What's New

February 3, 2010

Our coverage options ease expanding pollution risks

During the past two decades, Canada has enacted some of the most stringent environmental legislation in the world. All the provinces and territories have introduced powerful "let the polluter pay" legislation, and Supreme Court of Canada verdicts on this subject have provided a potent endorsement of this sort of legislation.

60 seconds with Mario Sousa, Elliott Special Risks' new CEO

Mario Sousa began his career as an underwriter in the Canadian insurance market in 1980, building a strong foundation in casualty insurance.

February 2, 2010

Electronic funds transfer

The insurance industry continues to be targeted by organized cheque fraud artists. At the request of several clients, we can now accept electronic transfer of funds (EFT).

Appeal court upholds $1.9 million in damages for woman injured at crosswalk

The British Columbia Court of Appeal has upheld a jury's decision to award $1.9 million in damages to a woman who was hurt on a crosswalk.

February 1, 2010

Karate kid can sue - new precedent

A recent decision by the British Columbia Supreme Court states that parents do not have the right to waive their child's right to sue by signing a release on the child's behalf.

Small business ordered to pay damages for "injury to dignity"

In a recent case before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, an adjudicator awarded a woman $35,000 in damages after she was fired on her first day of work for revealing that she was pregnant. The award included compensation for lost wages, maternity leave benefits, pre-judgment interest and $15,000 for injury to her dignity, feelings and self-respect.

January 31, 2010

Save money with multi-use environmental survey

Environmental site surveys are an excellent risk management tool, although they are often considered solely to achieve a single objective such as to qualify for environmental insurance or to secure a business loan.

Product liability cover for pollution-sensitive risks

Does your general liability (GL) policy provide cover for pollution events in the products and completed operations hazard section?

January 30, 2010

Your best market for umbrella coverage

Our Umbrella program offers the most flexible combination of features available in Canada:

January 22, 2010

Markel International To Acquire Elliott Special Risks

International specialty property and casualty insurer expands presence in Canada TORONTO - August 31, 2009 -- Markel International, a specialty property and casualty insurer, has today announced it has reached agreement to acquire Elliott Special Risks (ESR), a Canadian company that is the leading Managing General Agent in Canada.

January 8, 2010

Elliott Special Risks is pleased to announce new industry-leading program. OUTBREAK Extra Expense coverage

Elliott Special Risks' OUTBREAK Extra Expense cover is designed to provide businesses with insurance coverage in the event that their business operations are suspended by a public health official due to a covered contagion, communicable disease, mould or fungus, pests or vermin, or workplace violence.

Breast cancer patients' class action settles for $17.5 million

A $17.5-million settlement has been reached in Newfoundland and Labrador for breast cancer patients who did not receive appropriate treatment due to errors made by the Eastern Health testing lab. The lab was responsible for testing the patients' hormone levels, which would determine treatment going forward.

Crash victim receives record-setting $18.4-million judgment

A 22-year-old Ontario woman has been awarded more than $18 million for brain injuries stemming from a single-vehicle accident.

January 7, 2010

Elliott Special Risks is pleased to announce new industry-leading program. Employment Practices Liability insurance.

Elliott Special Risks' Employment Practices Liability (EPL) product provides a stand-alone, industry-leading "all risk" policy protecting employers against employment tort. Policy indications can be calculated online by contracted brokers at http://www.mintcanada.ca or by contacting Tom Warden at twarden@elliottsr.com.

A fond farewell to André Doyon

September 21, 2009

Risk eNews e-mail newsletter

Over the past year, we have been expanding our e-mail distribution list.

Flexible capacity for property and inland marine risks

Our Property and Inland Marine program was established in 1992. We have an in-house limit of $5 million for most risks, using first-class domestic carriers and Lloyd's.

September 20, 2009

Accidents happen - photo contest submission

Chris Lorne of Aon Reed Stenhouse in Edmonton, Alberta was certainly fast to the scene of this accident - he was a passenger on the bus!

