BC Court has jurisdiction for coverage dispute between American company and American insurer

27. September 2023 0
Insurer’s territorial competence motion for US-made policy relating to losses in BC was dismissed Insurance law – Liability insurance – Pollution – Breach of policy – Practice – Jurisdiction – Location of contract International Raw Materials Ltd. v. Steadfast Insurance Co., [20023] BCJ No. 1589, 2023 BCSC 1389, British Columbia Supreme Court, August 10, 2023, ...

Court paves path for pro rata distribution in insurance dispute with several claimants

27. September 2023 0
The court determined that multiple claims brought against one lawyer were separate occurrences and that payments to claimants should be on a pro rata basis. Insurance law – Errors and omissions policies – Interpretation of policy – Statutory provisions – Apportionment and contribution of claims – First past the post approach Canadian Lawyers Insurance Association ...

Saskatchewan Court of Appeal finds lower court appropriately dismissed action summarily but erred in assessment of exclusion clauses

29. August 2023 0
Insurers properly denied coverage because the insured died as a result of committing the crime of possession of the cocaine that he consumed. Insurance law — Life insurance — Criminal offences — Exclusions – Duties and liabilities of insurer – Practice — Summary judgments – Leave to appeal Jantzen Estate v. TD Life Insurance Co., [2023] S.J. ...

Insureds should get their own property valuations

29. August 2023 0
An insurer owed no duty of care to recommend a property valuation assessment Insurance law – Homeowner’s insurance – Replacement cost value – Duty of care – Valuation of property – Negligence of insured Lynch Estate v. Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co., [2023] O.J. No. 2856, 2023 ONSC 3855, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, June 27, 2023, P. Hurley ...

Do not confuse an MGA with an insurer

29. August 2023 0
An insured’s application to add insurers in place of a managing general agent was granted despite the expiry of the limitation period Insurance law – Property insurance – Limitation of actions – Estoppel – Practice – Summary judgments Raubvogel v. Can-Sure Underwriting, [2023] O.J. No. 2786, 2023 ONSC 3705, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, June 21, 2023, J. ...

The Duty to Defend: A Clarion Call

25. July 2023 0
The insurer was required to defend an additional insured because there was at least a mere possibility of coverage based on the allegations in the pleading. Insurance law – Commercial general liability insurance – Additional named insured – Duty to defend – Exclusions – Interpretation of policy – Duties and liabilities of insurer Surrey (City) ...

The Court will not interpret coverage under an insurance policy so generously so as to amount to ignoring the terms and wording of a policy

25. July 2023 0
Agreements are a two-way street: while coverage under an insurance policy is to be interpreted generously as a matter of public policy, the Court will not favour an interpretation that amounts to ignoring the terms and wording of a policy. Insurance law – Commercial general liability insurance – Excess liability – Interpretation of policy – ...

Don’t worry, you get more than one shot

13. June 2023 0
Property insurance – Proof of loss – Mandatory appraisal – Bad faith – Statutory provisions – Practice – Appeals – Summary judgments – Duties and liabilities of insured Truscott v. Co-Operators General Insurance Co., [2023] O.J. No. 1709, 2023 ONCA 267, Ontario Court of Appeal, April 19, 2023, E.E. Gillese, M.H. Tulloch and L.B. Roberts ...