Arent Fox’s Jule Rousseau, a partner in the firm’s insurance practice in New York, was quoted in a December 6, 2011 Life Settlements Wire article discussing a recent decision by  a federal judge who ruled that John Hancock Life Insurance Co. should not have lapsed a $5 million policy three years ago and must allow it to be reinstated. “The Nov. 29 decision by Frederic Block, a senior judge with the US District Court in Brooklyn, sided with the investors, despite apparent fraud in procuring the policy,” reported The Life Settlements Wire.

In the article, Jule observes that the decision means that despite alleged fraud involving an insured who wasn't sure she signed a trust document and a beneficiary that didn't exist, and then a series of bounced checks for checks for premiums, once the policy is past contestability, it must be honored.

"This is not a surprise but perhaps will reduce litigation in NY even further," Rousseau told The Life Settlements Wire. "The message is, in NY, after 2 years, there is no basis for a carrier to challenge a policy."