Trial Court Properly Severed Claims Against Munich Re in Reinsurance Dispute, N.Y. Appellate Court Rules

ALBANY, N.Y. — A New York trial court did not abuse its discretion in severing claims filed against Munich Reinsurance America Inc. from those asserted against a co-defendant because the defendants have no relationship with one another and the claims arise from different reinsurance contracts, an appellate court has ruled.

On Oct. 9, the New York Appellate Division, 4th Department, further noted that a finding of liability against one defendant will not impact the liability of the other.

Utica provided 12 primary and 12 umbrella policies to Burnham Corp., which were in effect from Jan. 1, 1974, through Jan. 1, …