Saskatchewan Court of Appeal confirms proof of a material change in risk requires strong evidentiary foundation
Introduction Wynward Insurance Group v Smith Building and Development Ltd, 2023 SKCA 57 highlights significant considerations for insurers who are considering denying claims on the basis of an insured’s failure to disclose a material change in risk. Background facts The...
Alberta Court of Appeal reduces damage award to account for insured’s actual loss
Introduction In Shelter Canadian Properties Limited v Aviva Insurance Company of Canada, 2023 ABCA 74, the Alberta Court of Appeal reduced an indemnity payment for loss of rental income to account for the increase in the net rental income of...
Ontario Court of Appeal affirms that the “true nature of a claim” will impact duty to defend
Introduction In Butterfield v Intact Insurance Company, 2023 ONCA 246, the Ontario Court of Appeal affirmed that Intact Insurance Company (“Intact”) did not have a duty to defend Mr. Butterfield (the “Appellant”) against a negligence claim because the policy’s intentional...
British Columbia Court of Appeal upholds implied undertaking of confidentiality
Introduction In the recent case of Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of British Columbia v. Engineer X, 2023 BCCA 211, the British Columbia Court of Appeal considered whether the implied undertaking should be lifted to allow...
Litigation privilege: A recent review by the Superior Court of Quebec
In insurance matters, litigation privilege is a frequent principle of law raised by litigators to deny the disclosure of documents. On February 2, 2023, Justice Daniel Dumais of the Superior Court of Quebec adjudicated an objection based on this particular...
Court of Appeal looks to true nature of claim in duty to defend application
The Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Ontario v St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (2023 ONCA 173) revisits the duty to defend that all underwriters should be aware of. When analysing pleadings and the terms of a policy,...
How “Guaranteed” is Guaranteed Replacement Cost? The Ontario Superior Court weighs in
One of the most important decisions homeowners have to make in purchasing their insurance is whether to seek “Guaranteed Replacement Cost” or “GRC”. GRC clauses act to ensure that a building is completely replaced even if the cost of that...
BC Supreme Court determines whether a third-party claim can be commenced by way of a separate notice of civil claim
Introduction In Prime Time (Abby Lane) Inc. v. DGBK Architects, 2022 BCSC 1799 (“Prime Time”), the BC Supreme Court answered the long-standing question of whether it is appropriate to commence a third-party claim by way of a separate notice of...
British Columbia Court of Appeal clarifies the test for civil fraud in the insurance law context
Introduction In Singh v Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, 2022 BCCA 320, the BC Court of Appeal reaffirmed the test for civil fraud in the insurance law context. Specifically, the court dismissed the defendants’ appeal, in which they argued that...
Two insurers, a mutual policyholder, and the duty to defend
Ontario Court of Appeal upholds Application Judge’s treatment of Property Report Evidence In AIG Insurance Company of Canada (“AIG”) v Lloyd’s Underwriters (“Lloyd’s”) (2022 ONCA 699), the Ontario Court of Appeal was tasked with answering “whether two insurers have a...
