context: The unreasonableness of Gulfs interpretation of the exclusion is further demonstrated by the fact that, if the Court were to adopt Gulfs interpretation, the exclusion would tread dangerously close to violating the public policy of the State of California. As Gulf admitted at oral argument, its interpretation of the exclusion would create a strong incentive for companies to prevent their directors and officers from providing information to securities fraud plaintiffs in order to avoid the loss of insurance coverage. "Agreements to suppress evidence have been held void as against public policy."
citation_a.signal: no signal
citation_a.parenthetical: allowing plaintiff to discover an expert report even though the defendant who employed the expert subsequently withdrew him as a witness, because that withdrawal was based on a promise of indemnification from the co-defendant regarding whom the expert report was unfavorable
citation_a.sentence: Williamson v. Super. Ct., 21 Cal.3d 829, 836, 148 Cal.Rptr. 39, 582 P.2d 126 (1978) (allowing plaintiff to discover an expert report even though the defendant who employed the expert subsequently withdrew him as a witness, because that withdrawal was based on a promise of indemnification from the co-defendant regarding whom the expert report was unfavorable); see also Smith v. Super. Ct., 41 Cal.App.4th 1014, 49 Cal.Rptr.2d 20 (1996) (refusing to enforce a permanent injunction entered by a court in another State in which a former employee promised not to testify against his former employer in any proceeding involving allegedly defective products).
citation_b.signal: see also
citation_b.parenthetical: refusing to enforce a permanent injunction entered by a court in another State in which a former employee promised not to testify against his former employer in any proceeding involving allegedly defective products
citation_b.sentence: Williamson v. Super. Ct., 21 Cal.3d 829, 836, 148 Cal.Rptr. 39, 582 P.2d 126 (1978) (allowing plaintiff to discover an expert report even though the defendant who employed the expert subsequently withdrew him as a witness, because that withdrawal was based on a promise of indemnification from the co-defendant regarding whom the expert report was unfavorable); see also Smith v. Super. Ct., 41 Cal.App.4th 1014, 49 Cal.Rptr.2d 20 (1996) (refusing to enforce a permanent injunction entered by a court in another State in which a former employee promised not to testify against his former employer in any proceeding involving allegedly defective products).