7th Circuit Brings Down Curtain on Pre-Award Challenge to Arbitrator Partiality

[Editor's note: This article was originally published in ReinsuranceFocus.com, and does not constitute legal or other professional advice or service by Jorden Burt LLP and/or its attorneys. John Pitblado is an associate with Jorden Burt LLP at the firm's Simsbury, Conn. office.]

In Trustmark Insurance Company v. John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), No. 09-3682 (7th Cir. Jan. 31, 2011), the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reversed a federal district court's order i. enjoining a party-selected arbitrator from serving in an arbitration, based on issues arising from his participation in a prior arbitration between the same …