N.Y. Federal Judge Orders Parties to Brief Issue of Sealing Reinsurance Arbitration Documents

NEW YORK — A New York federal judge has ordered further briefing on the issue of whether documents filed in a reinsurance arbitration should remain sealed in light of the parties’ confidentiality agreement.

In a Feb. 5 order, Judge Richard J. Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York explained that in order for the seal to remain, the parties must overcome the strong presumption of public access to judicial documents.

Clearwater and Granite State Insurance Co. and New Hampshire Insurance Co. were parties to multiple reinsurance contracts, each of which included an arbitration clause.