Segment
Claims
Canadian federally regulated P&C insurers boost results in 2012 Q1
June 27, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterFederally regulated property and casualty insurers in Canada posted improved financial results in 2012 Q1, recording a collective quarterly profit of $1.048 billion this quarter as opposed to a $721.7-million profit in the same period last year. Figures from the…
Rainfall warnings lifted in flooded B.C. Kootenay region
June 27, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterRainfall warnings for a number of areas within British Columbia’s Kootenay region — which had already been dealing with the effects of rapid snowmelt and wet conditions over the past two or three weeks — ended in the early morning…
Ontario court awards punitive damages against insurer, distinguishing between fraud and maximizing insurance recovery
June 26, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterWawanesa Mutual Insurance Company employed a high-stakes litigation strategy designed to intimidate homeowners seeking damages, a choice that demands significant, but proportionate punishment, an Ontario court has ruled. In Brandiferri v. Wawanesa Mutual Insurance, et al., Ontario Superior Court Justice…
Sending AB application to the wrong insurer a “reasonable explanation” for a delay in reporting the claim to the proper insurer: arbitrator
June 26, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterAn Ontario arbitrator has awarded a $5,000 ‘special award’ against Economical Mutual Insurance Company after the company denied a claim on the basis that the claimant, Roda Egal, had not provided a reason for a delay in making her application…
Newly constructed buildings in Ontario must use heat-strengthened laminated glass
June 26, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterOntario’s Building Code will soon require newly constructed buildings to use heat-strengthened laminated glass to prevent balcony glass from breaking and falling to roadways below. Effective July 1, construction companies must use heat-strengthened laminated glass (the same type used in…
Merchant Law Group launches $75-million class action after Alberta oil spill
June 25, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterMerchant Law Group LLP has launched a $75-million class action lawsuit against Plains Midstream Canada ULC in connection with the oil spill near Sundre, Alberta that occurred in early June 2012. Approximately 475,000 litres of sour crude oil leaked into…
Celent report analyzes how British insurers can improve claims process
June 25, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterInsurance companies in the United Kingdom can “shift the customer satisfaction curve” in claims by focusing on big data, analytics and operational excellence, according to a recent study by Celent. “Tweaking” the claims process by ensuring that insurers communicate using…
Lawyers resign from Ontario auto insurance committee
June 22, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterSeveral lawyers are protesting recently announced changes to the definition of catastrophic injury for accident victims by quitting an auto insurance committee created by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO). The Toronto Star reported the group of personal injury…
Family of Quebec man killed when a tree fell on his car should go to province’s auto insurer for compensation: Supreme Court
June 22, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterA Quebec man killed when a tree fell on the vehicle he was driving in the City of Westmount must turn to the province’s auto insurer for compensation, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled, thus rejecting the man’s civil…
ACE Canada launches architects and engineers professional liability insurance
June 21, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterACE Canada, the Canadian-based operating division of the ACE Group, has launched ACE Advantage Architects and Engineers professional liability insurance. The new product provides domestic and international coverage against perils faced by design professionals, including professional negligence, pollution incidents and…
Government establishes new safety and security program in Regina
June 19, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterRegina will serve as home to the new Canadian Safety and Security Program (CSSP), which seeks to strengthen the country’s public safety and national security priorities. The program aims to enhance Canada’s ability to anticipate, prevent, prepare for, respond to…
Flood warning issued for Upper Fraser River in B.C.
June 19, 2012 by Canadian UnderwriterThe B.C. River Forecast Centre issued a flood warning on June 19 for the Upper Fraser River, after heavy rainfall triggered evacuation alerts and a local state of emergency in neighbouring communities. Between 30 and 75 millimetres of rain have…