VI. selected issues in interpreting insurance policies 4


Duty to Settle Within Policy Limits



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Duty to Settle Within Policy Limits


  • if a third party claim is for more than the limits of the policy, the insured’s interests are implicated because the potential exists for a judgment to exceed policy limits, in which case the insurer and the insured will each pay a portion

    • in such cases, the insurer defending the action is required to give at least as much consideration to the insured’s interests as it does to its own interests- must make reasonable efforts to settle the third party action within the liits of the liability insurance policy

    • this duty imposes a positive obligation on the insurer to pursue settlement offers within policy limits if a liability finding against the insured is likely

  • further, where the third party claim exceeds policy limits, insurer has a duty to disclose with reasonable promptitude to the insured all material information touching upon the insured’s position in the litigation and settlement negotiations, so that the insured is fully aware of the insurer’s strategy and the risks

  • this does not mean that an insurer will be in breach of its obligation to provide a good faith defence every time the insured is held liable for a third party judgment which exceeds policy limits (Fredrikson v. ICBC- insurer only required to act fairly and openly)

    • insurer’s obligation is simply to make best efforts to resolve the claim within policy limits if there is a real risk that the judgment will exceed those limits

    • if the insurer breaches this duty, it may be held responsible for paying both the insured and uninsured portions of the third party judgment

  • nature and implications of duty (Shea v. Manitoba Public Insurance Co)

    • insurer-insured relationship is commercial, involves special rights and duties beyond duty of honesty, but not fiduciary standard

    • the insured is vulnerable in the settlement process- must be mindful of their interests

    • must advise the insured of conflict of interests and the nature and extent of the conflict

      • where there are adverse positions, have an obligation to instruct separate counsel solely for the insured at the insurer’s own cost

    • must attempt to minimize by all lawful means the amount of any judgment awarded against the insured

    • timely defence and settlement

  • consequences of breach of duty of good faith in settlement offers

    • liability for entire judgment amount (Dillon v. Guardian Insurance Co)

      • 3rd party claimed $100,000, policy limit was $50,000, settlement offer was $45,000, insurer declined and made a counter offer of $40,000

      • judgment against insured for $78,000- was held liable for the full amount because it was unreasonable to refuse initial settlement offer

  • Tripartite Relationship: Insured, Insurer, and Defence Counsel

    • Third party claims against insured under liability insurance policy

    • Insurer appoints, instructs, and pays counsel

    • Counsel to defend insured in 3rd party liability claim

    • Common interests between insured and insurer – judgment in liability claim in insured’s favour or limit liability, for e.g. quantum of damages

    • Potential conflict of interests: Insurer alleges breach of condition/terms; coverage dispute, mixed claims, judgment v settlement, etc.

    • Conflict of interest: whether a reasonable person will perceive defence counsel’s ability to equally protect the insured and insurer as compromised in the circumstances.

    • Remedy: insured appoints independent counsel at insurer’s expense

X. OVERLAPPING POLICIES AND OTHER CONSEQUENCES OF INDEMNITY


  • BCIA s. 30:

    • (1) If, on the happening of loss or damage, there is in force more than one contract covering the loss or damage, the insurers under the respective contracts are each liable to the insured for their rateable proportion of the loss, unless it is otherwise expressly agreed in writing between the insurers.

Doctrine of Contribution


  • requires insurers who provide coverage for the same loss under separate contracts to share the cost of indemnifying the insured for the loss

  • only applies to indemnity contracts- not life insurance

    • note that principle of indemnity still applies- despite the fact that the insured has multiple sources of insurance coverage, the insured is not entitled to recover more than the value of the loss

    • sharing of the loss ensures that the insured is not over-indemnified by recovering the full amount of the loss from multiple sources

  • Contribution at common law

    • Insurer is entitled to contribution from all other insurers who have covered the same risk- this is founded upon the general principle that parties under a coordinate liability to make good a loss must share that burden pro rata (Family Insurance Corp v. Lombard)

      • The fact that one insurer has indemnified the insured does not relieve the other insurers from their contractual obligation to indemnify

    • Insurer is entitled to enforce this right by commencing an action, in its own name, against the other insurers

    • Equitable doctrine- relies fundamentally on notions of fairness and natural justice

      • So a court will not allow an insurer to recover on the basis of contribution where the insurer’s own actions make such recovery unfair

      • Continental Insurance Co. v. Prudential Insurance Co: Prudential issued property insurance on garage owned by the insured, agent from Phoenix of London Group convinced the insured to replace the Prudential policy with one from Phoenix- he did not cancel it in accordance with statutorily mandated procedures and so Phoenix tried to get Prudential to pay

        • Phoenix could not recover from Prudential on the basis of equitable contribution in light of Phoenix’s role in convincing the insured to replace the Prudential policy with the Phoenix policy

