WTC case referred to jury

North America

US District Judge John Martin has ruled that the legal dispute between World Trade Centre leaseholder Larry Silverstein and 21 insurers and reinsurers, including Swiss Re, should be decided by a jury rather than a judge. Judge Martin has also set trial date for 4 November, two months later than scheduled. The deferral was in response to a request by insurers to collect more evidence. The jury will have to decide whether the 11 September attacks constitute one event as claimed by the insurers or two events as claimed by Mr Silverstein. The difference in interpretation would respectively mean a payout of $3.55bn or $7.1bn to Mr Silverstein. Throughout the initial hearings, judge Martin has advised both parties to settle out of court.