California Court of Appeal

Because the declaration of dividends concerns the internal affairs of the insurance company, and because the company is incorporated and headquartered in Illinois, Illinois law applies in this nationwide case brought by policyholders. Plaintiff's petition for a writ of mandate, challenging the trial court's ruling as to the choice of law, is therefore granted.

Appellate Information

• Decided 12/16/2003
• Published 12/16/2003

Judges

• MALLANO, J.

Court

• California Court of Appeal

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
•  Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe, Paul Alexander, Pamela Davis, Robin Schaefers, San Francisco;  Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Raoul D. Kennedy, San Francisco, Sheila L. Birnbaum, Douglas W. Dunham and Ellen P. Quackenbos, New York, NY, for Petitioner., LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, Dean Hansell and Sharon C. Corda, Los Angeles, for National Conference of Insurance Legislators as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner., Robert E. Wagner, Springfield, IL, for Illinois Department of Insurance as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner., Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, Paul E.B. Glad and Sonia Martin, San Francisco, for National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner., Alschuler Grossman Stein & Kahan, Barry Leigh Weissman and Daniel A. Fiore, Santa Monica, for National Association of Insurance Commissioners as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner., Livingston & Mattesich, Gene Livingston, John McCarron and Stacy E. Gillespie, Sacramento, for Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner., Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold and Christina J. Imre, Encino, for National Association of Independent Insurers, Alliance of American Insurers and American Insurance Association as Amici Curiae on behalf of Petitioner., Horvitz & Levy, Barry R. Levy and Jeremy B. Rosen, Encino, for Personal Insurance Federation of California and Association of California Insurance Companies as Amici Curiae on behalf of Petitioner., Victoria E. Fimea;  Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw and Donald M. Falk, Palo Alto, for American Council of Life Insurers as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner., Hennigan, Bennett & Dorman, J. Michael Hennigan, Jeanne E. Irving, Los Angeles, Mark Anchor Albert;  Gianelli & Morris, Timothy J. Morris, Los Angeles;  Law Offices of Robert S. Gerstein and Robert S. Gerstein for Real Parties in Interest.


• For Appellees:
  
• No appearance for Respondent.