        • Claim defeated if unfair to allow contribution

      • Indemnification by other insurers not a defence

    • Requirement of overlapping coverage (Lombard)

      • Same object of insurance/subject-matter

      • Same risk

      • Same insurable interest

      • Same insured

      • All policies effective (legal and in force) at the time of the loss

      • No policy excludes contribution

    • Overlapping policies not affected by different wording/policy limits/scope of coverage

    • Examples:

      • Clarke v. Fidelity Fire Insurance Co: homeowner purchased a policy of insurance on her house, mortgagee purchased a separate policy of insurance on the same property- same subject matter, but different insureds and different interests- doctrine of contribution did not apply

      • Canadian Universities Reciprocal Insurance v. Halwell Mutual Insurance: President of a university student residence was an unnamed insured under the university’s general liability policy issued by Reciprocal, but was also insured under his parents’ Co-operators homeowner’s policy- he was sued by an injured student, Reciproal settled the claim and sought contribution from Co-operators, but the co-operators policy contained an exclusion clause and so did not have to contribute

      • McKenzie v. Dominion of Canada General Insurance: negligence claim was brought against operator of the boat (McKenzie) and the boat owner (Tischler)- McKenzie was covered by three liability policies: (1) State Farm boat owner’s policy issued to Tischler, State Farm personal umbrella policy issued to Tischler, and Dominion homeowner’s policy issued to McKenzie’s father

        • Dominion policy provided primary coverage and State farm policies provided excess coverage- same insured but policies protected different interests

  • Contribution and Subrogation: Cameco Corp v. Insurance Co of State of Pennsylvania

    • Where a claim is advanced by way of subrogation, the subrogated party (the insurer) is entitled to all of the amount recovered by the insured as against the third party up to the amount of indemnity

    • In a contribution action, however, the proportionate liability of each insurer is determined and the paying insurer will recover from the other insurers only such amount as exceeds his proportionate share

Subrogation

Contribution

Indemnity policies

Indemnity policies

Insured entitled to compensation from insurer and 3rd party

Insurer satisfies insured’s loss



Overlapping policies for loss

Loss satisfied by some insurer(s)



Claim against tortfeasor

Claim against co-insurer(s) for same loss under separate policy

Insurer brings action in insured’s name

Insurer brings action in its own right

Insurer entitled to amount recovered up to indemnity amount

Insurer recovers amount exceeding its proportionate share

Purpose: Prevents windfall to insured

Purpose: Avoid windfall for co- insurer(s)

  • Non-paying insurers not relieved of indemnification obligation



Determining Insurer’s Liability under Overlapping Policies


  • Maximum Liaility

    • Insurer’s contribution assessed by reference to policy limit in insurance contract relative to overall coverage in all policies subject to policy limit

      • E.g. Insurer A limit=$25,000; Insurer B limit $175,000

        • Total coverage=$200,000

        • Insurer A’s contribution=25,000/200,000=12.5%

        • Insurer B’s contribution=175,000/200,000=87.5%

        • Scenario One: Value of loss=$100,000

          • Insurer A pays 12.5% of loss=$12,500

          • Insurer B pays 87.5% of loss=$87,500

        • Scenario Two: Value of loss=$220,000

          • Insurer A pays 12.5% of loss up to policy limit=$25,000

          • Insurer B pays 87.5% of loss up to policy limit=$175,000

  • Independent Liability

    • Each insurer pays 50% or equal amount of total loss up to policy limit

      • E.g. Insurer A limit=$100,000, Insurer B limit=$500,000

        • Scenario One: Value of loss=$160,000

          • Insurer A pays $80,000 (50% of loss up to policy limit)

          • Insurer B pays $80,000 (50% of loss up to policy limit)

        • Scenario Two: Value of loss=$200,000

          • Insurer A’s Liability: $100,000 (50% of loss up to policy limit)

          • Insurer B’s Liability: $100,000 (50% of loss up to policy limit)

        • Scenario Three: Value of Loss=$240,000

          • Insurer A’s Liability: $100,000 (50% of loss up to policy limit)

          • Insurer B’s Liability: $140,000 (50% of loss up to policy limit)

  • Choosing between maximum and independent liability

    • Depends on:

      • Type of insurance

        • Liability insurance=independent liability approach

        • Property insurance=maximum liability approach

      • Wording of policy

      • Nature of protection under the various policies

Family Insurance v. Lombard Canada Ltd (SCC 2002)


  • Two liability insurance policies- different policy limits

    • Family policy limit=$1 million, Lombard policy limit=$5 million

  • Amount of loss=$500,000 (within the limits of both policies)

  • Family policy contained no contribution formula

  • Both policies had “other insurance” clauses making them excess insurers

  • Held: Independent liability- each insurer liable for 50% of loss to policy limit ($250,000 each)

Commercial Union Assurance v. Hayden (QB 1977)


  • Two overlapping liability policies with different limits- policy 1=$100,000, policy 2=$10,000