Team ESR and friends raise $62,000 for the Ride to Conquer Cancer

On the weekend of June 13-14, several of the staff at Elliott Special Risks participated in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, benefiting the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. The bike ride took them from the lakeshore of Toronto through the scenic Niagara Escarpment to finish at Niagara Falls. With fearless leader Rick DeGrace at the helm, all 12 participants of Team ESR completed this epic and memorable ride.

September 19, 2009

Electronic applications now available online

Since June 2008, we have been converting all of our applications to an Adobe PDF format that you can fill out electronically. This will allow you to easily complete, save, make changes, and e-mail applications directly to us as well as your clients.

September 18, 2009

Wide range of E&O covers available

Our in-house Errors and Omissions (E&O) capabilities are supported by first-class, licensed markets.

September 17, 2009

Staff promotions (effective July 1, 2009)

September 16, 2009

NHL career cut short nets player $1.45 million in damages

In 2002, the Nashville Predators drafted 18-year-old Joshua Morrow in the seventh round of the National Hockey League draft. He was considered a naturally powerful skater who could hit and fight. The following year, while playing hockey for the Kamloops Blazers in the Western Hockey League, Morrow was practising and took a slap shot that caused considerable pain in his right shoulder.

Mississauga woman awarded $3.5 million after hospital bed collapses

Diane Degennaro was attending the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital with her son, then two years old, for treatment of his fever, when the bed she was sitting on collapsed. The collapse led to chronic pain that will stay with her for life and has rendered her incapable of working or enjoying activities with her family.

$5 million awarded to B.C. couple in malpractice suit

Shawn Kahlon, a 32-year-old teacher, was suffering from back pain and sought the advice of his physician. The doctor's initial diagnosis was back sprain and he recommended that Kahlon increase his exercise.

September 15, 2009

Money Mart agrees to $100-million class action settlement

After fighting a class action lawsuit for six years, Money Mart has reached a settlement with plaintiffs who alleged that fees charged by Money Mart for "fast cash advances" were effectively illegally high interest rates.

Appeal court upholds $17-million personal injury award - Canada's largest

The Ontario Court of Appeal has upheld a $17-million award - the largest personal injury award in Canadian history - to a young man who was seriously injured in an automobile accident in June 2000.

June 12, 2009

Biotech, Life Sciences Liability program

Our general liability (GL) program for Canadian biotech, pharmaceutical, medical device, and research and development companies is supported by first-class underwriters at Lloyd's with more than 20 years of experience in this sector.

Now available - our new IT program

We are pleased to announce a new package program in the professional liability division for information technology.

Your best market for umbrella coverage

Our Umbrella program offers the most flexible combination of features available in Canada:

June 11, 2009

Union Executive Liability insurance

Our directors and officers program now offers a specially tailored insurance product for Canadian labour unions, including protection for executives, officers, trustees, employees, volunteers and shop stewards.

June 10, 2009

Directors and Officers Liability program

Our program offers broad, industry-leading coverage with available limits up to $10 million, either primary or excess, for public and private corporations or income trusts as well as non-profit organizations, associations, charities and foundations.

June 9, 2009

Risk eNews e-mail newsletter

Over the past year, we have been growing our e-mail distribution list. As more of our clients make the switch to a paperless office, we need to facilitate that change.

Accidents happen - our summer photo contest

We had so many great submissions for our summer photo contest in 2008 that we decided to run it again this year.

June 8, 2009

News Board celebrates its 15th anniversary

It's hard to believe, but the first edition of the News Board was published in May 1994, so this issue marks the 15th year of our in-house newsletter.

Errors and Omissions programs

We offer a full range of in-house errors and omissions (E&O) capabilities supported by first-class, licensed markets:

June 5, 2009

Mario Sousa appointed new President of Elliott Special Risks

Elliott Special Risks LP is pleased to announce the appointment of Mario Sousa as President.

Delivery error costs fuel company $1 million

The Ontario Court of Appeal recently dismissed a third-party claim against D.W. Stanzel Plumbing and Heating Limited for contributory negligence and apportionment of damages for work they performed almost 30 years ago.

