PHILADELPHIA, March 3 — A federal judge has granted a motion filed by R&Q Reinsurance Company to stay a reinsurance coverage suit filed by St. Paul Insurance arising out of more than $10 million in asbestos – related payments made by St. Paul on behalf of an insured. St. Paul sought reimbursement from R&Q pursuant to a reinsurance treaty with INA Reinsurance, to which R&Q has become a successor in interest.
The case has now been stayed pending the outcome of a previous case filed by R&Q in United States District Court in Illinois in 2015. That case is captioned R&Q Reinsurance Company, f/k/a Ace American Reinsurance Company, f/k/a Cigna Reinsurance Company, f/k/a INA Reinsurance Company v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company (No. 15-cv-07784, U.S. N.D. Ill.).
U.S. District Judge Judge Joel H. Slomsky originally denied the motion to stay in the Pennsylvania action on Dec. 18, but vacated that ruling as part of a decision he rendered on a motion to dismiss subsequently filed by R&Q in Pennsylvania . R&Q sought dismissal or stay in Pennsylvania pursuant to the first filed rule, citing to the Illinois litigation filed in 2015.
St. Paul had already filed and fully briefed a motion to transfer venue in the Illinois proceeding. Judge Slomsky stayed the Pa. proceeding pending rulingson jurisdictional motions in the Illinois action.
St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company v. R&Q Reinsurance Company, No. 15-cv-5528, E.D. Pa. March 3, 2016.
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