Topic Adjusters
New industry anti-fraud group gets its first CEO
July 19, 2021 by Greg MeckbachTerri O’Brien, a former vice president at TD Bank, is now CEO of Équité Association, the anti-fraud organization announced Monday. Équité Association is a new organization that integrates Canadian National Insurance Crime Services (CANATICS) and the IBC’s investigative services division.…
Why insured losses from Barrie twister may be higher than you think
July 16, 2021 by Greg MeckbachThe number of Barrie, Ont. clients whose homes are damaged beyond repair by Thursday’s tornado may be more than initially reported, an industry expert predicted Friday. The tornado touched down at about 2:30 p.m. July 15, the Canadian Press reported.…
Top court asked to create “new law” in waiver case involving insurer’s flip-flop on coverage
July 14, 2021 by Greg MeckbachCanadian law on estoppel or waiver could change if the Supreme Court of Canada rules against RSA in Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia v. Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada, a Vancouver-based insurance lawyer suggested Tuesday. Estoppel…
Lytton fire raises questions about possible subrogation
July 5, 2021 by David GambrillAs the British Columbia Wildfire Service works with the RCMP to investigate the cause of a fire last week that burned down 90% of the village of Lytton, preliminary reports that the fire originated in the town — and not…
Restaurant fires and how they are caused
June 30, 2021 by Greg MeckbachKitchen exhaust and gas connections should be near the top of a restaurant client’s risk management agenda. Improperly maintained kitchen exhaust systems are a common cause of restaurant fires, wrote Larry Anderson, editor of TheBigRedGuide.com, in a recent article. This…
How a return to work changed the approach of this Top 5 insurer
June 25, 2021 by Jason ContantAviva Canada is taking a deliberate and measured approach to change initiatives in the second half of the year, with the understanding the next few months and the looming return to the office will be a stressful time for employees.…
Here’s what can go wrong if you give away a salvage vehicle
June 24, 2021 by Greg MeckbachA couple who thought they received a written-off camper trailer as a gift are entitled to some compensation for repairs they made before the registered owner came to retrieve the vehicle, a Newfoundland and Labrador court has ruled. Sherry Drake…
Working from home increasingly popular among Canadian P&C professionals
June 18, 2021 by Adam MalikMore property and casualty insurance industry professionals are working from today than six months ago — and more are “very satisfied” to be doing so, according to a Canadian Underwriter poll conducted last week. Canadian Underwriter first asked the industry…
A home under renovation isn’t necessarily “under construction:” Appeal Court
June 15, 2021 by David GambrillA home under renovation doesn’t mean it is “under construction,” Ontario’s Appeal Court has ruled, rejecting an insurer’s interpretation of its home insurance policy exclusion. In Tataryn v. Axa Insurance Canada (now Intact Insurance), Susan Tataryn’s Ottawa property served as…
Estimator’s COVID dilemma: Photos of auto damage not enough, in-person visit not allowed
June 11, 2021 by David GambrillIt’s an auto insurance estimator’s Catch-22. A B.C. small claims tribunal recently downplayed expert evidence based on photos taken in an auto collision shop because the estimator didn’t conduct an in-person inspection of the vehicle — even though pandemic lockdown…
Forget data: The case for going with your gut instinct
June 8, 2021 by David GambrillData analysis may be held up as the gold standard for making sound business decisions. But a recent study suggests gut instinct — when backed up by simple decision aids — may actually be better in situations of high uncertainty.…
In pollution claim, ‘sudden’ could mean several months, court finds
June 8, 2021 by Greg MeckbachInsurance coverage for a “sudden and accidental” release of diesel fuel can include a discharge that continued over several months, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal has ruled in a commercial coverage dispute. As a result of Zurich Insurance Company…