  • Claim against insured=$4,425.45

  • Held: independent liability approach

    • Maximum liability is appropriate for property insurance because there is a correlation between the premiums paid and the policy limits- limits are set by reference to the value of the property

    • Independent liability is appropriate for liability insurance because there is no correlation between the premium and the risks of the policy limit- policy limits are arbitrary

      • Would be inconsistent with the parties’ reasonable expectations to use the maximum liability approach

Recovery under Overlapping Policies


  • Common law:

    • Joint and several liability- insured entitled to full indemnification from one insurer subject to policy limit, insurer acquires equitable right of contribution from co-insurers

    • Note: common law position not applicable in BC re: general insurance contracts- BCIA part 2 and optional auto policies

    • Rateable proportion may be applicable as a contractual term

  • Statutory position: General Insurance Contracts (BCIA part 2) and Auto insurance

    • Rateable proportion- determined based on maximum liability (property) or independent liability (liability) depending on the policy- then BCIA pretty much just says pay what you have to pay

      • Indemnification obligation limited to insurer’s rateable proportion subject to express agreement between insurers (BCIA s. 30, BCI(V)A s. 80(1))

      • Effect: several liability

        • Insurer’s indemnification obligation limited to pro rata share

        • Insured pursues each insurer for its share of insured loss

        • Co-insurer not required to make full payment

      • What happens where insurer exceeds rateable proportion absent agreement between co-insurers?

        • Generally, no right of contribution absent agreement between insurers

        • Remedy: recover excess payment from insured or subrogated claim

        • Contribution may be appropriate as an equitable remedy

        • Avoiding payment in excess of rateable proportion:

          • Notice of other insurance and amount required at time of claim- General- BCIA s. 29 stat cond. 6(1)(b)(iv), Auto- BCI(V)A s. 80(2)

    • No overlapping coverage re some types of insurance

      • General insurance BCIA Part 2

        • Items specifically identified and insured in policy (s. 30(6))

        • Items also insured under another policy issued to same insured re same interest and for same loss but items not identified

        • No overlapping policy

        • Policy with identified items primary, other policies excess

        • Irrelevant one or all policies contain “other insurance” clauses- BCIA s. 30(2)

          • “other insurance” clauses are ineffective with respect to specifically identified items

      • Auto:

        • Two owners’ certificates: certificate of car involved in accident primary (Ins. (V) regulations 447/83, s. 77 (3rd party liability), s. 104 (accident benefits)

          • Owner’s policy will always be primary

        • Basic compulsory policy primary; optional coverage excess (Reg 447/83, s. 149(1))

          • Exception: loss from nuclear energy hazard covered by nuclear energy hazard policy; auto policy excess (447/83 s. 175(1))

          • Garage vehicle certificate: Reg 447/83 s. 150.1

Redefining Policy Coverage in the Event of Other Insurance


  • Strategy for avoiding overlapping coverage

  • Primary and excess policies: “other insurance” clauses- coverage excess if loss covered by another policy

    • If both policies contain “other insurance” clauses, they are mutually repugnant and each insurer must pay their rateable proportion (Family Insurance v. Lombard)

      • But this irreconcilability should be limited to situations of true impasse- should respect contractual freedom and uphold contracts where possible

      • McKenzie v. Dominion of Canada

        • 3 policies: 1. Boat owner’s policy, 2. Homeowner’s policy, contains “other insurance” clause, 3. Personal liability umbrella policy, excess coverage

        • policy 1 primary, limit exhausted

        • are parties 2 and 3 equally liable? No, there is no overlapping coverage.

  • Exclusion clauses: coverage excluded if loss covered by another policy

    • Effect: insurer excused from indemnification in event of overlapping policies

    • If both policies contain exclusionary clauses re loss covered by another policy, then both exclusionary clauses are inoperative, each policy is primary, and the insurers are liable for their rateable proportion

  • Freedom of contract: insurers entitled to include such clauses unless precluded by statute



XI. SUBROGATION


  • Subrogation is a corollary of indemnity principle- insured is entitled to compensation from 3rd party (e.g. tortfeasor) and insurer for same loss

    • Cumulation not permitted (Glynn v. Scottish Union)- insured is not entitled to recover more than their actual loss

  • Allows an insurer to stand in place of an insured for the purpose of recovering compensation for particular losses suffered by the insured

Purposes of subrogation


  • Preserves indemnity principle and minimizes moral hazards

    • Insurer sues 3rd party on insured’s behalf

  • Promotes legal accountability of 3rd party

    • Insurance not intended to relieve 3rd parties of legal liability

    • Insurer succeeds insured’s rights against 3rd party

    • Presumption of subrogation re: indemnity contracts- right of subrogation need not be expressly stated (Somersall v. Friedman)

  • Insured not better placed against 3rd party than insured

    • Insurer’s right of subrogation derivative- claim against 3rd party is subject to defences available against insured

