Topic
Legal
Lawyers resign from Ontario auto insurance committee
June 22, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterSeveral lawyers are protesting recently announced changes to the definition of catastrophic injury for accident victims by quitting an auto insurance committee created by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO). The Toronto Star reported the group of personal injury…
Family of Quebec man killed when a tree fell on his car should go to province’s auto insurer for compensation: Supreme Court
June 22, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterA Quebec man killed when a tree fell on the vehicle he was driving in the City of Westmount must turn to the province’s auto insurer for compensation, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled, thus rejecting the man’s civil…
More clients purchasing environmental insurance, but amount of limits purchased has decreased
June 20, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterThe percentage of clients buying environmental insurance has increased in recent years, although there has been a parallel decrease in the amount of limits purchased, a recent report from Marsh Inc. indicates. “With increasing frequency, companies are requiring their contractors…
Brokers believe access to – if not participation of – intermediaries should be required during online insurance sales
June 20, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterCanadian property and casualty insurance brokers are making a pitch to the Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators (CCIR) to ensure intermediaries play an important role in the online purchase of insurance. At a minimum, brokers are calling on the CCIR…
Apparent lack of concern over possibility of directors and officers being sued disconcerting: Chubb survey
June 18, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterPast lawsuits and increased merger and acquisition (M&A) activity have done little to curb the apparent, “disconcerting” lack of concern among directors and officers about the possibility of being sued. Public company executives may be in for surprise lawsuits if…
B.C. Labour Relations Board issues interim order allowing ICBC employees to take job action
June 15, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterThe union representing Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC) employees has welcomed a provincial order to restore, at least in part, its ability to take job action after the ICBC filed an essential services application on Apr. 19. The ability to…
Insurers could feel significant impact from Ontario court’s new privacy tort: legal paper
June 14, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Ontario Court of Appeal’s January 2012 decision in Jones v. Tsige, which recognized the tort of “intrusion upon seclusion” as a cause of action in Ontario, may have significant implications for policyholders and insurers, a paper from Blaney McMurtry…
Oliver Wyman, IBC each recommend a double-digit industry-wide adjustment to the Alberta Automobile Insurance Rate Board (AIRB)
June 14, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterCLARIFICATION: Canadian Underwriter initially reported on June 14 that Oilver Wyman suggested a 4.7% rate adjustment in 2011. In fact, Oliver Wyman recommended a 9% adjustment in 2011. In its final decision on an industry wide adjustment in 2011, the…
Industrial utility vehicles in B.C. no longer need to be registered, insured under certain circumstances
June 13, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterIndustrial utility vehicles (IUVs), miniature motor vehicles used in parades and beverage carts for golf courses no longer need to be registered, licensed and insured by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) under certain circumstances. This change to British…
Arbitrator finds “semblance of relevance” test is too low for production of Facebook photos in dispute resolution hearings
June 13, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterAn Ontario arbitrator has dismissed the appeal of an order for a claimant to produce photos from her Facebook account, but in doing so, the arbitrator rejected the “semblance of relevance” test for producing photos from social networking sites. In…
IBC accuses critics of proposed CAT definition of “fear-mongering”
June 12, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterInsurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) laid down the gauntlet against critics of the province’s recommended catastrophic (CAT) impairment definition, accusing them on June 12 of “fear-mongering.” IBC responded quickly to a media campaign mounted by trial lawyers and medical and…
Trial lawyers and rehab groups speak out against recommended catastrophic impairment definition
June 12, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) and Alliance of Community Medical and Rehabilitation Providers are launching a media campaign against proposed changes to the definition of a catastrophic impairment for victims injured in car accidents. Currently, accident victims who are…