Defence & Indemnity - June 2016 - Insurance Laws and Products

I. INSURANCE ISSUES

A. Where a party pleads equitable relief (such as rescission, estoppel or relief from forfeiture) with respect to an insurance policy, the claim cannot be heard by a jury

Maynard v. Alberta Motor Assn., 2015 ABQB 564, per Pentalechuk, J.[4182]

II. LIABILITY ISSUES

A. Contributory negligence of a passenger will not be found by virtue of the passenger's knowledge that the driver only has a novice driver's licence without evidence that the passenger engaged in negligent acts or knew the driver was a poor or reckless driver

Nahal v. Ram, 2016 BCSC 39, per Jenkins, J. [4184]

B.Under the Occupier's Liability Act (OLA) there is no duty to investigate and identify a patron for the purposes of a claim between the two patrons unless the occupier had done something to induce an expectation that it would conduct an investigation to assist one patron to sue another

McPhail v. John Doe I, 2016 ABQB 76, per Robertson, Master [4185]

C. Both the legal/registered owner and lessor and the beneficial owner and lessor of a vehicle are vicariously liable for the lessee's vehicular negligence but only to the liability cap for lessors

Graham (Litigation guardian of) v. Lemay, 2016 ONCA 55, per Pepall, J.A. [4187]

III. QUANTUM/DAMAGES ISSUES

A. Surveillance evidence significant in discrediting Plaintiff in large chronic pain case

Bumstead v. Dufresne, 2015 ABQB 787, per Horner, J. [4186]

B. The Court overtly accepted the Plaintiff's expert testimony and criticized well-known defence experts with regard to whether the Plaintiff's injuries were minor and whether fibromyalgia can be caused by trauma

Jones v. Stepanenko, 2016 ABQB 295, per Eidsvik, J. [4188]

IV. PRACTICE ISSUES

A. The principles for extending the limitation period for filing Third Party Notices

Condominium Corporation No. 0425636 v. Amyotte's Plumbing Ltd., 2015 ABQB 801, per Master Schulz [4183]

V. SURETY AND BOND ISSUES

B. Obligee's claim against surety can survive despite Obligee's claim against principal being unenforceable as a result of wording of completion agreement

HOOPP Realty Inc. v. The Guarantee Company of North America, 2015 ABCA 336 [4181]

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

Canada: Defence & Indemnity - June 2016