Claims

Are your condo clients covered for ‘special assessment’ costs?

In an age when a condo corporation’s insurance may not provide enough coverage for an insured loss, brokers can help their clients by advising condo unit owners about the merits of special assessment insurance, one lawyer suggests. “It is important to note that special assessment insurance only applies where the loss itself is insured, the […]

By David Gambrill | June 2, 2021

3 min read

Claims

How video conferencing misbehaviour creates commercial liability risk

Inappropriate behaviour during video conferences can lead to employment practices liability claims, an expert with The Travelers Companies Inc. warns. New York City-based Travelers is observing “Zoom etiquette claims,” said the insurer’s employment practices liability product manager, Chris Williams, during a recent episode of A.M. Best T.V. Host Meg Green asked Williams whether there have […]

By Greg Meckbach | June 1, 2021

2 min read

Claims

Abandoned oil and gas wells will be cleaned up despite backlog: Alberta regulator

EDMONTON – There’s lots of life in Alberta’s conventional oil industry and plenty of resources and political will to clean up the mess it leaves behind, says the head of the province’s energy regulator. “Will there be halcyon-days growth in the sector? Probably not,” said Alberta Energy Regulator president Laurie Pushor. “We still see an […]

By Jason Contant | May 31, 2021

3 min read

Claims

Should insurers (and others) be banned from making cyber ransom payments?

Editor’s Note: A previous verison of this article incorrectly stated that a cyberattack against AXA had happened after AXA’s announcement that it was suspecnding insurance coverage in France for ransomeware extortion payments. In fact, as per a Financial Times report in May 16, the ransomware attack happened before AXA’s decision to change its approach, a […]

By David Gambrill | May 30, 2021

3 min read

Restoration firm suing DKI Canada over termination of agreement

Restoration firm DKI Canada Ltd. is being sued in British Columbia by Coquitlam-based Canstar Restorations Limited Partnership, a former member of the DKI network. Allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court. Until 2020, Canstar was operating multiple DKI restoration locations in B.C. Canstar approached DKI to discuss expanding into Calgary, Supreme Court […]

4 min read

Appeal court rules for insurers in handling of HST in auto AB claims

Ontario auto insurance claimants cannot take insurers directly to court over how carriers treat sales tax on accident benefits claims, the province’s appeal court has ruled. This is because the province’s Licence Appeal Tribunal, not the Superior Court of Justice, has exclusive jurisdiction over auto accident benefits disputes, the Court of Appeal for Ontario found […]

3 min read

Fracking likely to create stronger, more common earthquakes in B.C., study says

More damaging earthquakes can be expected more often in northern British Columbia as fracking oil and gas wells increases pressure underground, says newly published research. “It makes earthquakes more common and it makes larger ones more common,” said Allan Chapman, an independent researcher and formerly senior scientist with the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission. “There […]

3 min read

Why your clients could expect price reductions in home insurance

If insurers can achieve combined ratios of less than 80% in personal property, homeowners should expect to see lower prices and possibly even rebates, the CEO of LowestRates.ca suggests. “For consumers, if insurance companies are making money, then it means it is a competitive marketplace, it’s a healthy marketplace and it is a marketplace where […]

2 min read

Downpours in southeast B.C. raise flood concerns

FAIRMONT HOT SPRINGS, B.C. – An evacuation alert has been issued for more than 200 homes and businesses in southeastern British Columbia as a weekend downpour and the likelihood of more rain raise the potential for flooding in the Fairmont area. The Regional District of East Kootenay issued the alert late Monday for 229 properties […]

1 min read

Pollution coverage gaps your clients may not know about

The cost of cleaning up after spills of petroleum, oil, or other contaminants may not be covered under your client’s liability or property policy, a managing general agent warns. Many clients are exposed to pollution risk but are not necessarily aware of it, said Christine Nauth, assistant vice president for Strategic Underwriting Managers Inc. Examples […]

2 min read