What’s New: In Brief (February 17, 2009)

If Alberta’s Court of Appeal reinstates the province’s cap on minor injuries, the total amount recoverable will be adjusted by 3.8% to Cdn$4,504 as of Jan.1, 2009.
When Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Neil Wittmann struck down the minor injury cap on Feb. 8, 2008, the cap amount stood at Cdn$4,339.
The new amount relates to minor injuries caused in motor vehicles accidents that occurred in Alberta on or after Jan. 1, 2009, according to a bulletin issued by the Superintendent of Insurance in Alberta.
However, the adjusted amount will only take effect if the lower court’s decision to strike down the cap is overturned.
The government appealed Wittmann’s decision and the Court of Appeal has not yet rendered a verdict on the appeal.

Global supply chains are vulnerable to trade disruption in 42% more countries this year than last year, according to Aon Corporation.
Aon’s Political Risk Map shows that the number of countries with the ‘supply chain vulnerability’ icon has increased to 54 from 38.
This is due to risks ranging from government embargo or interference with a supplier through strikes, terrorism and sabotage, Aon notes in a release.
Companies relying on commodities, manufacturing and outsourcing are most at risk.
“Good business continuity planning can be supplemented by political risk insurance that will pay out for replacement costs, asset value or daily costs incurred,” Roger Schwartz, senior vice president of Aon’s political risk team, noted in the release.