of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to direct Swiss Reinsurance America Corp. to participate in the umpire selection process.

According to the petition, OneBeacon’s predecessor insured Avondale from the 1950s through the 1970s. Since then, thousands of individuals have asserted asbestos-related bodily injury claims against Avondale. Avondale sought coverage from …