Interesting news about OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma seeking product liability insurance and general liability coverage by creating a captive insurer.  Purdue asked for permission to set up the captive insurer in federal court on Monday as part of the firm’s filing for bankruptcy protection, as it has been challenging for them to find a commercial solution with a third-party insurer, not surprisingly.  Purdue faces more than 2,600 lawsuits alleging that it helped fuel the U.S. opioid epidemic.

As VCIA Member (and recipient of VCIA’s 2019 Industry Service Award!), Chaz Lavelle of Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP stated recently in a September 17 article in Business Insurance,  “We’ve had situations in the past where an operating company has gone bankrupt but the captive insurer which it has previously set up was fully solvent, continued to operate and pay claims notwithstanding the bankruptcy and the disposition of the company.”

It reminded me of the Vermont captive for the bankrupt firm Enron back in the 90s. Even though the firm was mired in bankruptcy proceedings due to the fraudulent leadership at the top, under the supervision of Vermont’s Department of Financial Regulation its captive remained solvent and paid out every one of its claims under its policies in full. Having the captive kept the policy claims separate from the bankruptcy proceedings. Even debtors require various liability, casualty, property and other insurance programs in the ordinary course of their businesses.

Thank you all very much, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Rich Smith
VCIA President