From bad to worse, expert reports without cross examination – how does this promote justice?
“For an expedited in-person hearing, the parties would submit supporting documentation, including affidavits and expert reports. Although testimony and cross-examination could take place within set time parameters, the use of expert witnesses would not be permitted. Expedited hearing would take no longer than half a day.”
http://williehandler.blogspot.ca/2013/11/interim-report-of-ontario-automobile.html
http://policyconsult.cpso.on.ca/?page_id=2420#comment-2970 comments close Nov 11
Public expectation about access to information about all public agencies has changed dramatically, particularly as a result of exponential increases in internet use. Tell the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario whether you think keeping secrets about doctors is the right thing to do. Transparency Principles http://policyconsult.cpso.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Transparency-Principles.pdf
In August 2013, Ontario’s Minister of Finance Charles Sousa announced the appointment of the Honourable J. Douglas Cunningham, former Associate Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, to conduct a review of Ontario’s automobile insurance dispute resolution system.
After receiving stakeholder submissions and consulting with stakeholders in September 2013, Mr. Cunningham delivered an interim report to the Minister of Finance on October 31, 2013, which outlined preliminary recommendations as well as a framework for possible legislation towards a new auto insurance dispute resolution system.
Written submissions regarding the (NEW) interim report can be sent on or before December 2, 2013, either by e-mail to autoinsurance@ontario.ca or by Canada Post. Stakeholder consultations on the interim report will be held in December 2013 in preparation for the final report, expected to be delivered by February 2014.
While the new expert report rules were intended to reduce reliance on hired guns, the Westerhof decision will have the unfortunate effect of forcing plaintiff’s counsel to become even more reliant on medical-legal experts out of fear that they will not be able to later secure compliant reports from the key treatment providers.
http://www.mondaq.com/canada/x/273708/Civil+Law/Challenges+With+Opinions+From+Treatment+Providers
Insurance board begins hearings on whether premiums for automobile coverage should increase http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/n-b-drivers-overpaid-millions-for-insurance-say-analysts-1.1927954
I think as a society we have lost faith in insurers. I don’t know many people who still believe that an insurer, any insurer, will be forthcoming with benefits or reimbursement at the time of claim.
http://entwistlehealth.blogspot.ca/2013/11/keep-faithin-insurance-i-think-not.html
NEW November 6, 2013 Stakeholder Roundtable on Catastrophic Impairment Roundtable Proceedings – Final – Nov6
Read the report from the Minister of Finance regarding the CAT round table in March 2013. Stakeholder Roundtable on Catastrophic Impairment Summary of Proceedings July 2013
Reaction to the July 2013 report:
FAIR response to Stakeholder Roundtable on Catastrophic Impairment September 5 2013 http://www.omegamedical.ca/thoughts-on-the-recent-fsco-roundtable/ Ontario Rehab Alliance Response to Round Table Summary September 2013
In an effort to improve the efficiency of the civil justice system, the Code starts with the notion of voluntary dispute prevention and resolution methods.
http://www.claimscanada.ca/issues/article.aspx?aid=1002705101
In addition to wondering whether your premium may increase, should the accident be reported to your insurance company, and what are the possible consequences of not doing so? http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-tips/i-didnt-file-a-claim-will-my-insurance-go-up-anyway/article15271746/
Our justice system is in crisis. As many as 65 per cent of individuals involved in family court proceedings in Ontario do not have a lawyer. In the province’s civil courts, there are, by some estimates, more people representing themselves than parties with counsel. Increasingly, Ontarians are unable to afford lawyers’ services. This impairs meaningful access to the justice system. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/lawyers-are-too-expensive-for-most-canadians-give-more-work-to-paralegals/article15262477/#