Child and mother awarded more than $4 million for birth injury

The Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled that three doctors and an attending nurse at B.C. Women's Hospital were found to have fallen below the standard of care expected of them during Monica Cojocaru's delivery of her son Eric Cojocaru.

June 4, 2009

Doctor, health authority to pay $3.2 million

In the Supreme Court of British Columbia, an 11-year-old girl sued her mother's obstetrician and gynecologist, through the mother, for damages arising from serious injury during the girl's birth.

New Year's Eve house party leaves 19-year-old with permanent disabilities

The Supreme Court of British Columbia has awarded $1,110,000 in damages to the victim of an assault during a New Year's Eve house party in Sechelt, British Columbia.

June 3, 2009

Fallen pipe costs water park $488,050

The Supreme Court of British Columbia has ordered Cultus Lake Waterpark Ltd. near Chilliwack, British Columbia, to pay $488,050 in damages to a man who was struck by a pipe that fell off a waterslide.

Unprecedented $4.75-million award to motorcyclist who crashed into train

The Ontario Court of Appeal has awarded a man $4.75 million in damages for injuries sustained in a crash with a Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) train that tore off both his arms and his left leg.

March 20, 2009

B.C. man awarded $569,000 after garbage truck tips over and crushes car

The Supreme Court of British Columbia has awarded a man $569,000 in total damages, including $200,000 for pain and suffering, after a garbage truck flipped over, crushing his car.

March 19, 2009

Electronic funds transfer

The insurance industry continues to be targeted by organized cheque fraud artists. At the request of several clients, we can now accept electronic transfer of funds (EFT).

Now available - our new IT program

We are pleased to announce a new package program in the professional liability division for information technology. The package features a claims-made errors and omissions cover in combination with an occurrence-form general liability cover. We can also include property covers. The program is written on behalf of a major Lloyd's syndicate.

March 18, 2009

Directors' and Officers' Liability program

Our program offers broad, industry-leading coverage with available limits up to $10 million, either primary or excess, for public and private corporations or income trusts as well as non-profit organizations, associations, charities and foundations.

2002 plastics fire settles for $800,000

Horti-Pak Inc., which made plastic trays used in greenhouses, must pay $800,000 for a class action arising from a November 2002 fire at its plant in Kingsville, Ontario.

March 17, 2009

Innovative insurance solutions for tough liability risks

We've been helping Canadian brokers with unusual and hard-to-place general liability (GL) risks since 1966.

March 16, 2009

Your best market for umbrella coverage

Our Umbrella program offers the most flexible combination of features available in Canada:

When is a dollar not a dollar?

The current weakness of the Canadian dollar has once again made our currency unsuitable for Canadian companies operating in and exporting their goods to the U.S. Product sales to the U.S. in particular are associated with an elevated exposure to catastrophic losses, so it is important that brokers recommend adequate insurance limits.

March 13, 2009

Security company must pay $782,000 for fire set intentionally by employee

The world's fifth-largest armoured car and security guard service must pay $782,000 to an insurance company for a fire started by one of its employees at a vacant YMCA in downtown Montreal in April 1999.

Security and Protection Industry program

Our security industry professional program delivers broad insurance cover and excellent service at competitive premium terms.

March 12, 2009

Pet food recall settles for $24 million

Menu Foods Inc., a Mississauga, Ontario manufacturer of pet foods, has received court approval for a US$24-million (Cdn$30-million) settlement over recalled tainted pet food.

Maple Leaf settles listeriosis outbreak for up to $27 million

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has announced that it has reached a $27-million settlement in a series of class action lawsuits related to an outbreak of listeriosis food poisoning that killed at least 20 people last year. The outbreak was traced back to deli-style meats produced at a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto, Ontario.

March 11, 2009

Sport, Leisure and Recreation programs

We are Canada's leading market for the sport and recreation sector. Our clients include commercial businesses, non-profit organizations and member-owned clubs.

Waivers must be vigorously enforced to be effective

Liability waivers and hold-harmless clauses are an important risk management tool for a wide range of our clients, but especially for those in the fields of sport, leisure and recreation.