Judge Orders Trustmark to Arbitrate; Appoints Thirkill as Umpire

CHICAGO - An Illinois federal judge has compelled Trustmark Insurance Co. to arbitrate a reinsurance contract dispute with Clarendon National Insurance Co. and denied Trustmark's request to disqualify Clarendon's arbitrator. Trustmark Insurance Co. v. Clarendon National Insurance Co., No. 09-6169 (N.D. Ill.).

On Feb. 1, Judge Harry D. Leinenweber of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois deemed unripe the issue of whether Clarendon's arbitrator, Mary Ellen Burns, is biased. The judge appointed David Thirkill to oversee the arbitration.

Clarendon reinsured Trustmark under a "Variable Quota Share Treaty" that was effective on June 1, 1997 (VQS I). …