      • No right of subrogated claim if insured precluded from suing 3rd party

    • Examples:

      • Insured released 3rd party from liability for loss in question

      • Insured assumed risk of loss caused by 3rd party; e.g. covenant to insure in tenancy agreement- no right of subrogation against tenant when lease has insurance clause (T. Eaton Co v. Smith)

  • No right of subrogation against an insured under the same policy, named or unnamed (Imperial Oil)

    • Capacity in which insured acting at time of loss irrelevant (Condominium Corp No. 9813678 v. Statesman Corp)

      • Statesman was a developer working on the last phase of the project, but was also a condo owner in one of the complexes and so was considered an insured. Even though the cause of the fire in question arose from his status as a developer, he was an insured and so there was no right of subrogation

Operation of Doctrine of Subrogation


  • Works 1 of 3 ways:

    • 1. Insurer indemnifies insured, insurer sues 3rd party in insured’s name, insured entitled to excess recovery;

    • 2. 3rd party fully compensates insured- insured not entitled to recovery from insurer (Glynn);

    • 3. Insured recovers from insurer and 3rd party- insured required to reimburse insurer (Castellain)

  • payment to insured pursuant to insurer’s contractual obligations (Wellington)

Castellain v. Preston


  • insured received full purchase price as per terms of sales contract notwithstanding damage to house prior to completion, but also received insurance proceeds

    • insurer recovered insurance settlement for loss already paid to insured

    • insurer entitled to all insured’s rights, legal or equitable, whether fulfilled or unfulfilled

    • irrelevant payment from 3rd party independent of insured risk

    • irrelevant insurer not entitled to compel payment from 3rd party for default

    • payment from 3rd party intended to satisfy insured loss

Wellington Insurance Co. v. Armac Diving Services


  • no right of subrogation/reimbursement from insured if payment not pursuant to insurer’s contractual obligation

  • insurer’s right of subrogation unaffected if payment honestly intended as indemnification under policy

  • in this case, insurer only settled because they didn’t want bad publicity- there was no actual claim

Exercising Right of Subrogation


  • Common Law position (doesn’t have much force in BC now that we have a subrogation provision under s. 36):

    • Full indemnity

      • No right of subrogation unless insured’s loss fully satisfied- policy limit irrelevant

      • Full indemnification required only re insured loss

      • Subrogation right unaffected by non-recovery for uninsured losses

    • Willumsen et al v. Royal Insurance

      • Building and land subject to purchase agreement; damage to building; shortfall in purchase price; only building insured; partial indemnity for building

      • No subrogation right until full indemnity for building

      • Insurer’s subrogation right unaffected by shortfall in land value

      • In determining whether an insured has been fully indemnified by a 3rd party for the insured loss, the courts will carefully scrutinize the payments made by the 3rd party to determine whether they are attributable to the insured’s losses or the uninsured losses

    • Full indemnity includes recovery for reasonable cost of action or settlement of 3rd party claim

      • Partial indemnity by insurer

      • Insured recovers from 3rd party for insured loss

      • No reimbursement unless net recovery from 3rd party and insurer exceeds insured’s actual loss (Confederation Life Ins. v. Causton)

        • Insured suffered injuries arising out of a car accident caused by the negligence of the 3rd party- after receiving partial compensation for lost wages from the insurer, insured went after 3rd party for wage loss and other damages. After fees were taken care of, only 75% of loss covered

        • Held: no subrogation because the insured was not fully indemnified for her wage loss and had not been over-indemnified by the combination of 3rd party payment and insurance proceeds

    • Rationale for full indemnification requirement

      • Subrogation preserves indemnification principle

      • No risk of windfall absent full indemnification

    • Preserving insurer’s subrogation interest

      • Loss partially insured or exceeds policy limit- insurer interested in outcome of 3rd party action because it can potentially prejudice insurer’s interests

      • Insured obliged to protect insurer’s subrogation interest (Globe & Rutgers Fire Insurance v. Truedell)

        • Insured obliged to pursue 3rd party claim diligently and in good faith

        • Claim against 3rd party not limited to difference between loss and insurance amount

        • Insured must claim full amount possible from 3rd party

        • Test for due diligence and good faith: did the insured claim less than what they honestly and in good faith believed was wise to accept in the circumstances? (Truedell)

          • Truedell had lots of properties- some insured and some not. He was able to collect the maximum amount for insured structures, but that was only 11% of the losses. Accepted a settlement which he thought was reasonable in the circumstances- insurer claimed that it was not consulted and should receive some money back

          • there was no bad faith because he honestly felt that the best thing to do in the circumstances was to accept a settlement, so the insurer could not claim subrogation

        • Insured liable to insurer for failure to settle loss against 3rd party for full amount

        • No presumption of bad faith wehre insured settles for less

        • Insured’s motivation relevant (Davis- deliberately asked for less than he should have)

  • Statutory Modifications

    • Indemnification (full or partial) or assumption of liability for insured loss pursuant to insurer’s contractual obligation is enough to trigger right of subrogation (BCIA s. 36, BCI(V)A s. 84(1))

      • 36(1): the insurer, on making a payment or assuming liability under a contract, is subrogated to all rights of recovery of the insured against any person, and may bring an action in the name of the insured to enforce those rights

    • who controls subrogated claim where insured partially indemnified?

