Is seven months too long to wait for car repairs?
November 14, 2018 by Jason ContantA B.C. small claims tribunal has dismissed a driver’s claim that his repair shop negligently misrepresented the amount of time it would take to repair his vehicle. Jizhou Zhang sought an award of $4,500 for the loss of use and…
Paid Recreational Cannabis Legalization: Are your HR policies ready?
November 14, 2018 by David Smagata, DASDid you know, medical cannabis has been legal in Canada since 1999? Since then there have been numerous amendments to the laws, as well as a significant increase in Canadians who have purchased medical cannabis. According to Health Canada…
Homeowner sued by victims of impaired driving accident
November 12, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA host liability lawsuit, arising from a fatal drunk driving accident, is proceeding to trial in Ontario. A recent Court of Appeal for Ontario ruling shows judges disagree on how the 2006 Supreme Court of Canada ruling in Childs v. …
Top court could hear disputed claim arising from $550-million ponzi scheme loss
November 5, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA major bank’s disputed $300-million professional liability insurance claim – arising from a Ponzi scheme in Florida – could reach the Supreme Court of Canada. Toronto-Dominion Bank bought an insurance policy from a syndicate of insurers, including Lloyd’s Underwriters in…
Aviva considers appeal in $3.4-million sexual abuse claims dispute
October 22, 2018 by Greg MeckbachAviva Canada is considering whether to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada after the New Brunswick Court of Appeal ruled last week that the insurer must pay a Catholic diocese about $3.4 million towards costs of…
When keeping customer’s car keys is not “custody” of a car
October 21, 2018 by Greg MeckbachNorthbridge has to pay out on a hotel’s liability insurance policy resulting from theft of a guest’s car, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in a decision released Friday. Lombard, now known as Northbridge, provided both property and liability insurance…
Why clients need advice on ‘litigation hot spots’
October 21, 2018 by Greg MeckbachCommercial brokers advising Canadian clients with operations in foreign countries need to understand consumer protection and pollution laws in those countries. “It’s up to a broker to make sure that he or she is well versed in what those countries’…
The lengths to which this lawyer went to represent her auto accident victim
October 4, 2018 by Greg MeckbachThe Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear the appeal of a personal injury lawyer who is out of pocket $30,000 after she tried to prevent a hospital from taking a vehicle accident claimant off life support. The lawyer…
How this auto claimant won additional pain and suffering damages
October 1, 2018 by Greg MeckbachThe controversial 2017 Saadati ruling from the Supreme Court of Canada was one reason an auto accident victim recently got an increase in pain and suffering damages. In Saadati’s lawsuit, a judge with the Supreme Court of B.C. awarded pain…
Car surfing covered by auto insurance, court finds
September 27, 2018 by David GambrillAuto insurance covers “car surfing,” in which a person rides on the top or rear of a moving vehicle, an Ontario court has found. “Car surfing or attaching oneself to a vehicle, while reckless and dangerous, is not a more…
Three product ingredients that could cause large claims
September 13, 2018 by Greg MeckbachIf your client makes or supplies beauty care products, they could face bodily injury lawsuits if certain chemicals are present. The “toxic trio” – dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene and formaldehyde – are contained in some nail varnishes, body lotions, fragrances…
Judges disagree on whether this collision was a ‘true accident’
September 11, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA motorist who is being sued by his passenger after a single-vehicle accident wants his case heard by the Supreme Court of Canada. The issue at hand is whether the single-vehicle crash was a “true accident,” in which nobody can…