Mass. Federal Judge Refuses to Confirm “Final” Award in Absence of Parties’ Agreement to Bifurcate

BOSTON — A Massachusetts federal judge has denied First State Insurance Co.’s motion to confirm an arbitration award that addressed contract interpretation issues in a reinsurance dispute, explaining that the award did not resolve all of the parties’ claims.

In an Oct. 21 order, Judge Indira Talwani explained that the parties did not agree to bifurcation of the arbitration proceedings, therefore the award is not “final” and cannot be judicially confirmed.

First State Insurance Co. and New England Reinsurance Co. had entered into several reinsurance agreements with Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. Irreconcilable disputes arose between the parties under these …