      • BCI(V)A s. 84(2), (3)

        • Loss of or damage to vehicle or use- insurer has carriage (2)

        • All other losses where parties disagree, court to make an order it considers reasonable having regard to parties’ interests (3)

    • General Insurance Contracts: BCIA Part 2

      • S. 36 silent on dominus litis (Farrell Estates Ltd. v. Canadian Indemnity Co- explained and affirmed in Zurich Ins. Co. v. Ison TH Auto Sales Inc)

        • Subrogation provision/clause only alters common law re pre-conditions for exercise of insurer’s subrogation rights

        • Provision silent on control of litigation where insured not fully indemnified

        • Common law prevails- insured dominus liti until fully indemnified- express language required to abrogate insured’s common law right

        • Contrast with specific provisions in auto legislation

        • Extent of insured’s interest relative to insurer’s interest irrelevant

        • Insured to act in good faith- don’t prejudice insurers interest

        • Facts: fire and explosion occurred in an apartment building where insured had 71 new cars stored in a rental space- received factory prices for them minus deductible, insurer got salvage costs and insured lost profits

          • Insured is in control of the litigation until it has been fully indemnified for its insured and uninsured costs



        • Rationale:

          • fairness to insured where insurer pays or assumes liability for small part of insured’s loss, e.g. Truedell

          • avoids multiple 3rd party claims

          • contractual freedom: insurers can specifically address carriage of litigation in policy

          • insurers’ practice- agreement re control of litigation at time of claim

          • court not to assist insurers who fail to protect themselves

  • effect of settlement with 3rd party on insurer’s subrogation rights

    • Somersall v. Friedman

      • Insureds entered into limits agreement with tortfeasor without notice to insurer- said that they would not pursue tortfeasor for more than his liability limits

      • Insureds sought to recover unsatisfied losses from their own insurer under underinsured motorist coverage

      • Issue: is insurer bound by limits agreement?

      • SCC: no dishonesty or malice in limiting claim to 3rd party’s liability insurance

      • No breach of duty to act in good faith to preserve insurer’s subrogation right

        • Pragmatic approach- insurer’s right was not compromised in substance because 3rd party was impecunious

      • Dissent: Characterization of Freidman’s impecunious was mere speculation given lack of evidence. It is the existence of the limits agreement which calls the insured’s fulfillment of the duty of good faith into question in the first place.

        • Therefore it is circular reasoning to rely on the existence of the agreement of evidence as to the fulfillment of the duty. The majority incorrectly places the state of financial value of the insurer’s subrogation right at the center of the good faith analysis

        • They should have looked beyond the 3Ps financial status and should have assessed the Somersall’s actions according to the same standards of good faith that the Canadian courts have applied in assessing an action in relation to the uninsured claims where the insurer has conduct of recovery action.

    • Auto Insurance

      • Insurer’s subrogation rights preserved notwithstanding settlement with or release of 3rd party by insured

        • BCI(V)A s. 84(6): “a settlement or release does not restrict the rights of the insured or the insurer under this section unless the insured or insurer, as the case may be, concurred in it”

      • Dwyer v. Liberty Insurance Co of Canada

        • Facts: there was a settlement and the insured went to the insurer for the remainder of the loss- insurer wanted to claim losses from 3rd party despite the settlement

        • Single action rule unaffected; matter res judicata between insured and 3rd party

          • Unfair to 3rd party if insurer can disregard release or settlement

          • Contrary to underlying principle re subrogation

        • Discourage settlement with 3rd parties

        • Codifies insurer’s right of action against insured if latter disregards former’s subrogation interest in settlement

        • Insurer entitled to recover from insured

        • The statutory provision does nothing more than to codify the insurer’s common law right to claim damages from an insured if the insured resolves its cause of action against the 3rd party without regard to the insurer’s subrogated interests and without the insurer’s consent

  • Prorating amount recovered where indemnity partial

    • BCIA s. 36(2) If the net amount recovered after deducting the costs of recovery is not sufficient to provide a complete indemnity for the loss or damage suffered, that amount must be divided between the insurer and the insured in the proportions in which the loss or damage has been borne by them respectively.

