Federal Judge Denies Flintkote's Request for Reinsurance Information

SAN FRANCISCO - In an insurance coverage case involving asbestos claims, a California federal judge on May 26 denied without prejudice a request for discovery of reinsurance information, explaining that it is not relevant to the plaintiff's bad faith claims. The Flintkote Co. v. Gen. Accident Assurance Co., No. 04-01827 (N.D. Cal.).

But U.S. District Judge Marilyn H. Patel of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted The Flintkote Co.'s request for discovery of reserves information, ruling that it may reveal what the insurer believed it would have to pay for the asbestos claims.

The …