Judge Refuses to Stay Arbitration Pending Insco's Appeal of Counsel Disqualification

NEW YORK - A New York federal judge has refused stay a reinsurance arbitration pending Insco Ltd.'s appeal of an order banning the law firm of Freeborn & Peters from representing it in the arbitration. Northwestern National Insurance Co. v. Insco Ltd., No. 11-1124 (S.D. N.Y.).

On Dec. 6, Judge Shira A. Scheindlin of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that Insco failed to prove that the order would hamper ex parte communications in future reinsurance arbitrations.

In an Oct. 3 order, Judge Scheindlin ruled that Freeborn & Peters' disclosure of e-mails between the …