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If it is Excluded, No Obligation to Defend Rules the Court of Appeal

The Québec Court of Appeal has just issued an important decision for the insurance industry: Intact Insurance Company v. Hydromec Inc., 2025 QCCA 803, overturning a Wellington-type order that had been granted at first instance. A quick reminder: a Wellington motion allows an insured to compel their insurer to take up their defense as soon […]

Rain or Shine: Perhaps Not Between Insurers and Insureds

Human activity has been clearly identified as the main cause behind the rapid rise in greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn is the leading cause of climate change1. Although the Paris Agreement, adopted by 196 countries, including Canada—sought to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, scientists now agree that this target […]

Back to Basics: The Importance of Subrogation Clauses in Releases

On March 2, 2022, the Hon. Lukasz Granosik of the Superior Court dismissed a subrogation claim by Sécurité Nationale compagnie d’assurance based on the absence of legal and conventional subrogation: Sécurité Nationale compagnie d’assurance c. Bel Bro inc., 2022 QCCS 723. The Context The plaintiff, Sécurité Nationale, an insurer, was suing a general contractor for […]

The Certificate of Insurance: A Mere Formality or an Essential Condition?

On March 10, 2022, the Honourable Bernard Jolin of the Superior Court rendered a judgment dismissing three Wellington applications filed by Hydro-Québec against Lloyd’s Underwriters [Lloyd’s]: Perrotta c. Hydro-Québec, 2022 QCCS 1125. Context and Hydro-Québec’s Arguments In 2014, Hydro-Québec had retained the services of Transelec Common inc. [TCI] as a general contractor to perform certain […]