Focus Insurance

Mark Hardy made two applications to Bermuda Supreme Court on September 27, 2001 in relation to his former insurance group, which collapsed ten years ago.One of Hardy's legal actions was against Peter Mitchell, as liquidator of Aneco Reinsurance Underwriting Co.

Businessman Mark Hardy, who ran the Bermuda-based Focus/Forum group of insurance companies that went bust in 1990, is seeking to be discharged as a bankrupt in his native United Kingdom.

Focus Insurance chief Mark Hardy has publicly apologized to the Supreme Court for disobeying its orders freezing assets he held here and overseas. The verbal apology, which Mr Hardy asked the court to view in light of "horrendous litigation over the last three years", was delivered to the Chief Justice of Bermuda during the course of a two-hour open hearing. Mr Hardy, now an adjudged bankrupt who described himself as "a strong believer in the rule of law", told the court he had been through hell during the last few months because he had been litigating in person.

Bankrupt businessman Mark Hardy, the former head of the insolvent Focus Insurance group, is returning to Bermuda - to personally apologize to the Supreme Court for ignoring its orders.The apology will be offered in compliance with a ruling by Britain's Privy Council, the highest court of appeal for litigants in UK protected territories, that Mr Hardy first "purge" his standing with the Bermuda court before the Privy Council hears his appeal.

Businessman Mark Hardy, the former chairman of insolvent Focus Insurance, was today adjudged bankrupt by an English court.

Focus Insurance chief Mark Hardy was yesterday adjudged bankrupt by an English court.However Mr Hardy, who has long claimed he would not receive justice until a suit for negligence started against him in Bermuda by Focus liquidators was brought before an English judge, warned last night that his legal battle was "far from over".

Bermuda Supreme Court Chief Justice Sir James Astwood has refused to strike out a civil action started last summer by the liquidators of Focus Insurance against its former directors and officers.He has ruled that the action contains allegations which, if proved at trial, could show that the directors deliberately disregarded their legal duty to Focus and failed to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.

Focus Insurance chief Mark Hardy has begun a legal action in the UK seeking to set aside a $19.7 million summary judgement handed down against him in the Bermuda Supreme Court.

Former Focus Insurance chairman Mark Hardy is seeking leave to appeal to the Privy Council after the Court of Appeal last month dismissed his application to overturn a Supreme Court decision.The lower court had disallowed Mr Hardy's attempt to strike out an action against him by Focus' liquidators, who are seeking $19.7 million from the chairman and other defendants.

Former Focus Insurance director David Thirkill is feeling "relieved and vindicated" in the wake of an Appeal Court decision striking out a $20 million civil action started against him by Focus liquidators.The liquidators began the action in the summer of 1990 when they sued Focus' directors and officers for willful negligence and breach of fiduciary duty.The Appeal Court decision, handed down on Monday, overturns a ruling by Chief Justice Sir James Astwood who this year refused to dismiss the suit, ruling that it contained assertions which, if proved at trial, would show the directors deliberately disregarded their duties.

Bermuda Supreme Court has refused to grant businessman Mark Hardy leave to appeal its dismissal of his application to strike out an action against him by the liquidators of Focus Insurance.