OneBeacon Asks Judge to Appoint Neutral Umpire in $3.5 Million Dispute

BOSTON - OneBeacon Insurance Co. has asked a Massachusetts federal judge to appoint an umpire to oversee its $3.5 million reinsurance dispute with Sentry Insurance, asserting that the parties have reached an impasse in the selection process. OneBeacon Insurance Co. v. Sentry Insurance, No. 1:11-cv-11261 (D. Mass.).

In a July 19 petition filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, OneBeacon maintains that Section 5 of the Federal Arbitration Act authorizes the court to select an umpire.

According to the petition, Sentry's predecessor, Hardware Mutual Casualty Co., issued OneBeacon's predecessor, Employers' Surplus Lines Insurance Co., an excess …