General Re said it has terminated the consulting services of its former chief executive, Ronald Ferguson.
The Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary said it took the action after Ferguson invoked the Fifth Amendment right to silence in response to questions from the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice relating to ongoing investigations into company practices.
Ferguson had been subpoenaed to provide testimony in connection with the investigations.
He had been acting as a company consultant following his resignation from the chief executive post in October 2001.
