Category: Law Blogs

In my last blog, I lamented the profits that auto insurers will undoubtedly make in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. In this blog, I would like to take a step back and acknowledge that, despite the potential for profit in some areas, it is not going to be smooth sailing for the insurance industry through the COVID19 pandemic. With thousands of businesses across the country forced to shut their doors, business interruption insurance claims are expected to skyrocket. When business insurance claims succeed, it can be costly for insurers.

“I miss the whispered conversations in overcrowded hallways, the atmosphere, as thrilling here, as always…..” A quote from “Sunset Boulevard” by Don Black, Christopher Hampton and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The last time I was in Court was March 15, 2020. Looking back on it, it seems like another lifetime, and of course, it was. For me, it was the last normal day before the full impact of COVID-19 hit home. It was the last time I saw my colleagues and

We are all going through a difficult time, none more so than our healthcare professionals. They are on the front line, putting themselves at risk to help others and our communities. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Canada, doctors and hospitals cancelled elective surgeries and discharged patients to make room for the anticipated influx of COVID-19 patients. An influx that never materialized. While it is very good news that we were not inundated with COVID-19 patients, hospital operating rooms are 30 to

Tim Horton’s recent coffee cup lid redesign has resulted in people finding their take-out coffee lids unexpectedly coming off their cups and causing spills. A number of people have called us in the past 12 months with reports of significant burns caused by the lids popping off. In many cases, the victims are in their cars when the lids come off causing serious burns and injuries. Several websites have reported on coffee spill issues, including Change.org which has a petition signed by

COVID-19 has necessarily caused the Ontario court system to frantically scramble to modernize how matters are heard and resolved. The law is based on tradition. Sometimes the desire to preserve tradition causes those involved to fear change. Before Covid-19, almost everyone involved in the civil justice system in Ontario recognized that the system was slow and antiquated but there was no real incentive to change. We lumbered along with cases moving at a snail’s pace. The cost to pursue a

Auto insurers in Ontario and across Canada have announced that in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic they will be offering significant reductions of drivers’ monthly premiums.  Some insurers are cutting the premiums of all drivers by a fixed percentage while others are requiring insureds to update their current driving habits and reducing premiums on that basis.  The premise is simple and fundamentally a good news story.  While self-isolating and working from home a huge percentage of drivers are staying