AIG Beats Effort to Pause Coverage Suit Over Tree Worker Murder

An Ohio federal court declined to pause an American International Group Inc. unit’s suit over its duty to cover defense costs in litigation surrounding the alleged murder of a tree-trimming company’s employee who reported illegal hiring of undocumented workers.

The balance of hardships and judicial economy weigh against staying the suit against Davey Tree Expert Co., the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio said in a Monday order.

The court also denied the tree company’s request to reject jurisdiction over the case, saying it lacked discretion to refuse to hear National Union Fire Insurance Co.'s declaratory judgment ...