Florida Law Applies to Malpractice, Fiduciary Duty Claims Against Howden, Judge Rules

MIAMI — Florida, rather than English, law applies to malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty claims brought against Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd. in a suit accusing it of overcharging commission to a Costa Rican insurer, a Florida state judge has ruled.

On April 10, Judge Beth Bloom of the Miami-Dade County (Fla.) Circuit Court ruled that under the “most significant relationship test,” the factors weigh in favor of applying Florida law to Counts III, IV and VI of Instituto Nacional de Seguros’s second amended complaint.

INS, a Costa Rican state-owned insurer, provides property damage and business interruption coverage to Instituto …