Guardian Life Insurance Prevails in Fraud Trial

Skadden secured a trial victory for Guardian Life Insurance Company of America in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas in a case alleging fraud in connection with the sale of multiple, substantial life insurance policies. The plaintiffs originally sought damages and fees in excess of $20 million, to be trebled under a Pennsylvania state statute. Skadden secured two significant pretrial rulings in favor of Guardian, which forced the plaintiffs to proceed with substantially narrowed claims. Following a two-week bench trial in January 2011, Judge Alan Hertzberg entered a verdict in favor of Guardian and its co-defendants on March 11.