Ford Counsel May Not Act as Trial Advocate in Reinsurance Dispute, Va. Federal Judge Rules

RICHMOND, Va. — An attorney for Ford Motor Co. may not act as a trial advocate in a reinsurance dispute with National Indemnity Co. because his witness testimony is essential to the case, therefore his representation of Ford at trial would substantially prejudice NICO, a Virginia federal judge has ruled.

On Aug. 21, Senior Judge Robert E. Payne of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia held that Scott C. Oostdyk of McGuireWoods may assist in the preparation of Ford’s case and may even assist at trial in a non-advocacy role.

Gerling-Konzern Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft, a German insurer, …