Insurers Sue Saudi Arabia Seeking 9/11 Reimbursements

[Gold9472]

Lloyd’s Syndicate Withdraws 9/11 Lawsuit Against Saudi Arabia

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news.../20/216580.htm

9/20/2011

Lloyd’s London’s Syndicate 3500 filed a notice on Monday, Sept. 19, to voluntarily dismiss its federal lawsuit against Saudi Arabia over 9/11 claims.

The lawsuit, first filed on Sept. 8, had asserted that Saudi Arabia as well as several Saudi charity and financial organizations were instrumental in helping al Qaida carry out the 9/11 terror attacks.

Attorney Stephen Cozen of law firm Cozen O’Connor, who represents Lloyd’s, told Insurance Journal that he cannot comment on why Lloyd’s decided to drop the case 13 days after filing the complaint. He said, however, the suit could be refiled and also that there could be other similar lawsuits filed by other insurers in the future.

Cozen said he cannot talk about the lawsuit other than to say “that we were instructed to voluntarily dismiss without prejudice. That of course means that the suit is free to be refiled and certainly similar suits may be filed by others,” he said.

Cozen, the attorney for Lloyd’s Syndicate 3500, filed a notice to voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit on Monday, Sept. 19. The case will likely be officially dismissed on Tuesday, Sept. 20, U.S., District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania Clerk’s Office told Insurance Journal.

Dismissing Lawsuit Without Prejudice
Lloyd’s is voluntarily dismissing its lawsuit “without prejudice,” meaning the motion seeks to close the case without precluding the possibility of renewal at a later date, the court clerk’s office said. “There will be a statistical closing. It will be officially dismissed on Tuesday,” according to the clerk’s office.

The lawsuit was filed on Sept. 8 at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The insurer charged that Saudi defendants “knowingly” provided material support and resources to al Qaida in years leading up to 9/11. The 154-page complaint described links between Saudi charity organizations and al Qaida and explained how the Saudi government supported al Qaida through these charity organizations.

Pursuant to the terms of the applicable policies of insurance, Lloyd’s Syndicate 3500 made 9/11-related claims payments on behalf of its liability insureds towards the individual settlements in an amount in excess of $215 million, according to the court documents.

These liability insureds included airlines, airport authorities, security companies, airplane manufacturers and other parties. Those who received settlements included individuals injured from the 9/11 attacks and families of individuals killed in the attacks, as well as businesses that suffered economic losses.

Defendants named in the complaint were Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, The Saudi High Commission for Relief of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Saudi Joint Relief Committee for Kosovo and Chechnya, Saudi Red Crescent Society, National Commercial Bank, Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Company. Also included as defendants are three Saudi citizens connected to these organizations, Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Suleiman Abdel Aziz Al Saud and Yassin Al Qadi.

The case is Underwriting Members of Lloyd’s Syndicate 3500 v. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 11-00202, U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania.

[Gold9472]

Lloyd's withdraws 9/11 legal case

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...e-2358885.html

Thursday, 22 September 2011

A Lloyd's insurance syndicate has withdrawn a lawsuit which alleged that Saudi Arabia had indirectly funded al-Qa'ida prior to the 9/11 attacks through Saudi banks and charities. Lawyers in the US acting on behalf of the Brighton-based Lloyd's 3500 syndicate had lodged a claim for $215m (£136m) paid out to victims of the attacks.

The syndicate withdrew the case "without prejudice". Stephen Cozen, the lawyer bringing the case, said the case could be refiled. Saudi Arabia has always denied any role in funding of al-Qa'ida.

[Gold9472]

Insurance giant withdraws 9/11 lawsuit against Saudi Arabia

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...nded-9-11.html

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 8:37 PM on 21st September 2011

An insurance firm has withdrawn its lawsuit against Saudi Arabia, which had claimed the country funded the terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

A division of Lloyd's of London had filed documents in a U.S. court on September 8 demanding the return of $215million compensation it paid victims.

Attorney Stephen Cozen of law firm Cozen O'Connor, which represents Lloyd's, told Insurance Journal that he cannot comment on why Lloyd’s decided to drop the case less than two weeks after filing the complaint.

Mr Cozen told the journal: 'We were instructed to voluntarily dismiss without prejudice. That of course means that the suit is free to be refiled and certainly similar suits may be filed by others.'

Lloyd's is voluntarily dismissing its lawsuit 'without prejudice,' meaning the motion seeks to close the case without precluding the possibility of renewal at a later date, the court clerk's office said.

The lawsuit - filed in Johnston, Pennsylvania, where United Airlines flight 93 crashed on 9/11, named nine defendants, including a leading member of the oil-rich state's royal family.

Saudi Arabia has always denied claims that Osama bin Laden's organisation received official financial and practical support from his homeland.

And the 9/11 Commission's official report on the attacks, found that there was no evidence that the Saudi government or senior Saudi officials individually funded Al Qaeda.

[Gold9472]

Suit claiming Saudi Arabia aided al-Qaida dropped by insurers who made massive 9/11 payouts

http://www.washingtonpost.com/nation...UnK_story.html

By Associated Press, Updated: Thursday, September 22, 8:24 AM

PHILADELPHIA — A lawsuit accusing Saudi Arabia of funneling money to al-Qaida has been dropped by insurers that paid out millions following the September 11 terror attacks.

The Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown reports the suit brought by a Lloyd’s of London insurance syndicate was withdrawn Monday. The dismissal notice does not indicate why the suit was dropped.

Lloyd’s attorney Stephen Cozen tells The Tribune-Democrat (http://bit.ly/mUbk2l ) he could not comment beyond confirming the dismissal.

The suit aimed to recoup $215 million paid out on policies covering airlines, security companies and airport authorities. It claimed that Saudi Arabia made charitable donations to Muslim groups that were then funneled to al-Qaida.

An appeals court in New York had said in 2008 that the Saudi royal family and other defendants were immune from such lawsuits.

[Gold9472]

Saudi 9/11 Alert: Here’s That Missing Lloyd’s Lawsuit

http://whowhatwhy.com/2011/11/10/sau...0%99s-lawsuit/

Russ Baker
11/10/2011

You may recall WhoWhatWhy’s recent investigation of apparent connections between Saudi royalty and the alleged 9/11 hijackers. In it, we mentioned that the insurance giant Lloyd’s of London had sued powerful Saudi interests, alleging culpability for the 2001 attacks–then abruptly withdrew its suit.

Lloyd’s didn’t provide a proper explanation of what had prompted it to withdraw the suit, though, presumably, there’s some behind-the-scenes interaction with those named, perhaps even a settlement. That leaves the rest of us in the dark.

Good news, though: WhoWhatWhy is now making available that here-and-gone legal filing.

The text of Lloyds’ lengthy original court filing may be found here. And we’ll be back soon with our own commentary—pointing you to the most significant nuggets.