Canadian Underwriter


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Punitive damage claims: AN ARGUMENT FOR COVERAGE

February 1, 2001 Jim Cameron of Cameron & Associates Insurance Consultants Ltd.

Just before Christmas, the Supreme Court of Canada heard argument in the case of Whiten v. Pilot. The original trial jury heard evidence that lead them to conclude that Pilot acted in bad faith against its insured Whiten and awarded

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Demystifying group business

January 1, 2001 Brian Reeve, a senior at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP

One area of great confusion that exists in the insurance market in Canada today is the status of group property and casualty coverage. The advantage of group coverage is that it can be sold without a licensed broker being involved.

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Healthcare: a Tear in the Claims Management

January 1, 2001 Sean van Zyl, Editor

In the few short years between 1991 and 1998, the cost of healthcare as a percentage of auto claims across Canada rose on average by almost a third to the point where amounts paid out by insurers toward vehicle damage/loss

ILLUSTRATION: ANDREW JUDD/MASTERFILE
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DELIBERATE ACTS: THE END OF AN ARGUMENT

January 1, 2001 William Blakeney, a senior partner of Blakeney Henneberry Baksh

Insurance coverage for intentional acts — specifically sexual abuse allegations — has been one of the most contentious areas of insurance law over the past five years. The controversy has pitted some of Canada’s oldest and most respected religious and

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The “REAL DEAL”?

December 1, 2000 Sean van Zyl, Editor

Not unlike the frustration and confusion expressed by the investment markets during the inconclusive and back-biting legal play that ended the race for of the U.S. presidential election, Canadian primary insurers have waited with baited breath from the middle of

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Saskatchewan brokers gear up for change

December 1, 2000 by Canadian Underwriter

As Saskatchewan’s brokers joined for their annual conference recently, proposed changes to rate classifications by Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) were the hot topic for discussion. Prior to the meeting, SGI announced plans to reclassify light commercial vehicles by removing the

Udo Nixdorf, senior vice president of Chubb Insurance Company of Canada
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D&O coverage rates hopelessly inadequate

November 1, 2000 by Canadian Underwriter

Given the rise in litigation and claims severity under D&O (directors and officers) coverage, rates are woefully inadequate, a recent Toronto Insurance Conference seminar was told. Udo Nixdorf, senior vice president of Chubb Insurance Company of Canada, says trends in

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LEGISLATION CATCHES UP TO TECHNOLOGY

November 1, 2000 Brian Reeve, Partner at Cassels Brock & Blackwell Llp

The federal and provincial legislators across Canada are slowly moving toward a uniform approach to regulating the legality of e-commerce contracts. Legislation set to be passed in Ontario this year under Bill-88 is expected to solidify this drive, with the implications immense for insurers.

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breaking ground for online brokers

November 1, 2000 Vikki Spencer

When Scot Dalton sold Dalton & Associates brokerage to the Cowan Insurance Group, it was not to step out of the insurance game. On the contrary, Dalton was ready to lead Cowan into the e-commerce world, as the country’s first online, multi-quote brokerage. Now, after two years of planning and development, cowaninsure.com has hit the information superhighway, with long-term plans to stay ahead of the pack.

PHOTODISC
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BEHIND THE SCENES: forensic entomology

October 1, 2000 Dael Morris, a forensic entomologist at Insect Investigations

Forensic investigation is hardly an unknown field to the insurance industry. However, an area that seems to garner little attention in claim investigation procedures is forensic entomology — which could save insurers and insureds millions of dollars. Bug investigations? You have to be kidding. But, as the following case study reveals, insects can reveal many secrets in the process of claims investigation.

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Quebec broker joins online rush

October 1, 2000 by Canadian Underwriter

Following on the heels of Cowan Insurance’s online launch, Quebec brokers Di Perno & Associates has entered the online insurance fray with the launch of “AssureMoi.com Inc.” The site, issued through La Toile du Quebec, the world’s largest French language

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Surfing the e-business wave

October 1, 2000 Axiom

Feeling slightly weary, the five of us walked across the convention center lobby and sank into chairs. My insurance company was the lead sponsor of a two-day business fair titled “The E-business Revolution” and I had invited four of my