    • Recovery from 3rd party action less than full indemnity- insurer’s recovery proportionate to percentage of loss borne

    • Illustration

      • Policy Limit: $150,000

      • Deductible per occurrence: $10,000

      • Value of loss: $200,000

      • Insurance amount paid to insured: $150,000 (75% of loss)

      • Insured’s personal liability: $50,000 (25% of loss)

      • Net amount recovered from 3rd party: $120,000

      • Insured receives 25% of $120,000: $30,000

      • Insurer receives 75% of $120,000: $90,000

      • Insured’s total recovery: $150,000 + $30,000 = $180,000



IX. VALUATION

Introduction


  • Once an insurer’s obligation to pay for an insured loss is triggered, it becomes necessary to determine how much to pay to fulfill this obligation

    • Easy cases- accident & sickness (available data), liability insurance (judgment amount)

    • Valuation can be complicated in the case of property insurance where the principle of indemnity requires a measure of the intrinsic worth of the insured property to the insured on the date of the loss

    • Valuation of loss under a property insurance policy necessarily turns on three factors:

    • The amount of insurance proceeds payable may also be affected by contractual terms specifically designed to restrict or expand the insurer’s payment obligations



Valued Policy

Open Policy

Value of loss pre-determined at time of contract

No predetermined value; stated policy limit

Value binding on parties

Irrelevant actual value at time of loss more or less



Recovery for value at time of loss subject to policy limit

Valued Policies


  • Dollar amount payable by the insurer in the event of an insured loss is specifically identified in the insurance contract

    • Value binding on parties- irrelevant actual value at time of loss more or less

  • Advantages

    • Post-loss valuation problems avoided

    • Pre-determined value regardless of ACV

    • Policy of choice for unique items with subjective value

    • Risk insured and premiums calculated on that basis

  • Scheduled Loss Endorsement

    • Policy provides lower limit for valuable items

    • Insured may insure each item separately under “scheduled property endorsement” for additional premium

    • Not valued policy- normal rules of valuation applicable

Re Art Gallery of Toronto and Eaton


  • Central question is whether the parties intended the contract to be a valued policy or an open policy

  • Insurance policy was issued on 6 paintings owned by the Art Gallery of Toronto- identified the paintings as having an insured value of $640,000

    • policy also provided that the insurer’s liability was limited to “the amount set opposite the respective articles covered hereunder, which amounts are agreed to be the values of said articles for the purpose of this insurance”

      • given this provision, court concluded that it was a valued policy

  • contrast with Freesman v. Royal Insurance Co of Canada, in which a policy of homeowner’s insurance included coverage for a diamond ring which had been appraised by the insured’s independent jeweler for $13,886 and this amount was included in the coverage summary- policy endorsement provided that the items listed in the schedule were “insured for replacement value, but not for more than the amount shown in the coverage summary”

    • court found that the policy wording did not clearly express the intention of the parties to have the value of loss predetermined by the figures identified in the contract

Raymond v. United States Fire Insurance Co


  • insured obtained an all-risk policy of insurance on a model of the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris which the insured had constructed

    • before the policy was entered into, the model was appraised at the request of the insurer

    • appraiser’s report identified the model as a work of art and assigned a value of $85,000

    • insurance policy referenced the $85,0000 and the appraiser’s report

  • model was destroyed by fire

  • insured said it was a valued policy, insurer said it wasn’t a work of art and only wanted to pay $6,000

    • court ruled in favour of the insured but declined to expressly classify the contract as either a valued or an open policy

      • treated it as a dispute between expert valuations and held that, in the circumstances, the $85,000 figure should be accepted as the prima facie value of the property because it was the insurer’s appraiser who determined it to be a work of art- “when the insurers are or their agent is party to an appraisement of the property for the purpose of the insurance, the amount so settled is probably prima facie proof of value, but otherwise the amount stated in the policy as the amount insured on any particular subject is not even prima facie evidence of the value”

      • premiums were charged with the higher appraisal value in mind

Unvalued or Open Policies


  • when a policy is classified as an open policy, so that the amount of insurance proceeds payable must be evaluated as of the date of loss, the wording of the policy also determines the method by which the loss will be valued

    • most open property insurance policies provide for loss payment on the basis of “actual cash value” or “replacement cost”

  • actual cash value

    • BC Reg 447/83

      • 1(1) "actual cash value" means the average market price a purchaser would have paid for an insured vehicle or other insured property immediately before loss or damage occurs to the vehicle or other property

    • means “the intrinsic value of the physical property to the insured at the time of the loss”

    • options for calculating intrinsic value:

      • replacement cost less depreciation

      • market value

      • tax assessment value

      • rental value

      • investment value

    • most appropriate method of calculating actual cash value must be determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all the conditions and circumstances relevant to the insured property value at the time of the loss, including:

      • the extent to which the insured property may have already depreciated from its original value at the time the loss occurred

      • the use being made of the insured property

      • the uniqueness of the insured property

Valuation Methods


  • Repair Cost less Enhanced Value from Repairs

  • Repairs possible

  • Cheaper to repair compared to replacement

  • Recovery limited to repair cost

  • Repairs enhances property value, deduction for betterment

  • Consistent with indemnification principle

  • No presumption of betterment - Malcolm E. Walker & Sons Ltd. v. Co-operative Fire Ins. Co

