Canadian Underwriter

Topic Legal

The office of the Archdiocese of Montreal
News ClaimsInsurersLegalLiabilityQuebec

$14.7 million settlement in sex abuse class action against Montreal archdiocese

April 14, 2023 by Sidhartha Banerjee - THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL – A $14.7-million settlement has been reached in a class-action lawsuit brought against the Montreal Roman Catholic archdiocese, and a judge will be asked to sign off on the deal in the coming weeks, the plaintiffs’ lawyer said Thursday.

Business associates arguing.
News ClaimsClaims ProfessionalsCommercialConstructionLegalLiabilityLoss Control

Why resolving claims disputes is about more than numbers

April 11, 2023 by Derek Sayers

Want to increase the likelihood of a construction project insurance claim being accepted? Take the time to validate each aspect of that claim. The upfront work will make it easier for any umpires, mediators, consultants or lawyers brought in to

Red Handle Rubber Stamper and You've Been Served text isolated on the table.
News ClaimsInsurersLegalLiabilityOntarioPersonal Auto

Can’t find defendants in auto liability cases? Don’t serve their insurers instead.

April 5, 2023 by David Gambrill

Ontario’s Court of Appeal has laid down the law on trial lawyers habitually serving defendants’ auto liability insurers as a matter of course when they can’t find the defendants to serve notice of the lawsuit. Don’t do it. “As a

Hand holding magnifying glass and looking at house model with row of coin money, house selection, real estate concept.
News ClaimsInsurersLegalOntarioProperty

Intact policyholder conflates ACV with replacement cost value

April 4, 2023 by David Gambrill

Intact recently won an appraisal dispute with an insured who originally claimed more than four times the market value of his business property after a fire, prompting the court to find the insured was conflating actual cash value (ACV) of

family home icon. Vector isolated illustration.
News ClaimsInsurersLegalLiabilityOntarioPersonal Auto

Spouses don’t have to live under the same roof to qualify for family protection auto coverage

April 3, 2023 by David Gambrill

Editor’s Note: This article has been corrected to show that the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund (MVACF) has a $200,000 maximum legal liability and not $250,000, as initially reported. Canadian Underwriter apologizes for the error.   Spouses don’t have to

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News BrokersClaimsCommercialEmerging RisksInsurersLegalLiabilityTechnology

Why cyber tracking technology litigation could be coming to Canada

March 31, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Insurers can expect pixel liability to “rear its ugly head” in Canada after recent litigation in the U.S., a lawyer at the NetDiligence Cyber Risk Summit said.   Especially as one Canadian home improvement company has been deemed by the

ESG and sustainability icon
News Emerging RisksEnvironmentalLegalOperations

ESG reporting expectations on suppliers growing, report says

March 31, 2023 by The Canadian Press

MONTREAL – A new report finds that small and medium suppliers face growing expectations from their larger customers to report on environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.   The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) survey of 121 large companies and

A pile of reports
News InsurersLegal

More ways IFRS 17 can make for wonky reporting

March 29, 2023 by Philip Porado

In the face of IFRS 17 reporting requirements, insurers should prioritize stabilizing and managing their balance sheets, noted a panellist during a recent Canadian Insurance Accountants Association (CIAA) webinar. They also should strive to ensure the company’s assets and liabilities

Alberta oilsands
News AlbertaClaimsCommercialEnvironmentalLegalLiability

Alberta Energy Regulator to launch third-party probe of oilsands tailings leak

March 29, 2023 by Bob Weber - THE CANADIAN PRESS

EDMONTON – The Alberta Energy Regulator says it’s looking for an investigator to dig into releases of oilsands tailings and tailings-contaminated water that weren’t made public for nine months. In a statement Tuesday, the regulator said it’s seeking a “qualified,

Business interruption insurance form and red pen for signing.
News Business InterruptionClaimsCommercialInsurersLegalLiabilityOntarioQuebec

Aviva loses bid to quash class action for COVID-related BI losses

March 28, 2023 by David Gambrill

Ontario’s Superior Court has certified a class action lawsuit by a window and door manufacturer against Aviva Canada related to the insurer’s broad denial of pandemic-related business interruption claims. In doing so, the court rejected Aviva’s motion to have the

Police officer (20s) conducting sobriety test on woman.
News ClaimsInsurersLegalLiabilityOntarioPersonal Auto

Latest Supreme Court ruling may reduce liability risk due to impaired drivers

March 27, 2023 by David Gambrill

Canada’s top court has restored the impaired driving conviction of an Ontario ATV driver, whose Charter rights were violated when the police pulled him over on a shared private driveway instead of a public highway. The case is of interest

Two people riding on an ATV through the snow
News ClaimsInsurersLegalOntarioPersonal Auto

ATV roll-over decision could help insureds who are denied coverage

March 23, 2023 by Philip Porado

Recent granting of a plaintiff’s motion for summary judgement against an insurer in an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) overturn accident may make it easier for auto insurance policyholders to access their coverage. Ultimately, the decision may be of future benefit to