Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
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Commitments and Contingencies	Note 20: Commitments and Contingencies MBIA has received subpoenas or informal inquiries from a variety of regulators, regarding a variety of subjects. MBIA has cooperated fully with each of these regulators and has or is in the process of satisfying all such requests. MBIA may receive additional inquiries from these or other regulators and expects to provide additional information to such regulators regarding their inquiries in the future. Litigation MBIA Insurance Corp. v. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, et al.; Index No. 603751/2009 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., N.Y. County) On December 14, 2009, MBIA Corp. commenced an action in New York State Supreme Court, New York County, against Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, DLJ Mortgage Capital, Inc. and Select Portfolio Servicing Inc. (collectively, “Credit Suisse”). The complaint seeks damages for fraud and breach of contractual obligations in connection with the procurement of financial guarantee insurance on the Home Equity Mortgage Trust Series 2007-2 securitization. On January 30, 2013, MBIA Corp. filed an amended complaint. The amended complaint alleges, among other claims, that Credit Suisse falsely represented: (i) the attributes of the securitized loans; (ii) that the loans complied with the governing underwriting guidelines; and (iii) that Credit Suisse had conducted extensive due diligence on and quality control reviews of the securitized loans to ensure compliance with the underwriting guidelines. The complaint further alleges that the defendants breached their contractual obligations to cure or repurchase loans found to be in breach of the representations and warranties applicable thereto and denied MBIA the requisite access to all records and documents regarding the securitized loans. An argument on both parties’ motions for partial summary judgment was held on November 15, 2016 and a decision is pending. 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 Corp. 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 September 18, 2014, the court granted in part MBIA Corp.’s motion to file an amended complaint. MBIA filed its amended complaint on September 29, 2014. J.P. Morgan filed its answer to the amended complaint on October 10, 2014. The parties each cross-appealed the September 18, 2014 decision and those appeals were fully submitted as of June 8, 2015. J.P. Morgan’s motion for summary judgment was argued in December of 2015. On June 6, 2016, the court denied J.P. Morgan’s motion for summary judgment. J.P. Morgan filed a notice of appeal of that ruling on July 6, 2016. On November 2, 2016, the Second Department of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court (the “Second Department”) issued a decision on J.P. Morgan’s separate appeal, and MBIA Corp.’s cross appeal, from the trial court’s Order of September 18, 2014, which had granted MBIA’s motion for leave to amend its complaint to assert a cause of action for fraudulent concealment, and denied its motion to amend its complaint to assert cause of action alleging material misrepresentation in the procurement of an insurance contract brought under common law as informed by NYIL Section 3105. The Second Department decision affirmed the Order as it pertained to allowing the assertion of the fraudulent concealment claim, and reversed it as to the denial of the motion to add the claim of material misrepresentation in the procurement of an insurance contract. Consistent with the Second Department decision, on February 24, 2017, MBIA Corp. filed a Second Amended Complaint adding a claim for material misrepresentation in the procurement of an insurance contract as informed by NYIL Section 3105. Ambac Bond Insurance Coverage Cases, Coordinated Proceeding Case No. JCCP 4555 (Super. Ct. of Cal., County of San Francisco) On July 23, 2008, the City of Los Angeles filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, against a number of financial guarantee insurers, including MBIA. At the same time and subsequently, additional complaints against MBIA and nearly all of the same co-defendants were filed by various municipal entities and quasi-municipal entities, mostly in California. These cases are part of a coordination proceeding in Superior Court, San Francisco County, before Judge Curtis E. A. Karnow, referred to as the Ambac Bond Insurance Cases. In August of 2011, the plaintiffs filed amended versions of their respective complaints. The claims allege violation of California’s antitrust laws through maintaining a dual credit rating scale that misstated the credit default risk of certain issuers, thereby creating market demand for bond insurance. The plaintiffs also allege that the individual bond insurers participated in risky financial transactions in other lines of business that damaged each bond insurer’s financial condition, and failure to adequately disclose the impact of those transactions on their financial condition. The plaintiffs also assert common law claims of breach of contract and fraud. The non-municipal plaintiffs also allege a California unfair competition cause of action. Following an appeal of the dismissal of the plaintiff’s anti-trust claim under California’s Cartwright Act, the California Court of Appeal reinstated those claims against the bond insurer defendants on February 18, 2016. On April 8, 2016, Judge Mary E. Wiss recused and disqualified herself from further proceedings in the matter. On April 14, 2016, Judge Curtis E. A. Karnow was assigned to sit as the Coordination Trial Judge. On June 24, 2016, the defendants, including the MBIA parties, filed their answers to the complaints. Lynn Tilton and Patriarch Partners XV, LLC v. MBIA Inc. and MBIA Insurance Corp. v.; Index No.68880/2015 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., County of Westchester) On November 2, 2015, Lynn Tilton and Patriarch Partners XV, LLC filed a complaint in New York State Supreme Court, Westchester County, against MBIA Inc. and MBIA Corp., alleging fraudulent inducement and related claims arising from purported promises made in connection with insurance policies issued by MBIA Corp. on certain collateralized loan obligations managed by Ms. Tilton and affiliated Patriarch entities, and seeking damages. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on January 15, 2016. On December 27, 2016, Justice Alan D. Scheinkman granted in part and denied in part MBIA’s motion to dismiss. On January 17, 2017, MBIA filed its answer. A scheduling order was entered on January 6, 2017 setting a Trial Readiness Conference for October 19, 2017. National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation v. Padilla, Civ. No. 16-cv-2101 (D.P.R. June 15, 2016) On June 15, 2016, National filed a complaint in federal court in Puerto Rico challenging the Puerto Rico Emergency Moratorium and Financial Rehabilitation Act (Law 21-2016 or the “Moratorium Act”) as unconstitutional under the United States Constitution. On June 22, 2016, National filed a motion for partial summary judgment on its claim that the Moratorium Act is preempted by the federal Bankruptcy Code. On July 7, 2016, the Puerto Rico defendants filed a motion to stay the case pursuant to the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”), which was granted by the Court in August of 2016. The defendants filed their answer to the complaint on July 26, 2016. On November 15, 2016, the District Court denied National’s motion to lift the litigation stay granted pursuant to PROMESA. On January 11, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the denial of a separate plaintiff’s motion to lift the PROMESA stay in a related action challenging the Moratorium Act. Accordingly, the case remains stayed. 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 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. Headquarters Lease Agreement The Company leases its headquarters in Purchase, New York. The initial lease term expires in 2030 with the option to terminate the lease in 2025 upon the payment of a termination amount. At the end of the initial lease term, the Company has the option to extend the term of the lease for two additional terms of five years at a fixed annual rent based on the fair market rent at the time of any extension. As of December 31, 2016, total future minimum lease payments remaining was $39 million. The total future minimum lease payments include annual rent escalation amounts. The lease agreement has been classified as an operating lease, and operating rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis.

