Claims

Pyrrhic victory for Intact in faulty workmanship coverage dispute

Intact Insurance has convinced an Alberta court that the “faulty workmanship” exclusion applies in a disputed commercial fire claim but the carrier still has to pay more than $600,000 to a bakery, mainly because the judge rejected Intact’s definition of “oven.” Bowness Real Estate Corp v AXA Pacific Insurance Company, released this past Wednesday by […]

By Greg Meckbach | May 27, 2020

5 min read

Claims

Dry conditions in Nova Scotia fuelling three large wildfires

HALIFAX – Provincial officials in Nova Scotia are warning about the potential for forest fires in dry, humid conditions as firefighters battle three significant wildfires across the province. The fires burning Tuesday follow a weekend blaze near Porters Lake east of Halifax that prompted the temporary evacuation of about 1,000 residents. That fire was under […]

By Greg Meckbach | May 27, 2020

2 min read

Claims

Military reports ‘shocking’ conditions in Ontario nursing homes

TORONTO – A new report from the military helping battle COVID-19 in five long-term care facilities in Ontario has revealed extreme neglect and exposed the extent of the ugly conditions facing residents, prompting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to offer help for what he called an infuriating situation. The report found people left in filth for […]

By Greg Meckbach | May 27, 2020

3 min read

Claims

Opinion: How changes forced by pandemic are reducing litigation costs

It has become common to say that we’re living through an unprecedented time. We’re also living in a time of great change that has been forced upon us. Some of these changes have been for the better — and have not only ensured cases move along, but also provide significant cost savings. When things go […]

By Adam Malik | May 26, 2020

3 min read

Q&A: Business Continuity in the Digital Age

More than 3 million Canadians lost their jobs in March and April due to the business closures to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. An Angus Reid poll published in March suggested that 44% of Canadian households reported lost work as of Mar. 25, two weeks after the novel coronavirus was declared to be […]

2 min read

Why noxious gas release claims can be costly

Toxic gas leaks may not happen often in Canada but if it happens to your client, it can result in a large third-party liability claim, a managing general agent warns. A styrene gas leak from an LG Polymers in India earlier this month killed 12 and sent more than 300 to the hospital, the Associated […]

2 min read

How liability coverage limits determined what this bar owed in commercial host lawsuit

A bar found 20% liable for an impaired driving accident has to pay two-thirds of the plaintiff’s legal costs and wound up paying double for damages what the at-fault motorist paid. Hummel v. Jantzi, released May 14 by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, follows a 2019 ruling in a 39-day motor vehicle personal injury […]

3 min read

Pandemic insurance fraud: What to watch for…

Inflated auto towing and storage claims and arson are among the risks the industry faces from the economic downturn and social distancing arising from the pandemic, a fraud and data analytics expert warns. “A legitimate accident may happen and [a towing firm goes] and picks up the vehicle and they charge $1,000 or $2,000 to […]

3 min read

Broker loses licence for failing to disclose two of his bankruptcies

A B.C. broker received a two-year licence suspension and a $7,500 fine for failing to disclose two of his bankruptcies to the province’s broker regulator. Amarpal Singh Atwal, who has been licensed as a broker since 1983, filed for bankruptcy in 2017, declaring assets of $2,102 and liabilities exceeding $2.7 million. The Insurance Council of […]

2 min read

Residents evacuated for forest fire near Halifax allowed to return home

PORTERS LAKE, N.S. – Residents of more than 500 homes that were threatened by a forest fire in an area east of Halifax are being allowed to return now that officials have lifted an evacuation order. Halifax Fire tweeted late Sunday afternoon that the order for West Porters Lake area was ended, noting the weather […]

1 min read