Settling claims in-house was one reason this MGA got acquired
October 7, 2018 by Greg MeckbachTotten Insurance Group Inc. might start offering brokers quotes within 24 hours on certain lines, the company’s president told Canadian Underwriter Friday. Totten, a Toronto-based managing general agent, recently acquired Saint John, N.B.-based MGA Anderson McTague & Associates Ltd., a…
First General names new head of central and eastern Ontario offices
October 1, 2018 by David GambrillFirst General, a North American restoration network with operations across Canada, has appointed Dan Burns to be the regional director of its central and eastern Ontario offices. First General has more than 80 general locations in Canada and the United…
Tornado damage: View from the ground
September 25, 2018 by Jason ContantClaims adjusters are reporting a wide range of claims from the two tornadoes that tore through the Ottawa-Gatineau area Friday. “The tornado event is considered to be more like a ‘pocket storm,’” Kumar Sivakumaran, vice president of national operations with…
Insurance lawyer now a Saskatchewan appeal court judge
September 24, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA lawyer who used to represent Saskatchewan’s auto insurer is now a judge with the province’s appeal court, the federal government announced Friday. Robert Leurer represented Saskatchewan Government Insurance on several occasions during the 31 years he practised law for…
Risk appetite for marijuana ‘all over the map’
September 17, 2018 by Greg MeckbachSome insurance companies “want no part” of covering risks related to cannabis in Canada, an industry analyst warns. As of Oct. 17, it will be legal in Canada for adults to possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis for…
Top 3 measures to mitigate home flood risk
September 7, 2018 by Greg MeckbachYour book of business could have lower water losses if you give homeowner clients just three pieces of advice. First, homeowners should figure out whether their home actually has a backwater valve, said Cheryl Evans, director of the home flood…
Cannabis legalization raises questions on host liability
September 5, 2018 by Greg MeckbachThe legalization of marijuana next month leaves some key questions for commercial clients who serve alcohol. “What if an individual comes in already smelling of marijuana and the bartender is unsure what their level of impairment is?” asked Mouna Hanna, …
How carriers envision the future of independent claims adjusters
September 4, 2018 by Greg MeckbachDespite increased costs of outsourcing claims adjustment, an extreme wind event this past May serves as a reminder that insurers will continue to need independent claims adjusters and brokers should be prepared to field calls from claimants. The future of…
The absurd effect of commerce law on claims adjusting
September 1, 2018 by Greg MeckbachIt is easier for Canadian insurance companies to bring in adjusters from the United States than to move Canadian adjusters from one province to another, due in part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), speakers said at the…
How these independent claims adjusters lost their jobs
August 30, 2018 by Greg MeckbachSome employees of Canadian independent adjusting firms have been shown the door due to bad behaviour that the #MeToo movement is bringing to the forefront, company CEOs said at the recent Canadian Claims Summit. In terms of harassment in the…
How cannabis legalization could re-word home insurance policies
August 29, 2018 by Greg MeckbachIf carriers do what one insurance defence lawyer advises, your clients could get new exclusionary language in their home insurance policies as a result of cannabis legalization. Insurers who are concerned about the risk of fire and burglary arising from…
The trade-off to using artificial intelligence to speed up claims
August 29, 2018 by Greg MeckbachCanadian insurers wanting to handle claims like Lemonade are going to have to accept some trade-offs, a Claims Summit speaker said Tuesday. New York City-based Lemonade Insurance Company uses artificial intelligence and says it can handle some claims in three…