Topic Adjusters
Six-figure pain and suffering judgement against Wal-Mart Canada attracts appeal court scrutiny
May 29, 2020 by Greg MeckbachA $225,000 award in a lawsuit against Wal-Mart Canada, arising from the accidental spraying of a fire extinguisher by a worker, could be headed to the Supreme Court of Canada. The victim of the accidental spraying, Kim Manos, initially won…
Q&A: Business Continuity in the Digital Age
May 27, 2020 by David GambrillIn an age of social distancing, contactless claims resolution is an important part of preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Canadian Underwriter has talked to those in the claims industry about how to do their jobs safely in the…
Pyrrhic victory for Intact in faulty workmanship coverage dispute
May 27, 2020 by Greg MeckbachIntact Insurance has convinced an Alberta court that the “faulty workmanship” exclusion applies in a disputed commercial fire claim but the carrier still has to pay more than $600,000 to a bakery, mainly because the judge rejected Intact’s definition of…
Dry conditions in Nova Scotia fuelling three large wildfires
May 27, 2020 by THE CANADIAN PRESSHALIFAX – Provincial officials in Nova Scotia are warning about the potential for forest fires in dry, humid conditions as firefighters battle three significant wildfires across the province. The fires burning Tuesday follow a weekend blaze near Porters Lake east…
Q&A: Business Continuity in the Digital Age
May 26, 2020 by David GambrillMore than 3 million Canadians lost their jobs in March and April due to the business closures to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. An Angus Reid poll published in March suggested that 44% of Canadian households reported lost…
Pandemic insurance fraud: What to watch for…
May 25, 2020 by Greg MeckbachInflated auto towing and storage claims and arson are among the risks the industry faces from the economic downturn and social distancing arising from the pandemic, a fraud and data analytics expert warns. “A legitimate accident may happen and [a…
What can go wrong if ‘actual cash value’ is not clearly defined in a property policy
May 19, 2020 by Greg MeckbachAfter a 132-year-old Cape Breton Island building was heavily damaged by a sprinkler line failure, there was a huge disparity between the property owner and insurer’s versions of “actual cash value.” The claimant said $1.59 million, while the insurer said…
Lower auto claims frequency may not translate into reduced claims severity: Intact CEO
May 13, 2020 by Greg MeckbachIf your auto client base is driving less because of the pandemic, then its claims costs should drop in proportion. Right? Not necesessarily, suggests the head of Canada’s largest auto insurer. Intact Financial Corp. looked at its database of driving…
How this reinsurer views property risk in Fort McMurray
May 4, 2020 by Greg MeckbachSome properties affected by the current flooding in Fort McMurray, Alberta, were also affected by the massive wildfire in 2016 but despite the multiple tragedies, the properties are still considered insurable. “Property in the town of Fort McMurray, Alberta is…
How to exclude business interruption during pandemic
May 4, 2020 by Greg MeckbachIf a commercial insurer does not want business interruption covering a pandemic-related exposure, how should the policy be worded? One insurance defence lawyer would advise the carrier to add a section entitled ‘Pandemic/viral/bacterial infection’ to the list of exclusions. “I…
Why it’s hard to determine liability when a plaintiff catches coronavirus in nursing home
May 1, 2020 by Greg MeckbachLiability insurers and courts could be entering uncharted legal territory when dealing with class-action lawsuits against nursing homes or long-term care homes in which residents have become sick and died from the coronavirus. In some cases, a question before a…
Chief medical health officer eases COVID rules in Alberta flood areas: premier
April 29, 2020 by THE CANADIAN PRESSFORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – Premier Jason Kenney says the province’s chief medical officer of health is relaxing some COVID-19 restrictions for people who are dealing with flooding in northern Alberta. Kenney says in a tweet sent out late Tuesday that…