Write an article with the title: "SUIT CHALLENGES STRIKE INSURANCE"

Article:

The Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia yesterday issued a temporary restraining order that may prevent the owners of the 26 major league baseball teams from collecting on their $50 million strike insurance policy.

The order, by Judge Stanley Greenberg, came in response to a class action suit filed by the Major League Umpires Association against Lloyd's of London, the insurance company. The suit claims the baseball owners have bargained in bad faith - in part because of the existence of the insurance policy.

The suit was filed by Paul Runge, a National League umpire and the president of the umpires association, on behalf of the major league municipalities, the 650 major league players, the season-ticket holders, vendors, concessionaires and others affected by the 13-dayold baseball strike.

The suit, prepared by Richie Phillips, the general counsel to the umpires association, alleges that the players have made ''numerous concessions'' while the owners have remained recalcitrant at the bargaining table. The insurance contract with Lloyd's of London, the suit says, ''compensates the owners against losses'' and ''provides incentives to continue to refuse to bargain.''

A hearing will be held tomorrow before Judge Greenberg in Philadelphia to decide whether to grant a permanent injunction against Lloyd's of London, but in the meantime some portion of the $100,000 payment for each missed date on the baseball schedule may not be made. Several insurance and brokerage companies are involved in the $50 million policy, with Lloyd's directly handling $20 million. Lloyd's has picked up from other companies another $25 million in coverage, and has no involvement in the remaining $5 million, which is held by other insurance companies.

Phillips says he believes the suit could cancel the entire $50 million policy, but a lawyer for one of the insurance companies involved said yesterday that he thought only $20 million would be affected. The lawyer, who asked to remain anonymous, speculated that, if the umpires association is successful in court tomorrow, it will proceed in other states against each insurance company involved in an attempt to cancel the entire $50 million. Miller to Take Stand

At tomorrow's hearing, Phillips will call Marvin Miller, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, as his first witness. Miller will be followed on the stand by other players association officials, officials of the city of Philadelphia, and representatives of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

A spokesman for the Player Relations Committee, the owners negotiating unit, said late yesterday that he could not comment on the restraining order because he was not aware of it. Spokesmen for Bowie Kuhn, the commissioner, and the presidents of the American and National leagues, also said they were unaware of the it.

Some labor relations officials, players and at least two owners have speculated that the owners were taking their time at the bargaining table so that they could begin to collect on the insurance policy, which cost approximately $2 million. The policy was to take effect after 153 dates had been lost - midway through yesterday's schedule - and was to continue until another 500 dates had been missed, in early August. The owners were entitled to file a claim as soon as the 154th date was missed and Lloyd's was required to make payment 36 to 48 hours after the claim. The temporary restraining order will block that first payment. Not a Big Factor

''I don't think has really been a motivating factor in this,'' Wally Haas, one of the new owners of the Oakland A's, said of the insurance. ''The owners have never not bargained in good faith. The feeling that they're holding out is like running your car into a telephone pole and then saying you're glad you've got insurance.''

When the major league umpires struck in 1979 and were replaced by amateur and minor league umpires, the players did not honor the picket lines. Yesterday, Phillips was asked why the umpires would get involved in the current dispute, given the players' stance in 1979.

''We can't base how we act on how we've been treated in the past,'' he said. ''We have to make a determination based on the facts of the dispute. I've looked at this thing for more than two years. I saw a confrontation brewing and I felt it was initiated by the owners. I've seen the owners stonewall, attempt to disguise what they're doing and attempt, in my mind, to return baseball to the plantation days. We had to act accordingly. The umpires and the players are brothers. Our interests are the same. Someone has to take the first step.'' 12 Umpires Penalized

The umpires, according to the terms of their 1979 collective bargaining agreement, are entitled to full pay for a period of time during a strike. Phillips said there was some disagreement about the phrasing of the contract, but that the umpires would get between 30 and 60 days' salary.

Last week, 12 major league umpires were docked a day's pay and travel expenses by the American League for refusing to comply with a schedule change that would have removed the umpire Terry Cooney from a series in Oakland because of a previous confrontation with Billy Martin, the A's manager.

The games in question were canceled when the strike began June 12, but Lee MacPhail, the American League president, told the 12 umpires in a letter that their insubordination would not be tolerated and that they risked dismissal for such action in the future.

Phillips said yesterday that the class action suit in Philadelphia was unrelated to the American League's disciplinary action. He said that action violates the umpires' contract, which stipulates a hearing and the right to appeal. ''I promise they won't get away with this without judicial procedure,'' Phillips said.
Write an article with the title: "SUIT CHALLENGES STRIKE INSURANCE"

Article:
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The Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia yesterday issued a temporary restraining order that may prevent the owners of the 26 major league baseball teams from collecting on their $50 million strike insurance policy.

