By Dimitris Logothetis Reviewed by Grant Ferguson INTRODUCTION “Priority” in the context of insurance law refers to the order of responsibility for insurers to pay out insurance claims to an insured. A priority dispute arises when there are multiple insurers or insurance policies, and more than one insurer/policy may cover the same loss. Such a … Continued
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Insights list
Expert Evidence as a Double-Edged Sword: The Court of Appeal Reaffirms Trial Judges’ Gatekeeper Role
Written by Caroline Swiderski Reviewed by Linette King Introduction In Pederson v Forget,[1] the Court of Appeal for Ontario upheld a trial judge’s decision to exclude expert evidence he found to be unreliable. In doing so, the Court reaffirmed the importance of the trial judge’s role as a gatekeeper and the deference that it attracts. … Continued
by Linette King
A Cautionary Tale for Vehicle Co‑Owners: ONCA Rules One Owner’s Consent Binds All
By Felisia Milana Reviewed by Grace Murdoch INTRODUCTION The Ontario Court of Appeal (“ONCA”) upheld a motion judge’s decision that a co-owner of a motor vehicle is liable for loss or damage arising from negligent operation where another co-owner has consented to a non-owner’s use of the vehicle, even if the first co-owner did not. Nowakowski … Continued
by Grace Murdoch
Are There Limits to GRC Coverage? The SCC says “Yes”.
By: Avi Sharabi and Dimitris Logothetis Introduction In Emond v Trillium Mutual Insurance Co[1], the Supreme Court of Canada considered the interpretation of a GRC (Guaranteed Rebuilding Cost) endorsement in a homeowners insurance policy. At issue was whether the policy’s compliance cost (i.e. bylaws, etc.) exclusion applied to the GRC endorsement. In short, the Court … Continued
by Avi Sharabi
No Analytical Shortcuts: The Court of Appeal Reinforces the Balancing Analysis of the Anti-SLAPP Framework
By Caroline Swiderski Introduction In the recent decision in Universalcare Canada Inc. v Gusciglio[1], the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned a motion judge’s decision to dismiss a defamation action under section 137.1 of the Courts of Justice Act, RSO 1990 c. C.43 [“CJA”]. In doing so, the Court reiterated the importance of the balancing analysis … Continued
Wong v Aviva Insurance Company of Canada: Guidance on Loss in Civil Fraud
By Felisia Milana INTRODUCTION The Ontario Court of Appeal upheld an auto-insurer’s denial of coverage to a mother-daughter duo who turned a motor vehicle accident into a case of civil fraud. The Court in Wong v Aviva insurance Company of Canada, 2024 ONCA 874[1] upheld the lower court’s analysis of Hryniak v Mauldin, 2014 SCC … Continued
A Question of Priorities
By Dimitris Logothetis Reviewed by Grant Ferguson INTRODUCTION “Priority” in the context of insurance law refers to the order of responsibility for insurers to pay out insurance claims to an insured. A priority dispute arises when there are multiple insurers or insurance policies, and more than one insurer/policy may cover the same loss. Such a … Continued
No Vague “Constellation of Contracts”: The Supreme Court Revisits Jurisdiction Simpliciter
By Caroline Swiderski Reviewed by Landan Peleikis In Sinclair v. Venezia Turismo, the Supreme Court of Canada clarified the test for jurisdiction simpliciter, particularly as it pertains to the final presumptive connecting factor provided by the Court in Club Resorts Ltd. v. Van Breda, 2012 SCC 17 (“Van Breda”) – whether a contract connected to … Continued
The Court of Appeal Clarifies Manufacturer Liability and Certification Threshold in Danforth Shooting Case
By Kiana Therrien-Tomas Supervised by Jessica DiFederico Introduction In Price v. Smith & Wesson Corporation[1] (“Price”), the Ontario Court of Appeal addressed the scope of tort liability in the context of firearm manufacturers and class actions. The case arose from the tragic 2018 Danforth shooting and considered whether a manufacturer could be held liable … Continued