Claims

How warning signs factored in this ski resort’s lawsuit defence

A warning sign and the plaintiff’s work experience were among the reasons a personal injury lawsuit against Vancouver’s Grouse Mountain Resorts Ltd. has been dismissed. Jason Apps was catastrophically injured while snowboarding in March, 2016 at Grouse Mountain. The ticket that he bought, as well as signs posted on the property, indicated the customers waive […]

By Greg Meckbach | June 4, 2019

4 min read

Claims

Mainstream autos get driver monitoring devices

DETROIT – Would you pay more for a car or SUV that warns you if you’re falling asleep or not paying attention behind the wheel? Auto companies are figuring that because your life could depend on it, you will. As safety features such as automatic emergency braking and lane-centring make their way from luxury vehicles […]

By Greg Meckbach | June 4, 2019

4 min read

Claims

When ‘residence employee’ is key in home insurance wording

A coverage dispute, arising from severe electric shock injuries to a baby in a rented house, shows disagreement over the exact meaning of “residence employee” in a home insurance policy. Doris Wong and her brother Johnny Wong were sued in British Columbia for failing to exercise reasonable care in inspecting a North Vancouver home they […]

By Greg Meckbach | June 3, 2019

5 min read

Claims

Is climate change to blame for Alberta wildfires?

Is climate change causing the massive wildfires that are burning out of control in Alberta, which are now reportedly nearing half the size of the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire? Not on its own, but climate change can mean a fire season that begins earlier than before. It can mean bigger, hotter and faster-moving fires. It […]

By Jason Contant | June 3, 2019

3 min read

Tornadoes hit Gatineau, Ottawa areas, though no injuries reported

OTTAWA – Strong winds uprooted trees and damaged homes, but nobody was injured when a tornado touched down in the Ottawa area Sunday evening. Environment Canada issued tornado warnings in eastern Ontario and western Quebec after someone spotted a twister near the Gatineau Airport just before 6 p.m. Officials later confirmed that a twister touched […]

2 min read

Wildfire destroys homes in Alberta Metis settlement

More than a dozen homes in a northern Alberta Metis community have been destroyed by an aggressive wildfire and there are concerns that more properties may be consumed. “It’s like a burnt piece of toast up there,” said Blake Desjarlais of the Metis Settlements General Council, describing the fire’s path of destruction in Paddle Prairie, […]

2 min read

Wildfires force more people out of their homes in northern Alberta

More people are being forced from their homes as several wildfires rage out-of-control in northern Alberta and blanket areas to the south in an acrid haze. The Alberta government issued an emergency alert early this morning for Chipewyan Lake Village, about 450 kilometres north of Edmonton. People were being asked to leave immediately because of […]

2 min read

Alberta wildfire continues to grow, but spreading away from threatened community

HIGH LEVEL, Alta. A forest fire burning near a northern Alberta town has grown slightly, but officials say firefighters are making good progress. The Chuckegg Creek fire, currently the largest in the province, was still about three kilometres southwest of High Level, where crews have been creating a firebreak to protect the community. The province […]

2 min read

Right of way at roundabout debated in cyclist’s injury lawsuit

A pickup truck driver who was hit by a bicycle in a roundabout is 100% liable for the accident, a British Columbia judge ruled in a decision released today. Cyclist Javad Behragam is suing Peter Paviglianiti as a result of a collision that happened in Vancouver at the uncontrolled intersection of Birch Street and West […]

2 min read

This aspect of automated vehicle technology is confusing your clients

Is it your client’s fault if they got into an accident in a partly-automated vehicle because they failed to understand exactly what the car’s computer could and could not do? “I’m sure it will be fought in court battles over the next few years,” Kristine D’Arbelles, the Canadian Automobile Association’s Ottawa-based senior manager of public […]

3 min read