Judge Dismisses Fraud, Negligence Claims Against Accounting Firm

PHILADELPHIA - Fraud and negligence claims brought against an accounting firm in a reinsurance contract dispute were dismissed without prejudice by a Pennsylvania federal judge for lack of personal jurisdiction. Capitol Insurance Co. v. Dvorak, et al., No. 10-1195 (E.D. Pa.).

On Oct. 29, Judge J. Curtis Joyner of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled that the firm never had sufficient "minimum contacts" with Pennsylvania and never "expressly aimed" its conduct at Pennsylvania.

Capitol Insurance Co. sued several individuals and corporations, including the accounting firm of Daniel Samela, for alleged losses arising from a reinsurance …