Arbitrators Should Resolve Dispute Over Payment of Retrospective Premiums, N.Y. Federal Judge Rules

NEW YORK — Arbitrators should decide whether a policyholder owes retrospective premiums to its workers’ compensation insurer pursuant to a series of indemnity and payment agreements, a New York federal judge has held, finding the dispute falls within the arbitration clauses in those agreements.

On Aug. 8, Judge John G. Koeltl of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York reasoned that the dispute plainly falls within the scope of the arbitration clauses in the agreements because it relates to whether the insured owes the payments under those agreements.

National Union Fire Insurance Co. provided workers compensation/employers …