Company Ltd. will be heard in two weeks time.

But there is a dispute about whether Los Angeles Superior Court has the power to go ahead with the liquidation of a company outside its jurisdiction.

The California Department of Insurance (CDoI), which has filed the application, said the court does have the power.

Ms Linda Goodman, the manager for special receiverships for the CDoI, said there were several precedents.

These included the liquidation of Apex Insurance, which was based in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

"There will be a hearing on December 4 to liquidate Dual Plus Insurance Company,'' she said. "To my knowledge, the case will not be contested.'' But Bermuda-based Jardine Pinehurst Management Company, which manages the captive, believes the court does not have any authority in Bermuda.

The company looks upon Bermuda's Registrar of Companies as its regulator, not the CDoI.

It said the CDoI has not asked it to forward any of the captive's official documents or records.

Dual Plus Insurance Company is the captive insurer for the activities of businessman Dr. Christopher Noble.

At the same hearing on December 4, the CDoI is also seeking to liquidate California-based health insurer Dual Plus Insurance Administrators Ltd. and Joseph W. Noble Enterprises.

Jardine Pinehurst insists the Bermuda captive is not a subsidiary or legally-related in any way to Dual Plus Insurance Administrators (DPIA).

But, because Dr. Noble owns DPIA, there could be an effect on the Bermuda company.

A spokesman for Jardine Pinehurst said: "I suspect that there will be a clarification of exactly what the impact will be on all companies relatively shortly.

"At the moment we are awaiting details as to what Dr. Noble wants us to do, what the situation is, what the impact is and what the future plans are.'' California Insurance Commissioner Mr. John Garamendi took over the California-based Dual Plus operations in September.

Last month, Los Angeles Superior Court rejected an application from Dr. Noble for his businesses to be given back to him.

At the same time, a judge granted the CDoI permission to cancel all of DPIA's policies.