The order, by Judge Stanley Greenberg, came in response to a class action suit filed by the Major League Umpires Association against Lloyd's of London, the insurance company. The suit claims the baseball owners have bargained in bad faith - in part because of the existence of the insurance policy.

The suit was filed by Paul Runge, a National League umpire and the president of the umpires association, on behalf of the major league municipalities, the 650 major league players, the season-ticket holders, vendors, concessionaires and others affected by the 13-dayold baseball strike.

The suit, prepared by Richie Phillips, the general counsel to the umpires association, alleges that the players have made ''numerous concessions'' while the owners have remained recalcitrant at the bargaining table. The insurance contract with Lloyd's of London, the suit says, ''compensates the owners against losses'' and ''provides incentives to continue to refuse to bargain.''

A hearing will be held tomorrow before Judge Greenberg in Philadelphia to decide whether to grant a permanent injunction against Lloyd's of London, but in the meantime some portion of the $100,000 payment for each missed date on the baseball schedule may not be made. Several insurance and brokerage companies are involved in the $50 million policy, with Lloyd's directly handling $20 million. Lloyd's has picked up from other companies another $25 million in coverage, and has no involvement in the remaining $5 million, which is held by other insurance companies.

Phillips says he believes the suit could cancel the entire $50 million policy, but a lawyer for one of the insurance companies involved said yesterday that he thought only $20 million would be affected. The lawyer, who asked to remain anonymous, speculated that, if the umpires association is successful in court tomorrow, it will proceed in other states against each insurance company involved in an attempt to cancel the entire $50 million. Miller to Take Stand

At tomorrow's hearing, Phillips will call Marvin Miller, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, as his first witness. Miller will be followed on the stand by other players association officials, officials of the city of Philadelphia, and representatives of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

A spokesman for the Player Relations Committee, the owners negotiating unit, said late yesterday that he could not comment on the restraining order because he was not aware of it. Spokesmen for Bowie Kuhn, the commissioner, and the presidents of the American and National leagues, also said they were unaware of the it.

Some labor relations officials, players and at least two owners have speculated that the owners were taking their time at the bargaining table so that they could begin to collect on the insurance policy, which cost approximately $2 million. The policy was to take effect after 153 dates had been lost - midway through yesterday's schedule - and was to continue until another 500 dates had been missed, in early August. The owners were entitled to file a claim as soon as the 154th date was missed and Lloyd's was required to make payment 36 to 48 hours after the claim. The temporary restraining order will block that first payment. Not a Big Factor

''I don't think has really been a motivating factor in this,'' Wally Haas, one of the new owners of the Oakland A's, said of the insurance. ''The owners have never not bargained in good faith. The feeling that they're holding out is like running your car into a telephone pole and then saying you're glad you've got insurance.''

When the major league umpires struck in 1979 and were replaced by amateur and minor league umpires, the players did not honor the picket lines. Yesterday, Phillips was asked why the umpires would get involved in the current dispute, given the players' stance in 1979.

''We can't base how we act on how we've been treated in the past,'' he said. ''We have to make a determination based on the facts of the dispute. I've looked at this thing for more than two years. I saw a confrontation brewing and I felt it was initiated by the owners. I've seen the owners stonewall, attempt to disguise what they're doing and attempt, in my mind, to return baseball to the plantation days. We had to act accordingly. The umpires and the players are brothers. Our interests are the same. Someone has to take the first step.'' 12 Umpires Penalized

The umpires, according to the terms of their 1979 collective bargaining agreement, are entitled to full pay for a period of time during a strike. Phillips said there was some disagreement about the phrasing of the contract, but that the umpires would get between 30 and 60 days' salary.

Last week, 12 major league umpires were docked a day's pay and travel expenses by the American League for refusing to comply with a schedule change that would have removed the umpire Terry Cooney from a series in Oakland because of a previous confrontation with Billy Martin, the A's manager.

The games in question were canceled when the strike began June 12, but Lee MacPhail, the American League president, told the 12 umpires in a letter that their insubordination would not be tolerated and that they risked dismissal for such action in the future.

Phillips said yesterday that the class action suit in Philadelphia was unrelated to the American League's disciplinary action. He said that action violates the umpires' contract, which stipulates a hearing and the right to appeal. ''I promise they won't get away with this without judicial procedure,'' Phillips said.
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Write an article with the title: "SUIT CHALLENGES STRIKE INSURANCE"

Article:

The Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia yesterday issued a temporary restraining order that may prevent the owners of the 26 major league baseball teams from collecting on their $50 million strike insurance policy.

