ONTARIO LAWYER GROUP CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO AVIVA INSURANCE’S CONDUCT
The Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) issued a press release early August regarding the “troubling revelation” that Aviva Insurance hired Thérèse Reilly, a government insurance adjudicator, while she was employed with the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT). Reilly had been involved in a number of case decisions involving her future employer between May 2022 and November 2022. The OTLA wrote: “At issue is the (…) revelation that Reilly was offered and accepted a position with Aviva Insurance in June 2022 but stayed with the LAT until November of that year.” The LAT claimed to not know of Reilly’s employment plans with Aviva and wants to implement a policy where adjudicators cannot be employed by companies with a vested interest in collision claims. Reilly shared the OTLA’s concerns and believes that Aviva should reconsider its policies and procedures regarding adjudicators with offers of employment.
EYES TO CANADA
Wawanesa has entered an agreement to sell its U.S. subsidiary, Wawanesa General Insurance Company, to focus its efforts on the Canadian market, the insurer announced on August 1. Jeff Goy, president and CEO of Wawanesa, did not specify what that would mean for Canadian customers; just that “[Wawanesa] look[s] forward to further strengthening of the products and services we provide Canadian families and businesses, and to providing exceptional service to even more members across Canada.” The insurer’s U.S. operations will be acquired by the Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest member of the AAA Federation of motor clubs. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