    • Improved property after repairs not indicative of betterment

    • Onus on insurer to prove increased value for insured after repairs

    • Case at bar: No evidence to support deduction for betterment

  • Replacement Cost

  • Repair impossible or impractical

  • Replacement cost with or without deduction for enhanced value (based on contract terms), subject to policy limit

Rising Replacement Cost and Inflation: Optional Loss Settlement Clause (OLSC) or Replacement Cost Endorsement (RCE)

  • Shortfall from deduction for betterment/depreciation factor

  • ACV of property less than replacement cost

  • E.g. 3-year-old TV damaged, average life expectancy=10 years, replacement cost=$1000

    • Depreciation is 30% of $1,000 so insured recovers $700

Solution: Optional Loss Settlement Clause or “Replacement Cost Endorsement”

  • Protects insured against depreciation

  • Option for repair or replacement cost without deduction for depreciation/betterment

  • OLSC/RCE must be purchased separately

Rising Replacement Cost and Inflation


  • replacement cost is defined as the lower of the cost to repair or the cost to replace, without deduction for depreciation

    • by failing to account for the depreciated value of the originally insured property, replacement cost technically violates the indemnity principle by providing the insured with compensation of greater value than the loss actually suffered

    • valuation by replacement cost must be specifically agreed upon by the insurer and the insured- usually accomplished by including a replacement cost provision in the insurance contract, which is added to an open policy in exchange for the insured paying an increased premium

      • replacement cost clause usually provides that if the insured opts to replace the insured property following a loss, as opposed to taking an actual cash value settlement, the insurer will pay the cost of replacement

  • replacement cost clauses typically restrict the insurer’s obligation to pay for replacement value to situations where the insured has:

    • replaced the insured property

    • with due diligence and

    • with materials of like kind and quality

  • Exercising option to claim actual replacement cost under RCE/OLSC

    • Unilateral exercise of option by insured

    • Notify insurer of intention to claim actual replacement cost otherwise ACV

    • Actual replacement or repair with like materials within reasonable time (Malainy v. the Canadian Indemnity Co)

    • Insured not required to keep replaced property (Barke v. Economical Mutual)

  • replacement cost clauses are different from optional repair clauses

    • insurer may repair, rebuild or replace lost or damaged insured property (s. 29 stat cond. 13)

      • option not available where dispute resolution process initiated under s. 12

      • notify insured of intention to do so within 30 days after receiving proof of loss

      • work must begin within 45 days after receiving proof of loss

      • insurer must proceed with due diligence to complete work within reasonable time

      • exercising option creates new contract

      • insurer obliged to complete work even if cost exceeds policy limit

      • insurer not entitled to deductions for betterment

    • optional repair clauses are statutorily required in fire and automobile insurance contracts in order to protect the insurer from liability to pay the full pecuniary value of the loss, if the loss can be more cheaply made good otherwise

    • optional repair clauses give the choice of having the loss resolved by repair or replacement rather than cash settlement to the insurer rather than to the insured

    • under RCC, insurer’s obligation to replace property is generally governed by policy limits, but when an insurer exercises its option of repairing or replacing the property under an optional repair clause, the insurer is liable for all costs involved even if those costs exceed policy limits




Optional Repair Clauses

Replacement Cost Endorsement

Stat. condition: part of all contracts under BCIA Part 2

Contractual term

Insurer exercises option

Work to commence within 45 days from proof of loss; proceed with due diligence; complete work within reasonable time



Insured exercises option

Option creates new contract

Repair/ replacement cost may exceed policy limit



Insurer’s obligation limited to replacement cost subject to policy limit




  • courts tend to generously interpret these replacement cost conditions in a manner which favours the insured

    • insured cannot be held to strict compliance with the due diligence requirement where the insured’s delay in replacing or rebuilding the insured property has resulted from the insurer’s refusal to promptly confirm coverage for the proposed replacement

    • the insured’s obligation to rebuild with material of like kind and quality can be fulfilled even if the insured rebuilds to different specifications or on a different site in order to meet the requirements of building or planning bylaws

    • in some circumstances the insurer may be obliged to help finance the insured’s replacement efforts by providing the insured with an immediate actual cash value payment followed by a “top up” to the replacement cost once the insured has fulfilled its obligation of replacing or rebuilding the property

    • once the insured has replaced the property and received replacement cost from the insurer, the insured is under no obligation to keep the replacement property unless the contract states otherwise

  • Problems with Replacement Cost Endorsement

    • (1) Cash-strapped or Impecunious Insured

      • Actual replacement/repairs precondition

      • If insured cannot afford replacement/repair cost is insurer obliged to advance money for replacement/repairs?