Note 20: Commitments and Contingencies

MBIA has received subpoenas or informal inquiries from a variety of regulators, regarding a variety of subjects. MBIA has cooperated fully with each of these regulators and has or is in the process of satisfying all such requests. MBIA may receive additional inquiries from these or other regulators and expects to provide additional information to such regulators regarding their inquiries in the future.

Litigation

MBIA Insurance Corp. v. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, et al.; Index No. 603751/2009 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., N.Y. County)

On December 14, 2009, MBIA Corp. commenced an action in New York State Supreme Court, New York County, against Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, DLJ Mortgage Capital, Inc. and Select Portfolio Servicing Inc. (collectively, “Credit Suisse”). The complaint seeks damages for fraud and breach of contractual obligations in connection with the procurement of financial guarantee insurance on the Home Equity Mortgage Trust Series 2007-2 securitization. On January 30, 2013, MBIA Corp. filed an amended complaint. The amended complaint alleges, among other claims, that Credit Suisse falsely represented: (i) the attributes of the securitized loans; (ii) that the loans complied with the governing underwriting guidelines; and (iii) that Credit Suisse had conducted extensive due diligence on and quality control reviews of the securitized loans to ensure compliance with the underwriting guidelines. The complaint further alleges that the defendants breached their contractual obligations to cure or repurchase loans found to be in breach of the representations and warranties applicable thereto and denied MBIA the requisite access to all records and documents regarding the securitized loans. An argument on both parties’ motions for partial summary judgment was held on November 15, 2016 and a decision is pending.

