Canadian Underwriter
Law, Consultation, Agreement, Contract, Attorney or Lawyer holding a pen is consulting with a client to explain the pattern of answering questions before going to court to decide a lawsuit. News ClaimsInsuranceLegal

Why an auto insured didn’t have to help with his insurer’s defence

April 15, 2024 by David Gambrill

An Ontario court has set aside a judgement of almost $155,000 that an auto insurer obtained against its insured for not complying with a legal obligation to participate in the insurer’s defence. In this case, the insured was not driving…

Female medical practitioner reassuring a patient News AdjustersClaimsInsuranceLegalLegislation / Regulation

Court upholds Aviva’s travel deductible for trips to medical appointments

April 8, 2024 by David Gambrill

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Supreme Court has dismissed a proposed class action lawsuit against Aviva Canada and Aviva General Insurance Company over a discretionary travel deductible the insurer imposed on medical and rehab accident benefits expenses. Aviva imposed a 25-kilometre (round…

Much money and a motorcycle. News BrokersClaimsInsuranceLegalLegislation / Regulation

Innocent victim of insurance fraud? Why a tribunal found otherwise….

March 25, 2024 by David Gambrill

An injured motorcyclist claiming he was the innocent victim of fraud had the wherewithal to know he was not carrying valid insurance, thus disqualifying him from receiving accident benefits, the Ontario Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) ruled Thursday. The tribunal said…

A quad on its side after it has been accidentally flipped. News ClaimsInsuranceLegalLegislation / Regulation

‘Negligent operation’ of ATV includes turning it over to inexperienced driver

March 18, 2024 by David Gambrill

If parents permit an adult child to use their all-terrain vehicle (ATV), and the son or daughter then negligently turns over control of that ATV to an inexperienced driver who gets seriously injured in a crash, the parents can be…

Justice and law symbol statue News ClaimsLegalLegislation / Regulation

Top court clarifies standard for judicial review of LAT decisions

March 15, 2024 by David Gambrill

Canada’s top court has kicked an auto accident benefits dispute back to the Ontario Licence Appeal Tribunal, effectively confirming courts have discretion to review decisions from the LAT, even if claimants only have a limited right to appeal LAT decisions.…

Senior Male Caucasian Golfer Driving off the Tee in Fall News ClaimsLegal

A golfer’s shot hits a homeowner’s car. Is he liable for not shouting “fore”?

February 7, 2024 by David Gambrill

A golfer who doesn’t shout “fore” before his golf ball damages a nearby homeowner’s car isn’t necessarily liable to pay the auto owner’s insurance deductible. That’s because even if the golfer had issued the warning, the parked car couldn’t get…

Businessman sending and showing resignation letter to employer boss. Quitting a job, businessman fired or leave a job concept. News BrokersEmploymentLegal

What happened after a broker quit without proper notice

February 5, 2024 by David Gambrill

A B.C. broker who quit without giving proper notice under his employment contract doesn’t owe his former brokerage any money for damages, because the brokerage couldn’t prove any lost income due to the resignation, the B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal has…

Secure receiving and sending of messages News ClaimsLegal

Why the court denied an auto insurer’s ‘shockingly intrusive’ motion

January 30, 2024 by David Gambrill

Editor’s Note:  The Ontario Superior Court decision incorrectly identified the auto insurer in this case as Echelon Insurance. Echelon has contacted Canadian Underwriter to confirm it has reached out to the court to correct the public record and it did…

personal injury medical assessment News ClaimsInsuranceLegalLegislation / Regulation

Why a court upheld a $175K personal injury award against Ontario Place

January 18, 2024 by David Gambrill

Ontario’s Court of Appeal has upheld a $175,000 damage award against Ontario Place in Toronto, finding that Ontario Place had blocked people’s access to the main exit and failed to erect barriers that would have prevented people from leaving the…

We have moved. Moving office sign. Clipart image isolated on blue background. Vector stock illustration. News ClaimsInsuranceLegal

How a client’s address change came back to bite his auto insurer

January 9, 2024 by David Gambrill

If an auto insurer wants to prove an insured “intentionally” failed to inform it of a move, the insurer should be prepared to provide detailed logs, transcripts or recordings of the conversations the claimant had with the broker, Ontario’s Licence…

Couple handshaking with a car salesperson after buying a car News BrokersInsuranceLegislation / Regulation

Car dealership fined for not sending premiums for warranties to insurer

January 2, 2024 by David Gambrill

An Alberta car dealership selling equipment warranties but not submitting the premiums to the insurer has been fined $85,000 by the province’s insurance regulator. Alberta Insurance Council [AIC] noted in its November 2023 decision that Penhold Car Farmers sold 17…

Cardboard Boxes at new apartment News ClaimsInsuranceLegal

‘Vacancy’ confusion in a home insurance policy: what the court said

November 29, 2023 by David Gambrill

A Nova Scotia court awarded more than $225,000 against a home insurer after its telephone agent placed coverage for a couple’s newly purchased house, when in fact it was unclear if the property was vacant, thus triggering a policy exclusion…