Topic Liability
How COVID-19 can trigger a ‘force majeure’ or ‘act of God’ clause in a contract
October 7, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe COVID-19 pandemic could be considered an “act of God,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean a client can recoup a deposit for cancelling a large gathering, a recent British Columbia Civil Resolution Tribunal ruling suggests. While most property and casualty…
Appeal court dismisses lawsuit against Economical over additional insured endorsement
October 5, 2020 by Greg MeckbachA solar energy developer has lost its appeal against Economical in a commercial coverage dispute regarding an additional insured, in which the policy wording referred to “liability arising out of the operations” of the insured. “Contractual insurance obligations and additional…
Governments shouldn’t shield essential workers from COVID-19
October 5, 2020 by Hilary Young, Associate Professor, Law, University of New Brunswick - THE CONVERSATIONThis article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site. ___ Essential workers are the heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic. Civil…
Seven survivors of Alberta tour bus rollover file lawsuit
October 1, 2020 by Daniela Germano - THE CANADIAN PRESSEDMONTON – A northern Alberta woman who survived a fatal tour bus crash in Jasper National Park this summer says she is one of the lucky ones, but her recovery will be long and painful. Sweta Patel, 27, from High…
Intact warns of indirect economic impact from COVID
September 29, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the biggest risks facing Canadian insurers, executives told a recent investors’ conference. “What can happen to us is what we call indirect losses,” Intact Financial Corp. CFO Louis Marcotte said…
Why this client wants to take insurer to Supreme Court over family protection endorsement
September 25, 2020 by Greg MeckbachA motor vehicle personal injury lawsuit, involving Ontario’s family protection endorsement and multiple defendants when alcohol is involved, could be headed to the Supreme Court of Canada. A key question before the top court — if it decides to hear…
‘Bold and underline that’ — What this Aon exec says is the top reinsurance issue
September 25, 2020 by Adam MalikSocial inflation is the top item of concern for an Aon reinsurance executive, even if it’s an issue being exacerbated in the United States rather than in Canada. “I would bold and underline that — that is, I think, the…
The insurance implications of virtual healthcare in the COVID era
September 24, 2020 by Jason ContantAs more and more Canadians take advantage of virtual healthcare options during the COVID-19 pandemic, brokers and insurers need to make sure their clients have adequate insurance protection for this emerging risk. The move to medical consultations by video or…
Aon exec discusses industry ‘sins’ and puts COVID claims into perspective
September 16, 2020 by Adam MalikRiding the wave of high interest rates years ago, some P&C insurers and reinsurers overlooked their escalating combined ratios, an industry exec recently observed during a webinar. And that’s coming back to bite the industry now that the global COVID-19…
P&C industry braces for a ‘second wave’ of COVID liability
September 15, 2020 by David GambrillThere is an old saying: ‘Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.’ As schools across the nation re-open, and as COVID-19 virus infection rates across Canada once again begin to climb, Canadian P&C industry observers…
Aon’s take on the state of the Canadian P&C insurance market
September 15, 2020 by Jason ContantThe first quarter of 2020 saw a continuation and acceleration of the Canadian risk and insurance market shift that took hold in 2019, with pricing increases, withdrawn capacity in several key lines of business, tightened terms, and an increasingly rigorous…
What’s driving D&O rate increases for privately-held firms
September 11, 2020 by Greg MeckbachLawsuits from employees alleging harassment or discrimination is one reason for significant price increases in directors’ and officers’ liability rates. In Canada, commercial brokerage Gallagher is seeing an uptick in age and gender discrimination claims and workplace harassment claims under…