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 Corp. 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 September 18, 2014, the court granted in part MBIA Corp.’s motion to file an amended complaint. MBIA filed its amended complaint on September 29, 2014. J.P. Morgan filed its answer to the amended complaint on October 10, 2014. The parties each cross-appealed the September 18, 2014 decision and those appeals were fully submitted as of June 8, 2015. J.P. Morgan’s motion for summary judgment was argued in December of 2015. On June 6, 2016, the court denied J.P. Morgan’s motion for summary judgment. J.P. Morgan filed a notice of appeal of that ruling on July 6, 2016. On November 2, 2016, the Second Department of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court (the “Second Department”) issued a decision on J.P. Morgan’s separate appeal, and MBIA Corp.’s cross appeal, from the trial court’s Order of September 18, 2014, which had granted MBIA’s motion for leave to amend its complaint to assert a cause of action for fraudulent concealment, and denied its motion to amend its complaint to assert cause of action alleging material misrepresentation in the procurement of an insurance contract brought under common law as informed by NYIL Section 3105. The Second Department decision affirmed the Order as it pertained to allowing the assertion of the fraudulent concealment claim, and reversed it as to the denial of the motion to add the claim of material misrepresentation in the procurement of an insurance contract. Consistent with the Second Department decision, on February 24, 2017, MBIA Corp. filed a Second Amended Complaint adding a claim for material misrepresentation in the procurement of an insurance contract as informed by NYIL Section 3105.

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

On July 23, 2008, the City of Los Angeles filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, against a number of financial guarantee insurers, including MBIA. At the same time and subsequently, additional complaints against MBIA and nearly all of the same co-defendants were filed by various municipal entities and quasi-municipal entities, mostly in California. These cases are part of a coordination proceeding in Superior Court, San Francisco County, before Judge Curtis E. A. Karnow, referred to as the Ambac Bond Insurance Cases. In August of 2011, the plaintiffs filed amended versions of their respective complaints. The claims allege violation of California’s antitrust laws through maintaining a dual credit rating scale that misstated the credit default risk of certain issuers, thereby creating market demand for bond insurance. The plaintiffs also allege that the individual bond insurers participated in risky financial transactions in other lines of business that damaged each bond insurer’s financial condition, and failure to adequately disclose the impact of those transactions on their financial condition. The plaintiffs also assert common law claims of breach of contract and fraud. The non-municipal plaintiffs also allege a California unfair competition cause of action. Following an appeal of the dismissal of the plaintiff’s anti-trust claim under California’s Cartwright Act, the California Court of Appeal reinstated those claims against the bond insurer defendants on February 18, 2016. On April 8, 2016, Judge Mary E. Wiss recused and disqualified herself from further proceedings in the matter. On April 14, 2016, Judge Curtis E. A. Karnow was assigned to sit as the Coordination Trial Judge. On June 24, 2016, the defendants, including the MBIA parties, filed their answers to the complaints.

Lynn Tilton and Patriarch Partners XV, LLC v. MBIA Inc. and MBIA Insurance Corp. v.; Index No.68880/2015 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., County of Westchester)

On November 2, 2015, Lynn Tilton and Patriarch Partners XV, LLC filed a complaint in New York State Supreme Court, Westchester County, against MBIA Inc. and MBIA Corp., alleging fraudulent inducement and related claims arising from purported promises made in connection with insurance policies issued by MBIA Corp. on certain collateralized loan obligations managed by Ms. Tilton and affiliated Patriarch entities, and seeking damages. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on January 15, 2016. On December 27, 2016, Justice Alan D. Scheinkman granted in part and denied in part MBIA’s motion to dismiss. On January 17, 2017, MBIA filed its answer. A scheduling order was entered on January 6, 2017 setting a Trial Readiness Conference for October 19, 2017.

National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation v. Padilla, Civ. No. 16-cv-2101 (D.P.R. June 15, 2016)

On June 15, 2016, National filed a complaint in federal court in Puerto Rico challenging the Puerto Rico Emergency Moratorium and Financial Rehabilitation Act (Law 21-2016 or the “Moratorium Act”) as unconstitutional under the United States Constitution. On June 22, 2016, National filed a motion for partial summary judgment on its claim that the Moratorium Act is preempted by the federal Bankruptcy Code. On July 7, 2016, the Puerto Rico defendants filed a motion to stay the case pursuant to the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”), which was granted by the Court in August of 2016. The defendants filed their answer to the complaint on July 26, 2016. On November 15, 2016, the District Court denied National’s motion to lift the litigation stay granted pursuant to PROMESA. On January 11, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the denial of a separate plaintiff’s motion to lift the PROMESA stay in a related action challenging the Moratorium Act. Accordingly, the case remains stayed.

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 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.

Headquarters Lease Agreement

The Company leases its headquarters in Purchase, New York. The initial lease term expires in 2030 with the option to terminate the lease in 2025 upon the payment of a termination amount. At the end of the initial lease term, the Company has the option to extend the term of the lease for two additional terms of five years at a fixed annual rent based on the fair market rent at the time of any extension. As of December 31, 2016, total future minimum lease payments remaining was $39 million. The total future minimum lease payments include annual rent escalation amounts. The lease agreement has been classified as an operating lease, and operating rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis.