N.Y. Federal Magistrate Judge Refuses to Compel Production of Privileged Communications in Reinsurance Action

UTICA, N.Y. — A New York federal magistrate judge has denied Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co.’s motion to compel disclosure of certain documents in its reinsurance dispute with Utica Mutual Insurance Co., noting that “discovery is long closed” and extensive partial summary judgment motion practice has taken place.

On Aug. 21, Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York found no basis to reopen discovery in the instant case at this late stage in the litigation.

Trial is set to begin on Nov. 24.

From 1966 to 1972, Utica insured Goulds under …