Why this client wants to take insurer to Supreme Court over family protection endorsement
September 25, 2020 by Greg MeckbachA motor vehicle personal injury lawsuit, involving Ontario’s family protection endorsement and multiple defendants when alcohol is involved, could be headed to the Supreme Court of Canada. A key question before the top court — if it decides to hear…
Former State Farm Canada chief agent Bellissimo to retire
November 20, 2019 by Greg MeckbachBarbara Bellissimo, former chief agent and senior vice-president of State Farm Canada and chair of the board of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, is retiring from Desjardins at the end of this year. She is currently senior vice-president of…
The critical piece of mapping out the claims process
September 16, 2019 by Greg MeckbachInsurance providers who are paying for consultants to help change claims processes may be missing a piece of the puzzle. “There are a lot of vendors who would like to spend a lot of time with you,” said Erin Fischer,…
What stopped this $800,000 subrogated pollution claim
February 4, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA subrogated claim could go off the rails if the client is bankrupt. The Supreme Court of Canada announced Thursday it will not hear a subrogation case involving Desjardins, which applied last year for leave to appeal Douglas v. Stan…
Insurer that paid $800,000 on home fuel oil spill cannot subrogate: Court
March 14, 2018 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorA home insurer that paid about $800,000 for an oil spill claim cannot sue the fuel companies in the insured’s name because the homeowner had declared bankruptcy, the Court of Appeal for Ontario ruled recently. Art and Wendy Douglas lived…
Excluded drivers can still claim accident benefits, court rules
February 5, 2018 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorDrivers excluded from coverage on their own policies can still claim accident benefits on the policies of other drivers, as long as they weren’t driving the vehicles from which they were excluded coverage, the Court of Appeal for Ontario ruled…
Court clarifies confusion around “involvement” of unidentified car
December 15, 2017 David Gambrill, Editor-in-ChiefOntario’s Court of Appeal has rejected a claim for excess coverage against State Farm Mutual Insurance Company, reconciling a jury’s seemingly contradictory answers to questions about the “involvement” of an unidentified driver. Carlota Montepeque was driving two passengers in her…
Ontario township not liable for under-insured taxi: Court
July 6, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Court of Appeal for Ontario recently ruled against State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company when it found that a municipality that fails to enforce a bylaw stipulating taxi insurance does not owe a duty of care to parties injured…