Court Denies Canadian Insurance Company's Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction

SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal judge in California has denied a Canadian insurance company's motion to dismiss an asbestos coverage action based on lack of jurisdiction, ruling that policies issued by the insurer included coverage for claims arising in the United States and that the insurer purposefully availed itself of the privileges of doing business in California. Flintkote v. Aviva, et al., No. 04-01827 (N.D. Calif.).

In a Sept. 7 order, Judge Marilyn Hall Patel of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California found that since the insurer voluntarily issued policies that covered injuries addressed in California …