Opinion ID: 771956
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Appropriateness of Certification

Text: 38 Connecticut law allows for the certification of questions of state law by the federal courts directly to the Connecticut Supreme Court. We believe certain questions presented in this case should be certified to the Connecticut Supreme Court for several reasons. In certifying these questions, we exercise our own discretion. See Riordan v. Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 977 F.2d 47, 51 (2d Cir. 1992) (noting permissive language of Second Circuit rule). The Connecticut Supreme Court may reformulate these questions as it deems necessary or appropriate. See 1999 Conn. Acts 99-107, § 6(3) (Reg. Sess.). 39 First, we have found no Connecticut precedent directly addressing the questions presented in III.B and III.C above. Additionally, the questions involved in this appeal affect the interests of Connecticut insurers and policyholders, and given the absence of dispositive precedent on these issues, Connecticut `has a strong interest in deciding the issue[s] certified rather than having the only precedent on point be that of the federal court, which may be mistaken.' See Great N. Ins. Co. v. Mount Vernon Fire Ins. Co., 143 F.3d 659, 662 (2d Cir. 1998) (quoting Home Ins. Co. v. American Home Prods. Corp., 873 F.2d 520, 522 (2d Cir. 1989)). We find the strength of this interest particularly strong in this case, given Connecticut's established preeminence in the field of insurance law. See, e.g., Employers' Liab. Assurance Corp. v. Travelers Ins. Co., 411 F.2d 862, 863 (2d Cir. 1969) (noting that the Connecticut Supreme Court is particularly expert in insurance matters). 40 In sum, we believe that the questions we certify are unsettled and significant questions of state law that will control the outcome of this appeal, see 2d Cir. R. § 0.27, as to which there is no controlling precedent of the Connecticut Supreme Court. See 1999 Conn. Acts 99-107 (Reg. Sess.). For these reasons, we believe that resolution of the certified questions by the Connecticut Supreme Court would aid in the administration of justice.[Tabular or Graphical Material Omitted]