      • Carlyle v. Elite Ins. Co: No obligation to pay until work is done

        • Facts: claimed on a fire insurance policy which contained an optional loss settlement clause which provided the insured to elect to make settlement on the basis of the cost of repairs to or the replacement cost of building.

        • Law: The option clause clearly contemplates that the insurer will pay the cost of replacement after the replacement is complete. As a matter of practice, it appears that insurers will generally pay the actual cash value where that is less and may make other progress payment, but the policy does not require them to do so.

        • The insurer is not obligated to give you a cash advance even if it is ACV.

      • Is this consistent with insured’s reasonable expectations?

        • Would have thought he would get money to do the work and get the actual cash value

    • (2) Insured not obliged to keep replaced property under RCE

      • Barke v. Economical Mutual Insurance

        • Insured entitled to return or sell replacement property and keep cash

        • Facts: Insured claimed replacement of personal property under RCE and then returned some items prior to claiming reimbursement, ACV less than replacement cost

        • Trial Judge: Fraud, insured not entitled to recovery

        • C.A.: No fraud and no obligation to keep items replaced under RCE

        • The policy could have provided that the goods must be replaced or repaired and retained or replaced or repaired with an intention to replace, but didn’t. Fraud if never purchase items

        • Justification: They emphasized ownership; owners are at liberty to deal with the property any way they chose. All that the RCE is saying is how to value the loss. Not a case that deals with how owners should deal with the property.

        • Policy: In addition to being very difficult to enforce any attempt by the insurer or by the courts to impose an obligation on the insured to retain replaced property this would fly in the face of fundamental legal principles favouring the free movement of property.

Dispute Resolution Process


  • BCIA s. 12:

    • Disagreements about matters stated in s. 29, stat. cond. 11: value of insured property, value of property saved, nature and extent of repairs or replacements required (or adequacy of those made), amount of loss or damage

    • Right independent of other questions, e.g. insured’s right to recover

    • Insurer required to notify insured of dispute resolution procedures: Insurance Regulation [Revised Regulation] 403/2012, s.3

    • Insured or insurer may demand dispute resolution process in writing after proof of loss delivered to insurer. S. 12(3)

    • Parties appoint representatives who appoint an umpire (4)

    • Representatives determine disputed matters or submit difference to umpire (6)

    • Each party pays their representative and shares cost of umpire (7)

    • May be subject to special costs for failing to appoint a representative (9)

    • Participation in DR does not constitute waiver: s. 14(2)(a)

  • Rationale for DR Process

    • Part of the movement to limit reliance on judicial/adversarial system for resolving disputes

    • Decentralizes decision-making authority

  • S. 29 Statutory Condition 11

    • 11. (1) In the event of disagreement as to the value of the insured property, the value of the property saved, the nature and extent of the repairs or replacements required or, if made, their adequacy, or the amount of the loss or damage, those questions must be determined using the applicable dispute resolution process set out in the Insurance Act, whether or not the insured's right to recover under the contract is disputed, and independently of all other questions.

    • (2) There is no right to a dispute resolution process under this condition until

      • (a) a specific demand is made for it in writing, and

      • (b) the proof of loss has been delivered to the insurer.

Future Contingencies


  • regardless of whether an open policy provides coverage on the basis of actual cash value or on the basis of replacement cost, a proper valuation of property on the date of loss should not take into account possible future events

Leger v. Royal Insurance Co


  • fire insurance policy provided coverage on the basis of actual cash value

  • prior to the loss occurring, insured had expressed an intention to demolish the insured building and, on the date of loss, the building was the subject of a demolition order issued under a municipal bylaw

    • insurer argued that the insured property had no intrinsic value on the date of loss because it would have been demolished anyway

      • court rejected this argument- the intrinsic value of the building on the date of loss could not be diminished by a potential, but uncertain, future demolition

  • note also Cyrand Investments Ltd v. Aetna Insurance Co: despite the fact that the insured had applied for a demolition permit for the insured property and had given eviction notices to the tenants of the property in preparation for its destruction, the insured property was not without value when it was destroyed by fire prior to the planned demolition

Datatech Systems Ltd. v. Commonwealth Insurance Co


  • the fact that the insured had entered into a sales agreement which obliged the insured to remove the insured building from the land should not be taken into account in determining the value under a replacement cost endorsement because, until the insured property was actually destroyed, the insured had a number of options for dealing with the property in a way which preserved its value

Newfoundland (Attorney General) v. Commercial Union Assurance Co of Canada


  • a prospective event which is sufficiently certain may affect the value of the insured property on the date of loss and therefore may be included in the court’s valuation assessment

  • insured (government) had called for tenders for the demolition of the property, and then it was damaged by fire

  • court found that the government had made a definitive decision to proceed with demolition of the property and so it was of no value to the government on the date of loss- there was no reason to believe that the demolition would not have gone forward if the fire had not occurred


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