US CAR RACER TONY STEWART TO APPEAL RULING IN DISPUTE WITH AXIS

Attorneys for US car racer Tony Stewart have filed notice in a federal appeals court in New York that they intend to appeal last month’s ruling by a lower court that Axis Insurance was not liable for any claims stemming from a pending wrongful death lawsuit that he faces over the death of rival driver Kevin Ward in August 2014. The lower court agreed with Axis’ argument that Stewart’s policy with the company covered United States Auto Club events and World of Outlaws races but not Empire Super Sprints events like the one in which Ward died. In a dispute with Ward during a race at Canandaigua, New York, Stewart’s car struck and killed Ward after the younger rival got out of his vehicle and walked over to confront Stewart. A grand jury voted not to indict Stewart on criminal charges.