U.K. Justice Refuses to Stay Allstate/Equitas Commutation Dispute

LONDON - An English justice has refused to stay a dispute over whether a 2004 commutation agreement relieves Allstate Insurance Co. of its obligations under certain common account excess of loss reinsurance contracts. Equitas Ltd. v. Allstate Insurance Co., No. 2008 Folio 241 (Eng. Comm., Queen's Bench Div.).

Mr. Justice Beatson of the English Commercial Court, Queen's Bench Division, ruled on July 17 that the action has "little overlap" with a related arbitration pending in Texas and should be tried in accordance with the agreement's exclusive English jurisdiction clause.

Highlands was reinsured under a series of quota share reinsurance contracts …