Insurers Ordered to Produce Reinsurance Information in Coverage Dispute

SPOKANE, Wash. - A federal judge has adopted a magistrate judge's recommendation that certain London insurers be required to produce a log of any notice letters sent to their reinsurers concerning underlying environmental claims made against Teck Metals Ltd. in connection with its Canadian smelting site. Teck Metals Ltd. v. London Market Insurance, No. 05-411 (E.D. Wash.).

On Nov. 22, Chief Judge Lonny R. Suko of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington adopted a report and recommendations by Magistrate Judge James P. Hutton, who determined that the notice letters might reveal when Teck gave its insurers …