Newsletters

The Right to Data Portability in Quebec: What Organizations Need to Know

As of September 22, 2024, the last chapter of a significant shift in data privacy will unfold in Quebec. The right to data portability takes effect under the newly amended Quebec Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector (“Quebec Act”). This represents a major development in privacy legislation, aligning closely with […]

Can a City Sell a Piece of Land by Mutual Agreement in Spite of Receiving a Higher Offer?

On June 13, 2024, the Superior Court dismissed an action for $18,550,000 in the matter of 9318-8548 Québec inc. v. Ville de Gatineau. The Court held that the defendant (“the City”), represented by a group of lawyers from RSS, had the power to sell a piece of land by mutual agreement, in spite of receiving […]

Policy Language, Indemnity For Replacement Cost Value and Abuse Criteria: A Judgment of Great Interest

On July 22, Arch Insurance Limited, represented and defended by RSS, had the insureds’ claim for the reconstruction value of their building damaged following a fire dismissed by the Superior Court in Mathieu vs. Arch Insurance Limited. This judgment addresses questions of great interest in uncommon areas: The application of section 55 of the Charter of […]

Did You Buy At Your Own Risk?

In the recent decision Tremblay v. Immeubles Perron Ltée, 2024 QCCA 719, the Court of Appeal underlined the impact of a purchase “at one’s own risk”. The Facts A series of real estate transactions set the stage for the analysis of successive warranties. In March 2003, Immeubles Perron sold parts of a lot to Régis, […]

Exclusion Clauses In Life And Health Insurance Scrutinized

On May 9, 2024, in Beneva inc. v. Bolduc, 2024 QCCA 589, the Quebec Court of Appeal unanimously confirmed the decision rendered by the Honourable Jean-Yves Lalonde of the Superior Court in Bolduc v. SSQ Assurance, 2023 QCCS 266, which was the subject of one of our previous newsletters. Facts in dispute François Roch (“Roch“) […]

Specified Perils Insurance Coverage: At Your Own Risk!

In Lévesque v. Aviva Compagnie d’assurance générale, 2024 QCCS 1570, the Quebec Superior Court (the “Court”) denied an insured’s claim for compensation of the total loss resulting from the collapse of her cottage. This decision should encourage insureds to exercise caution when taking out a specified perils policy which, although less expensive than an “all […]

Latent Defects, Pre-purchase Inspections and Good Faith

The Facts In 2009, Louise Champagne (“Champagne“) and her husband purchased a house in Morin-Heights. They obtained a pre-purchase inspection report, which revealed a number of problems: Cracks in the foundation, one of which posed a risk of water infiltration; A lack of adequate flashing between the balcony structure and the exterior walls, posing a […]

Defence Costs Battle Between Multiple Insurers : the Insured is No Pawn

In Intact Compagnie d’assurance v. Lavoie, the Court of Appeal of Quebec ruled that an insured who was already being completely defended by several of its liability insurers lacked the legal interest to compel another of its insurers to contribute to defence costs. The decision stands for the proposition that an insurer cannot use the insured […]

Caught Red-Handed: Anatomy of a Publicly Broadcast Dismissal

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Was the collapse natural?

In the recent decision Weber v. Société d’assurance Beneva inc., 2024 QCCS 622, the Superior Court reiterated the principles applicable in a dispute over the application of an insurance policy and its exclusions. Brian Weber and Fiona Buell were suing their insurer, Société d’assurance Beneva inc. (“Beneva”), asking that Beneva indemnify them for damage to […]
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