Topic Adjusters
Why this towing company is on the hook for $2,000 in damages
August 3, 2021 by Greg MeckbachIf your client dings another vehicle and informally offers $500 to the driver of the other vehicle, this does not limit your client’s liability to $500. This is one lesson from a British Columbia civil resolution tribunal ruling released last…
McLarens acquires MGB Claims Consultants
August 3, 2021 by Greg MeckbachCanadian adjusting firm MGB Claims Consultants Inc. has been acquired by McLarens, a Norcross, Ga.-based insurance service provider. The financial terms of the deal, announced Tuesday, were not disclosed. Shawn Malik, James Giffen and Shawn Burnett – who founded MGB…
Severe drought expected to cost Alberta $1 billion in insurance payouts
July 23, 2021 by Jason ContantCrop insurance payouts in Alberta will likely reach about $1 billion later this year due to hot, dry weather that is contributing to severe drought conditions, Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry said Thursday. “This year’s crop insurance claims will…
Supreme Court of Canada sides with city over release for ‘claims of any kind or nature whatsoever’
July 23, 2021 by Greg MeckbachAs the late singer Prince said, forever is a mighty long time. While his 1984 tune “Let’s Go Crazy” is not about tort claims, a Supreme Court of Canada decision released Friday should serve as a reminder of the significance…
Why your clients should do an inspection before buying a home
July 21, 2021 by Greg MeckbachA couple who discovered a leaking bathtub after moving into their new home cannot get compensation from the sellers. A “reasonable inspection” would have revealed a water problem before Tyler and Keva Luscombe bought their home in 2020, the British…
Get ready for hundreds of claims from Barrie twister
July 21, 2021 by Greg MeckbachThe industry will probably see well over 200 claims from the July 15 tornado that hit Barrie, Ont., says a wind damage expert who has looked at the affected area. “I expect the total number of damaged houses was about…
The legal pitfalls of online and over-the-phone insurance applications
July 20, 2021 by Greg MeckbachA property insurer can be stuck paying out on a claim even though the client made a “material omission” on their insurance application, but the industry can mitigate this risk by being especially careful when taking applications over the phone…
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…