Does ‘material change in risk’ clause need better clarity?
February 3, 2020 by Greg MeckbachDespite Wawanesa’s recent legal victory in a coverage dispute in British Columbia, judges in that province appear to be struggling to interpret the statutory condition on material change in risk. Five years ago, Bob and Linda Schellenberg’s property in Chilliwack…
Why these homeowners lost their negligence lawsuit against a Hub brokerage
January 24, 2020 by Greg MeckbachBritish Columbia’s top court recently sided with a Hub International brokerage in a case in which a client sued the brokerage and the insurer for coverage that was denied because a building damaged by fire contained a legal medical marijuana…
Pot legalization not a good reason to raise auto rates: Regulator
March 26, 2019 by Greg MeckbachNova Scotia’s auto insurance regulator is not letting The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company take marijuana legalization into account when calculating this year’s rate increases. The Dominion said in a rate change application that claims frequency will likely go…
How recreational cannabis has created numerous challenges for insurers
March 14, 2019 by Greg MeckbachCannabis legalization is making things more complex for auto insurers and increasing risk for some commercial property clients, A.M. Best Company Inc. suggests in a recent report. About 25 insurers, most of whom are non-admitted, provide coverage for cannabis risks…
How business interruption claims could play out in the legal marijuana space
November 8, 2018 by Jason ContantSupply challenges associated with marijuana legalization in Canada will lead to potentially costly business interruption (BI) and contingent business interruption (CBI) claims, an adjusting firm told Canadian Underwriter Tuesday. Because it’s an emerging market, there are a limited number of…
Why marijuana plant value is so important for adjusters
November 7, 2018 by Jason ContantClaims adjusters handling recreational cannabis claims will need to consider the value of the plant at any given time in the growing process to determine actual loss, an independent adjusting firm said Tuesday. Potential cannabis greenhouse loss is much greater…
Crawford’s Top 3 claim loss predictions from marijuana legalization
October 18, 2018 by Jason ContantClaims adjuster Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. sees auto, commercial and workplace-related losses as the Top 3 claims arising from the legalization of marijuana. Auto losses related to cannabis usage; commercial losses to cannabis producers, retailers and distributors; and employee…
Driver ticketed for smoking pot in car one hour after legalization
October 18, 2018 The Canadian PressWinnipeg police issued a ticket on the first day of cannabis legalization. Police posted a picture of a ticket for consuming cannabis in a motor vehicle on Twitter. The ticket carries a $672 fine. Police say the ticket was issued…
First day of legal pot use: Here’s what brokers and insurers can do
October 16, 2018 by David GambrillThe first day of legalized recreational pot use is now upon us, launching an era in which insurers will ask homeowners about their plans to partake – and if so, how much. “One of the big concerns that has been…
Why commercial property claims could skyrocket after pot legalization
October 11, 2018 by David GambrillLarge-severity commercial property losses could be the upshot of the legalization of marijuana on Oct. 17, an insurance lawyer cautions. “I see there being more property loss-type claims coming out of these large [marijuana-growing] facilities, particularly the greenhouse facilities,” Aaron…
Will pot’s health effects lead to the industry’s next tobacco liability exposure?
October 3, 2018 by Greg MeckbachMarijuana could cause mental illness among youth and government needs to find ways of preventing teens from using it, an Ontario politician said Tuesday. “There are many young people who had their lives turned upside down, and families turned upside…
How to bring up the marijuana discussion with clients
September 28, 2018 by Jason ContantBrokers need to know what their client’s habitational lease or contract states about marijuana use to provide their best advice, the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario said Thursday. Kevin O’Hare, IBAO’s education supervisor and instructional designer, said brokers need to…