Mich. Federal Judge Refuses to Seal, Redact Substantive Rulings in Reinsurance Arbitration Award

DETROIT — A Michigan federal judge has refused to seal or redact the substantive rulings of an arbitration panel’s final award issued in a reinsurance dispute, explaining that a corporation's interest in barring “prejudicial information” from public view, standing alone, cannot justify the sealing of that information.

However, in an Oct. 29 order, Matthew F. Leitman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan sealed portions of the final award that identify and contain testimony from non-parties to the arbitration.

Amerisure sought to recover sums allegedly due under certain reinsurance agreements issued by Everest for underlying claims …