The amount recoverable by the liquidator from reinsurers may not be reduced as a result of delinquency proceedings. Payment made directly to an insured or other creditor does not diminish the reinsurer's obligation to the insurer's estate except:

(1) where the contract or other written agreement specifically provides another payee of the reinsurance in the event of the insolvency of the ceding insurer; or

(2) where the assuming insurer, with the consent of the direct insured, has assumed the policy obligations of the ceding insurer as direct obligations of the assuming insurer to the payees under the policies and in substitution for the obligations of the ceding insurer to the payees.

The reinsurance is payable under contracts reinsured by the assuming insurer on the basis of reported claims allowed in the liquidation proceedings, subject to court approval, without diminution because of the insolvency of the ceding insurer.

The domiciliary liquidator of an insolvent ceding insurer shall give written notice to the assuming insurer of the pendency of a claim against the ceding insurer on the contract reinsured within a reasonable time after the claim is filed in the liquidation proceeding. During the pendency of the claim, an assuming insurer may investigate the claim and interpose, at its own expense in the proceeding where the claim is to be adjudicated, any defenses which it considers available to the ceding insurer or its liquidator. This expense is chargeable, subject to court approval, against the insolvent ceding insurer as part of the expense of liquidation to the extent of a proportionate share of the benefit which may accrue to the ceding insurer solely as a result of the defense undertaken by the assuming insurer. Where two or more assuming insurers are involved in the same claim and a majority in interest elect to interpose a defense to the claim, the expense must be apportioned in accordance with the terms of the reinsurance agreement as though the expense had been incurred by the ceding insurer.

HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-5-2210 [1982 Act No. 384, Section 32] recodified as Section 38-27-510 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; 1998 Act No. 416, Section 1.