Medical Assurance Co. Inc. v. Hellman

Dist. Ct. abused its discretion in staying plaintiff-insurance company's action seeking declaration that it owed no duty to defend over 300 Indiana medical malpractice actions when insured allegedly failed to cooperate with plaintiff by leaving country while said malpractice actions were pending before Indiana medical review panels. Ct. rejected Dist. Ct.'s finding that it would be impossible for plaintiff to show actual prejudice created by insured's absence without interfering with state court actions, and further held that value of obtaining single ruling about effect of insured's behavior on his contractual relationship with plaintiff was sufficiently great such that Dist. Ct.'s issuance of stay was abuse of discretion.