Ill. Court Refuses to Reconsider Order Staying Asbestos-Related Insurance Dispute

CHICAGO –– An Illinois federal court has refused to reconsider its earlier ruling staying an asbestos-related insurance dispute, saying that a Wisconsin state court is in a “more informed” position to address the arbitrability of the underlying dispute.

In the Dec. 11 order, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois reiterated its position that the suit filed in federal court is parallel to one filed in the Wisconsin state court.

The underlying lawsuit was filed by Allstate Insurance Co.; in it, the insurance company sought an order compelling A.O. Smith Corp. to arbitrate a dispute regarding a …