How this dry cleaner got sued over 50-year-old pollution
April 11, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAn Ottawa dry cleaner is liable for nearly $2 million in environmental clean-up costs resulting from spills that occurred at least 45 years ago, as a result of a Supreme Court of Canada ruling released Thursday. The top court’s ruling…
How Aviva is simplifying its claims process
April 10, 2019 by Jason ContantAviva Canada has worked with provincial regulators to simplify its products and the claims process for customers. “We’ve done that specifically for [accident benefits], where we got a lot of feedback from customers that the forms were confusing, they didn’t…
The liability risk from climate change
April 9, 2019 by Greg MeckbachLarge companies face liability risk if they emit greenhouse gas emissions, and shareholders are asking directors and officers what they are doing about climate-related risks, a speaker suggested at a recent insurance conference in Toronto. Panelists at the Property and…
How will reputational harm coverage evolve?
April 8, 2019 by Jason ContantWill reputational harm coverage grow into its own coverage or will it remain sublimited, as is often the case? There is currently a lot of variance within the market in how this coverage is offered, if at all. Some insurers…
Some earthquake deductibles too high: IBC
April 5, 2019 by Greg MeckbachBrokers are telling the Insurance Bureau of Canada that for some homeowner clients, the deductible on earthquake coverage is so high that the clients could still end up broke after a major tremor. “Right now, the deductible on some of…
Why this insurer is spending $20 million on bricks-and-mortar stores
April 4, 2019 by Greg MeckbachWhen CAA Insurance clients want to visit an agent in person, company officials want those clients to feel as if they are in a home rather than an office. This is one reason CAA Club Group has spent $8 million…
Why brokers need to check their dec pages
April 4, 2019 by David GambrillA Manitoba broker was fined $1,000 fine for not checking to make sure his client’s request for a Single Limit Endorsement was included as part of the client’s home insurance coverage. It wasn’t, as it turns out, and the client…
AXIS Insurance announces new head of claims in Canada
April 4, 2019 by David GambrillAXIS Insurance has appointed Margaret Mede as head of Canada claims, effective immediately. Based in Toronto, Mede will lead a team that handles D&O, E&O, employment, media, cyber, fidelity, and general liability claims brought against Canadian-based insureds. She joins AXIS…
Major auto coverage change now in effect in this province
April 1, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAuto coverage is changing for British Columbia motorists effective today. Accident benefits coverage from Insurance Corporation of B.C. has more than doubled from $300 per week to $740 a week. That is one of several changes – for claims made…
Do your insureds understand a “material change in risk”?
March 29, 2019 by Jason ContantIt’s not necessary for an insurer to prove that an insured knew a change in risk was “material” to the carrier, the Supreme Court of British Columbia has ruled. In May 2014, Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company voided a homeowner’s policy…
How environmental liability ruling could affect other insurance lines
March 27, 2019 by Greg MeckbachEnvironmental liability is not the only line of insurance that could be impacted by the recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling on a trustee in bankruptcy’s obligation do deal with inactive energy assets such as oil wells. In Orphan Well…
How sports hazing and abuse affects insurers
March 26, 2019 by Jason ContantThere seems to be no shortage of hazing and abuse incidents in the news lately. Earlier this month, a Miami University student was allegedly hit “with a paddle with spikes and grooves,” forced to drink large amounts of alcohol and…