Insurance Law

Even Judicial Discretion Has its Limits

On January 25, 2024, in the Liquidation de Groupe Dessau inc., the Superior Court of Québec rejected a settlement approval request in the context of the voluntary liquidation of several entities of the Dessau-Verreault-LVM Group (“Dessau“). This judgment addresses the limits of the discretionary powers of the court in voluntary liquidation matters. Overview of the […]

The Pool Floats, the Claim Sinks

In the recent decision Piscines Élégance – Québec inc. v. Comtois, 2023 QCCS 4574, the Superior Court reiterates the rules governing a contractor’s obligation to inform his customer in the context of a fixed-price consumer contract for which hefty extras were billed. Piscines Élégance – Québec Inc. (“Piscines“) is claiming from defendant Comtois (“Comtois“) the […]

The Defect Was Well Hidden, but Is That Enough?

In Cvesper v. Melatti, the Court of Appeal reminds us of the importance of a timely notice to the vendor in cases of latent defects as tardiness or omission to do so may fatally impact the purchaser’s recourse The Facts Essentially, in May 1980, Appellant, Mrs. Cvesper, purchased a property consisting of a multi-unit building […]

Theft Is Not Negligence

In a recent decision, the Quebec Court of Appeal upheld the ruling of the Honourable Chantal Corriveau of the Superior Court that a party cannot benefit from the presumptions of liability in the Civil Code of Quebec when there is no contractual relation between the parties. In such cases, the rules of extra-contractual liability apply, […]

The « Appropriate Care » Provision in Disability Insurance: An Application Bearing Heavy Consequences for the Insured

In Desjardins Sécurité financière v. Hébert, the Court of Appeal reminds us of an essential condition often overlooked in order to claim disability insurance benefits: the obligation to be under the care of a medical team and to receive medical treatment, a contextualization of the obligation to mitigate one’s damages. The Court also considers the […]

Fraudulent Statements: Still a Question of Credibility

In Paul-Hus c. Sun Life, Compagnie d’assurance-vie, 2023 QCCS 3890, the Superior Court reminds us of the importance of answering questions truthfully and completely when taking out an insurance policy. Faced with the question of whether the insured intended to deceive the insurer, the Court’s analysis shows that credibility remains a key element. Facts On March […]

Can an Insured Have Their Cake and Be Indemnified for It Too?

The Sainte-Rose-du-Nord1 decision rendered by the Superior Court presents an interesting scenario that arose in the context of a Wellington motion. The Facts The Municipality of Sainte-Rose-du-Nord (the “Insured“) held two civil liability policies issued by the Fonds d’assurance des municipalités du Québec (the “Insurer“), one for general liability and the other for errors and […]

The Flowers, the Pot and the Fire

Can the defendant qualify as part of her father’s house and have the action brought against her dismissed? Does the declaration of co-ownership contain clauses that constitute a waiver to sue the co-owners? These are the questions addressed by the Honourable Alexander Pless, Justice of the Superior Court of Quebec, in Intact compagnie d’assurance v. […]

A Recent Superior Court Judgment on the Professional Liability of Insurance Brokers

In the recent matter of Jolicoeur vs. Rivard Assurances générales inc., 2023 QCCS 1685, the Superior Court analyzed the professional liability of an insurance broker and his brokerage firm, to determine whether they should indemnify plaintiffs for a penalty of $171,463.08 applied by the insurer due to the increased risk of fire discovered following a […]

How Many Insurers Does It Take To Defend an Insured?

A recent decision of the Superior Court of Quebec (Perron v. Famille Marie-Jeunesse, 2023 QCCS 1719) provides some insight into when an insured may compel a liability insurer to take up its defence when the insured is already being defended by another insurer. It also provides an example of circumstances where the principle that a […]

The Inevitable Disclosure of Changes in Insurability in Life Insurance Matters

On July 11, in Bourdages v. Ivari, 2023 QCCS 1688 (CanLII), the Superior Court considered the impact of an undisclosed change in the state of health of an insured taking out a life insurance policy, which occurred between the submission of the application and the effective date of the policy. Background to the dispute On […]
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