Category Archives: Auto

Cases dealing with auto insurance, personal injuries (MVA-related), accident benefits.

Can Defendants Ever Make Effective Rule 49 Offers in MVA Cases?

We are indebted to Mark (“Billy Idol”) Charron of Williams McEnery for alerting us to the recent decision in Peterson v. Phillips. This is another case that deals with the relationship between offers to settle in MVA claims and the … Continue reading

Posted in Auto, Costs, Insurance News, Threshold | Comments Off on Can Defendants Ever Make Effective Rule 49 Offers in MVA Cases?

Not “Quantum of Solace” But “Quantum of Claims”

In McCook v. Subramaniam, Master Ronald Dash considered whether to permit a plaintiff to add as a defendant his own auto insurer, under its underinsured motorist endorsement. The insurer resisted the motion on the basis that the plaintiff had not … Continue reading

Posted in Auto, Insurance News, Uninsured or Underinsured | Comments Off on Not “Quantum of Solace” But “Quantum of Claims”

Income Replacement Benefits Subject to Garnishment

Mr. Justice John Cavarzan has held, in Lease Truck Inc. v. Serbinek, that a creditor of an insured is entitled to garnishment of income replacement benefits. Once it receives notice of the garnishment, the insurer paying the accident benefits is … Continue reading

Posted in Auto, Insurance News | Comments Off on Income Replacement Benefits Subject to Garnishment

Owner “Relinquished Dominion and Control” of Car, But Her Consent to Possession by Driver Still Necessary?

In Seegmiller v. Langer, Justice George R. Strathy reviewed the law with respect to when the owner of an automobile will be liable when someone else drives it and is involved in an accident. His reasons contain a useful review … Continue reading

Posted in Auto, Insurance News | Comments Off on Owner “Relinquished Dominion and Control” of Car, But Her Consent to Possession by Driver Still Necessary?

Limitation Period for MVA Pecuniary Claims Follows That of Non-pecuniary Claims, Says Superior Court

Hard on the heels of the Court of Appeal’s decision in Grewal v. Ivany, released last Friday, Mr. Justice Paul Perell has delivered reasons in Ng v. Beline that address one of the issues considered in Grewal: in personal injury … Continue reading

Posted in Discoverability, Limitation Periods, Threshold | Comments Off on Limitation Period for MVA Pecuniary Claims Follows That of Non-pecuniary Claims, Says Superior Court

C.A. Opens Door to Multiple Limitation Periods in MVA Cases

[Addendum: Since this decision was released and our commentary posted, Mr. Justice Paul Perell has released reasons in Ng v. Beline that deal directly with the issue discussed in this post. It appears that neither the Court of Appeal nor … Continue reading

Posted in Discoverability, Limitation Periods, Threshold | Comments Off on C.A. Opens Door to Multiple Limitation Periods in MVA Cases

Judge Says Plaintiff Not Required to Pursue Claim Against Tortfeasor As Condition of Accessing Uninsured Motorist Coverage

[Addendum: This decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal on August 21, 2009.] Ontario auto insurers might be surprised to learn that the Insurance Act and the standard auto policy do not require persons claiming against the uninsured motorist coverage to pursue anyone whose negligence … Continue reading

Posted in Auto, Insurance News, Uninsured or Underinsured | Comments Off on Judge Says Plaintiff Not Required to Pursue Claim Against Tortfeasor As Condition of Accessing Uninsured Motorist Coverage

First Bill 198 Decision Says Not Much Has Changed

Nissan v. McNamee is, so far as we know, the first decision to interpret the “gloss” on the Insurance Act threshold that was enacted by regulation O.Reg. 381/03 (the package of legislative changes commonly referred to as “Bill 198”). The regulation took effect on … Continue reading

Posted in Auto, Insurance News, Threshold | Comments Off on First Bill 198 Decision Says Not Much Has Changed

C.A. Says Trial Judge Applied Wrong Test in Determining Whether Injury “Serious” and “Permanent”

Brak v. Walsh is a short decision of the Court of Appeal (Justices Karen M. Weiler, Michael J. Moldaver and Russell G. Jurianz), on appeal from a ruling by Mr. Justice Gordon Killeen on a threshold motion brought at the … Continue reading

Posted in Auto, Insurance News, Threshold | Comments Off on C.A. Says Trial Judge Applied Wrong Test in Determining Whether Injury “Serious” and “Permanent”

Court Ignores Past Collateral Benefits in Evaluating Rule 49 Offer

Bad news for insurers. In Ksiazek v. Newport Leasing Limited, Mr. Justice C. Raymond Harris extended the application of the Court of Appeal’s decision in Rider v. Dydyk and ruled that a defendant’s offer to settle should be compared with … Continue reading

Posted in Auto, Costs, Insurance News, Trial Procedure | Comments Off on Court Ignores Past Collateral Benefits in Evaluating Rule 49 Offer