Topic Claims
Why this small claims tribunal changed an auto insurer’s liability finding
January 21, 2021 by Greg MeckbachA British Columbia driver who was found 50% at fault for a collision by the province’s monopoly auto insurer has partly won a small claim against the other driver. Hartmut Wolfram and Yunsun Kim collided with one another in Burnaby…
This kind of homeowner’s liability claim has real teeth
January 21, 2021 by Greg MeckbachWhen a dog bites man, the wounds could be deep and wide for homeowners. “Pet bites top the list for home insurance liability claims,” reports Dorchester Insurance Brokers Ltd., based near London in the community of Dorchester, Ont. “Dog bites…
Residents of Old Fort, B.C. suing province, others over slow-moving landslide
January 21, 2021 by Amy Smart - THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – Residents of a tiny community in northeastern British Columbia are suing the local and provincial governments over two slow-moving landslides they claim caused their property values to plummet. In a notice of civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme…
Court sides with condo insurers that used the wrong policy to deny a $4.4-million water damage claim
January 20, 2021 by David GambrillSix subscription policy insurers that denied coverage to a condo corporation in a $4.4-million water damage claim — a denial based on reference to the wrong policy — have had the matter tossed out of court. The Court of Queen’s…
What can go wrong when do-it-yourself clients try to replace home water heaters
January 19, 2021 by Greg MeckbachSome homeowner clients could get in trouble if they try to replace water heaters themselves, by following do-it-yourself handyman advice they find somewhere on the Internet. Many home insurance policies specifically require that water heater installation be done by a…
What’s missing from driverless vehicle rollout plan
January 19, 2021 by Greg MeckbachDriverless vehicles need to have some way of communicating with police, fire and ambulance responders, an auto manufacturers’ group said in a recent report. First responders have ways of handling situations they encounter in traffic but there are no “common…
Nighttime fire in western P.E.I. seniors home forces evacuation
January 19, 2021 by The Canadian PressWELLINGTON, P.E.I. – A fire inside a seniors home in western P.E.I. forced 47 residents from the building on Monday night, but there were no reports of serious injuries. Desmond Arsenault, spokesman for the Wellington Fire Department, says soon after…
RCCAQ reacts to Quebec curfew
January 18, 2021 by Greg MeckbachQuebec’s insurance brokers should not experience any major disruptions as a result of the province-wide evening curfew imposed a week ago, the chair of the Regroupement des cabinets de courtage d’assurance du Quebec (RCCAQ) predicts. The curfew took effect on…
Church’s liability to victims confirmed as legal battle over Mount Cashel abuse ends
January 18, 2021 by Sarah Smellie - THE CANADIAN PRESSST. JOHN’S, N.L. – The Supreme Court of Canada has refused a bid by the Roman Catholic archdiocese in St. John’s to appeal a ruling that found it liable for sexual abuse at the former Mount Cashel orphanage. Thursday’s court…
How an award-winning risk manager helped absorb a rate spike
January 15, 2021 by Adam MalikBetty Clarke recently received the highest honour for risk managers in Canada. One example of why she is deserving of such recognition lies in how she helped her employer prepare to absorb a drastic insurance rate increase. Clarke is the…
When the appraisal umpire goes beyond the depreciation rate of both the claimant and the insurer
January 15, 2021 by David GambrillIn a $1.2-million dispute arising from a property resort fire, an Ontario appraisal umpire did not exceed his authority when he used a much higher depreciation rate than both the claimant and the insurer did to calculate the value of…
New Brunswick city rebuilding its IT system after major cyberattack
January 15, 2021 by The Canadian PressSaint John, N.B., is rebuilding its computer network rather than submitting to criminals who launched a cyber attack against the city in November. City manager John Collin updated council Monday on the city’s efforts to rebuild its IT system following…