Conn. Court Rejects Insurer's 'Limited' View of Equitable Subrogation Doctrine

HARTFORD, Conn. - A federal court on June 15 declined to dismiss an equitable subrogation action by one insurer against another, finding that the doctrine should be read broadly where one insurer reasonably believed it had a duty to defend and indemnify its insured. Westport Insurance v. St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co., et al., No. 3:04cv1848 (JBA) (D. Conn.).

Westport Insurance is seeking to recoup $187,000 from St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co. for sums it paid to defend and settle malpractice actions against Carol Briggs, an attorney who represented the Amity (Conn.) School Board in several …