Topic Legal
Supreme Court of Canada stipulates ‘new approach’ to handling lawsuits in Ontario
January 30, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterTwo recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada means that Ontario courts “should grant summary judgement more often” in lawsuits, according to one law firm. “While the Supreme Court has outlined a new approach to summary judgment motions, it…
Financial services commission in NB launches new web resource for insurance questions, fraud prevention
January 29, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Financial and Consumer Services Commission in New Brunswick has launched a new web resource to help answer common questions related to the insurance industry and financial sector and provide tips for avoiding fraud. The online public awareness campaign is the…
Telematics gives brokers opportunities to offer advice but may need a ‘disable creep stalk’ function
January 24, 2014 by Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorTelematics is going to change the way auto insurance is offered, and the technology gives brokers plenty of opportunities to offer advice to consumers, according to speakers at Thursday’s P&C Crystal Ball conference who are using pilot versions of the…
Ontario auto one factor in State Farm’s sale to Desjardins, industry CEO suggests
January 24, 2014 by Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorThe Ontario government’s stance on auto insurance continues to inject uncertainty into the market and is one reason State Farm agreed to sell its Canadian operations to Desjardins Group, according to speakers at Thursday’s P&C Crystal Ball conference in Toronto.…
FSCO to launch eCalendar service to make arbitration more efficient
January 22, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) has announced the phased implementation of its arbitration electronic scheduling system, part of ongoing efforts to make dispute resolution services for auto insurance more efficient. Arbitration eCalendar allows parties to receive legal notices…
Personal injury judgement for trip and fall resulting in broken arm exceeds $200,000
January 20, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterAn Ontario court recently awarded $107,765 to a women who broke her upper arm at the rotator cuff after stubbing her toe, tripping and falling on a city sidewalk in Caledonia, Ontario, southwest of Hamilton. In a decision released Jan.…
Quebec insurers simplify auto insurance policy language
January 16, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Groupement des assureurs automobiles (GAA), an industry group in Quebec, has announced a new plain language auto insurance policy to take effect March 1. In 2010, GAA and Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), the provincial regulator, began reviewing policies…
Ontario auto insurance rates dropped 4.66% on average since August, government says
January 15, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterAuto insurance rates in Ontario have dropped 4.66% on average since August 2013, Ontario’s Ministry of Finance said Wednesday. Its announcement came a day after a news report citing unnamed sources that said rates had decreased 4% since the Liberal…
Canadian non-profit fighting insurance crime selects U.K. firm to analyze pooled data
January 15, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterCanadian National Insurance Crime Services (CANATICS), a non-profit focused on fighting insurance crime, has closed a five-year deal with an analytics service based in the United Kingdom to use for pooled industry data. “We chose BAE Systems Detica as our…
Court orders government insurer to pay upkeep costs for auto accident victim’s lap pool
January 15, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan recently ruled against Saskatchewan Government Insurance in deciding that the carrier must pay some of the ongoing operating costs of a lap pool used by a vehicle accident victim for rehabilitation. Dennis Scott was…
Three Ontario rehabilitation clinics convicted in auto insurance fraud cases
January 14, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterThree Toronto-area rehabilitation clinics have been convicted of several offences, resulting in maximum fines of $100,000 per conviction, the Insurance Bureau of Canada said Tuesday. The convictions come after co-operative investigation efforts from IBC’s investigative services division, multiple insurers, police…
Supreme Court rejects appeal applications in dispute over homeowner policy vehicle exclusion
January 10, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Supreme Court of Canada ruled this week partly in favour of The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company over a dispute as to whether a homeowner’s policy requires The Dominion to defend a couple and their son, who are…