The order, by Judge Stanley Greenberg, came in response to a class action suit filed by the Major League Umpires Association against Lloyd's of London, the insurance company. The suit claims the baseball owners have bargained in bad faith - in part because of the existence of the insurance policy.

The suit was filed by Paul Runge, a National League umpire and the president of the umpires association, on behalf of the major league municipalities, the 650 major league players, the season-ticket holders, vendors, concessionaires and others affected by the 13-dayold baseball strike.

The suit, prepared by Richie Phillips, the general counsel to the umpires association, alleges that the players have made ''numerous concessions'' while the owners have remained recalcitrant at the bargaining table. The insurance contract with Lloyd's of London, the suit says, ''compensates the owners against losses'' and ''provides incentives to continue to refuse to bargain.''

A hearing will be held tomorrow before Judge Greenberg in Philadelphia to decide whether to grant a permanent injunction against Lloyd's of London, but in the meantime some portion of the $100,000 payment for each missed date on the baseball schedule may not be made. Several insurance and brokerage companies are involved in the $50 million policy, with Lloyd's directly handling $20 million. Lloyd's has picked up from other companies another $25 million in coverage, and has no involvement in the remaining $5 million, which is held by other insurance companies.

Phillips says he believes the suit could cancel the entire $50 million policy, but a lawyer for one of the insurance companies involved said yesterday that he thought only $20 million would be affected. The lawyer, who asked to remain anonymous, speculated that, if the umpires association is successful in court tomorrow, it will proceed in other states against each insurance company involved in an attempt to cancel the entire $50 million. Miller to Take Stand

At tomorrow's hearing, Phillips will call Marvin Miller, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, as his first witness. Miller will be followed on the stand by other players association officials, officials of the city of Philadelphia, and representatives of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

A spokesman for the Player Relations Committee, the owners negotiating unit, said late yesterday that he could not comment on the restraining order because he was not aware of it. Spokesmen for Bowie Kuhn, the commissioner, and the presidents of the American and National leagues, also said they were unaware of the it.

Some labor relations officials, players and at least two owners have speculated that the owners were taking their time at the bargaining table so that they could begin to collect on the insurance policy, which cost approximately $2 million. The policy was to take effect after 153 dates had been lost - midway through yesterday's schedule - and was to continue until another 500 dates had been missed, in early August. The owners were entitled to file a claim as soon as the 154th date was missed and Lloyd's was required to make payment 36 to 48 hours after the claim. The temporary restraining order will block that first payment. Not a Big Factor

''I don't think has really been a motivating factor in this,'' Wally Haas, one of the new owners of the Oakland A's, said of the insurance. ''The owners have never not bargained in good faith. The feeling that they're holding out is like running your car into a telephone pole and then saying you're glad you've got insurance.''

When the major league umpires struck in 1979 and were replaced by amateur and minor league umpires, the players did not honor the picket lines. Yesterday, Phillips was asked why the umpires would get involved in the current dispute, given the players' stance in 1979.

''We can't base how we act on how we've been treated in the past,'' he said. ''We have to make a determination based on the facts of the dispute. I've looked at this thing for more than two years. I saw a confrontation brewing and I felt it was initiated by the owners. I've seen the owners stonewall, attempt to disguise what they're doing and attempt, in my mind, to return baseball to the plantation days. We had to act accordingly. The umpires and the players are brothers. Our interests are the same. Someone has to take the first step.'' 12 Umpires Penalized

The umpires, according to the terms of their 1979 collective bargaining agreement, are entitled to full pay for a period of time during a strike. Phillips said there was some disagreement about the phrasing of the contract, but that the umpires would get between 30 and 60 days' salary.

Last week, 12 major league umpires were docked a day's pay and travel expenses by the American League for refusing to comply with a schedule change that would have removed the umpire Terry Cooney from a series in Oakland because of a previous confrontation with Billy Martin, the A's manager.

The games in question were canceled when the strike began June 12, but Lee MacPhail, the American League president, told the 12 umpires in a letter that their insubordination would not be tolerated and that they risked dismissal for such action in the future.

Phillips said yesterday that the class action suit in Philadelphia was unrelated to the American League's disciplinary action. He said that action violates the umpires' contract, which stipulates a hearing and the right to appeal. ''I promise they won't get away with this without judicial procedure,'' Phillips said.