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Commitments And Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Commitments And Contingencies

Note 13: Commitments and Contingencies

The following commitments and contingencies provide an update of those discussed in “Note 23: Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and should be read in conjunction with the complete descriptions provided in the aforementioned Form 10-K.

Corporate Litigation

In re MBIA Inc. Securities Litigation; Case No. 05 cv 03514(LLS) (S.D.N.Y.)

In May 2012, the parties reached a settlement agreement in principle pursuant to which the plaintiffs will receive a settlement payment in exchange for the dismissal with prejudice of the litigation. The Company’s insurance carriers have agreed to cover in full the settlement payment. On September 13, 2012, the court entered an order preliminarily approving the settlement.

Trustees of the Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit v. Clapp et al.; No. 08-cv-1515 (S.D.N.Y.)

On July 16, 2012, all parties and the Company’s insurance carriers accepted a mediator’s proposal to settle the federal and state CDO-squared related derivative actions. On October 15, 2012, the plaintiff filed a motion with the court seeking preliminary approval of the settlement.

Ambac Bond Insurance Coverage Cases, Coordinated Proceeding Case No. JCCP 4555 (Super. Ct. of Cal., County of San Francisco)

On May 1, 2012, the court ruled in favor of the monoline defendants on their special motion to strike pursuant to California’s Anti-SLAPP statute. The parties will complete the briefing relating to Stage 2 of the Anti-SLAPP motion on February 22, 2013 and a hearing is scheduled for March 5, 2013.

Tri-City Healthcare District v. Citibank. et al.; Case No. 30-2010-00359692 (Super. Ct. of Cal., County of Orange)

On July 20, 2012, the court granted the plaintiff’s motion to further amend its complaint. Briefing on the defendants’ motion to strike portions of the Fifth Amended Complaint was completed on October 19, 2012. MBIA’s portion of the motion has been resolved per stipulation.

 

City of Phoenix v. AMBAC et al.; Case No. 2:10-cv-00555-TMB (D. Ariz.)

On October 5, 2012, the court granted the plaintiff’s motion to substitute its expert with certain limitations.

Recovery Litigation

MBIA Insurance Corp. v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., et al.; Index No. 602825/08 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., N.Y. County)

Expert discovery was completed as of September 20, 2012. On September 19, 2012, MBIA and Countrywide filed respective motions for summary judgment regarding Countrywide’s primary liability. Argument is scheduled for December 5 to 6, 2012. On September 28, 2012, MBIA and Bank of America filed motions for summary judgment regarding Bank of America’s successor liability. Argument is scheduled for December 12 to 13, 2012. The Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, First Department (the “Appellate Division”), has ordered Countrywide to file its opening appellate brief with respect to the trial court’s decision on partial summary judgment regarding causation by November 5, 2012. The appeal is scheduled for the January 2013 term of the Appellate Division.

MBIA Insurance Corp. v. Residential Funding Company, LLC; Index No. 603552/2008 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., N.Y. County)

The case is currently stayed as a result of the Chapter 11 filing of ResCap on May 14, 2012 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

MBIA Insurance Corp. v. GMAC Mortgage, LLC (f/k/a GMAC Mortgage Corporation); Index No. 600837/2010 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., N.Y. County)

The case is currently stayed as a result of the Chapter 11 filing of ResCap on May 14, 2012 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

MBIA Insurance Corp. v. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (in its corporate capacity and as conservator and receiver for IndyMac Federal Bank, F.S.B.); Civil Action No. 09-01011 (ABJ) (D.D.C.)

On September 12, 2012, the briefing before the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia was completed. Oral argument is scheduled for November 14, 2012.

MBIA Insurance Corp. v. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (f/k/a Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc); Index No. 64676/2012 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., County of Westchester)

On September 14, 2012, MBIA Insurance Corporation filed a complaint alleging fraud against J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (f/k/a Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc) relating to Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.’s role as lead securities underwriter on the GMAC Mortgage Corporation Home Equity Loan Trust 2006-HE4. On October 18, 2012, the defendant filed its motion to dismiss.

MBIA Insurance Corp. v. Ally Financial Inc. (f/k/a GMAC, LLC) et al.; 12-cv-02563 SRN/TNL (D. Minn.)

On September 17, 2012, MBIA Insurance Corporation filed a complaint in Minnesota state court for aiding and abetting fraud and breach of contract against certain Ally Bank companies relating to seven MBIA-insured mortgage-backed securitizations sponsored by RFC and GMAC during 2006-2007. The defendants removed to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota on October 5, 2012, and filed a notice of motion to dismiss on October 12, 2012.

Transformation Litigation

Aurelius Capital Master, Ltd. et al. v. MBIA Inc. et al.; 09-cv-2242 (R.S.) (S.D.N.Y.)

On April 11, 2012, the Aurelius plaintiffs and MBIA filed a Stipulation of Dismissal resolving the litigation and the case has been closed on the court’s docket.

ABN AMRO Bank N.V. et al. v. Eric Dinallo et al.; Index no. 601846/09 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., N.Y. County)

The Article 78 hearing concluded on June 7, 2012. A decision is pending.

 

CQS ABS Master Fund Ltd., CQS Select ABS Master Fund Ltd., and CQS ABS Alpha Master Fund Ltd. v. MBIA Inc. et al.; Civil Action No. 12-cv-6840 (R.S.) (S.D.N.Y.)

On September 10, 2012, CQS ABS Master Fund Ltd., CQS Select ABS Master Fund Ltd., and CQS ABS Alpha Master Fund Ltd. as holders of MBIA-insured residential mortgage-backed bonds filed suit against MBIA Inc., MBIA Insurance Corporation and National Public Finance Guarantee Corp. The complaint alleges that certain of the terms of the transactions entered into by MBIA Insurance Corporation, which were approved by the New York State Department of Insurance, constituted fraudulent conveyances under § 273, 274, 276 and 279(c) of New York Debtor and Creditor Law and a breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing under New York common law. The Company answered on October 19, 2012.

The Company is defending against the aforementioned actions in which it is a defendant and expects ultimately to prevail on the merits. There is no assurance, however, that the Company will prevail in these actions. Adverse rulings in these actions could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to implement its strategy and on its business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. At this stage of the litigation, there has not been a determination as to the amount, if any, of damages. Accordingly, the Company is not able to estimate any amount of loss or range of loss.

There are no other material lawsuits pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party.