MBIA Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Note 13: Commitments and Contingencies
The following commitments and contingencies provide an update of those discussed in “Note 20: Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and should be read in conjunction with the complete descriptions provided in the aforementioned Form10-K.
Litigation
MBIA Insurance Corp. v. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, et al.; Index No. 603751/2009 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., N.Y. County)
Oral argument before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department on the parties’ cross-appeals from the court’s March 31, 2017 decision and order on the parties’ summary judgment motions took place on October 24, 2017 and a decision is pending. In May of 2018, Justice Kornreich, who had presided over the above-captioned case since its inception, retired from the bench. On May 25, 2018, Justice Jennifer G. Schecter was assigned to be the new presiding justice.
Ambac Bond Insurance Coverage Cases, Coordinated Proceeding Case No. JCCP 4555 (Super. Ct. of Cal., County of San Francisco)
Following an appeal of the dismissal of the plaintiff’s anti-trust claim under California’s Cartwright Act, the California Court of Appeal reinstated those claims against the bond insurer defendants on February 18, 2016. On December 11, 2017, the parties reached a settlement of the litigation, which has been implemented by the parties and the cases have been dismissed with prejudice.
Lynn Tilton and Patriarch Partners XV, LLC v. MBIA Inc. and MBIA Insurance Corp. v.; Index No.68880/2015 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., County of Westchester)
On November 2, 2015, Lynn Tilton and Patriarch Partners XV, LLC filed a complaint in New York State Supreme Court, Westchester County, against MBIA Inc. and MBIA Corp., alleging fraudulent inducement and related claims arising from purported promises made in connection with insurance policies issued by MBIA Corp. on certain collateralized loan obligations managed by Ms. Tilton and affiliated Patriarch entities, and seeking damages. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on January 15, 2016. On December 27, 2016, Justice Scheinkman granted in part and denied in part MBIA’s motion to dismiss. On January 17, 2017, MBIA filed its answer. Discovery concluded in October 2017 and a Trial Readiness Conference was held on November 3, 2017, at which the Court set a schedule for the briefing of summary judgment motions, which was completed as of February 1, 2018 and a decision on which is now pending. On January 8, 2018, Justice Walsh was assigned to the case. On March 11, 2018, Ms. Tilton commenced the Zohar Funds Bankruptcy Cases. On May 21, 2018, the court approved the Zohar Bankruptcy Settlement. Subsequently, the parties to the above-captioned litigation jointly filed a request to stay the case for, at minimum, fifteen months, which was granted by Justice Walsh on June 11, 2018.
National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation v. Padilla, Civ. No.16-cv-2101(D.P.R. June 15, 2016) (Besosa, J.)
On June 15, 2016, National filed a complaint in federal court in Puerto Rico challenging the Puerto Rico Emergency Moratorium and Financial Rehabilitation Act (Law21-2016 or the “Moratorium Act”) as unconstitutional under the United States Constitution. On June 22, 2016, National filed a motion for partial summary judgment on its claim that the Moratorium Act is preempted by the federal Bankruptcy Code. On July 7, 2016, the Puerto Rico defendants filed a motion to stay the case pursuant to PROMESA, which was granted by the Court in August of 2016. The defendants filed their answer to the complaint on July 26, 2016. On November 15, 2016, the District Court denied National’s motion to lift the litigation stay granted pursuant to PROMESA and on January 30, 2017, the District Court denied National’s partial motion for a summary judgment without prejudice. On January 11, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the denial of a separate plaintiff’s motion to lift the PROMESA stay in a related action challenging the Moratorium Act. Accordingly, the case remained stayed through May 1, 2017, at which time the PROMESA stay expired. However, on May 3, 2017, Puerto Rico filed a Title III petition under PROMESA, thereby staying this dispute under Section 405(e) of PROMESA. On August 1, 2017, the District Court dismissed the case with prejudice. On August 28, 2017, National filed a motion for reconsideration.
Assured Guaranty Corp. et al. v. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico et al.,Case No.3:17-cv-01578 (D.P.R. May 3, 2017) (Swain, J.)
On May 3, 2017, the Financial Oversight and Management Board filed a petition under Title III of PROMESA to adjust the debts of Puerto Rico. On the same day, National, together with Assured Guaranty Corp. and Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp., filed an adversary complaint in the case commenced by the Title III filing, alleging that the Fiscal Plan and the Fiscal Plan Compliance Act, signed into law by the Governor of Puerto Rico on April 29, 2017, violate PROMESA and the United States Constitution. On October 6, 2017, National, together with the other plaintiffs in the filing, voluntarily dismissed the complaint without prejudice.
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