Liberty Mutual Asks Court to Appoint Umpire in $6.5 Million Dispute

BOSTON, Mass. - A cedent has asked a federal judge to appoint an umpire to oversee the arbitration of a $6.5 million reinsurance contract dispute involving underlying asbestos claims, arguing that the reinsurers have refused to participate in the parties' agreed-upon appointment process. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., et al., No. 11-10651 (D. Mass.).

In an April 15 petition filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. says counsel for the reinsurers refused to allow the party-appointed arbitrators to negotiate an umpire selection process.

According to the petition, …