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Six auto insurance giants have withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in HST payments from Ontario car accident victims in defiance of repeated demands from the provincial regulator, according to a series of class-action lawsuits — obtained exclusively by the Toronto Star — claiming $600 million in damages.
Proposed changes to the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (Ontario Regulation 34/10) under the Insurance Act
Proposal Number: 19-MOF002
Comments Due Date: April 26, 2019
Here’s what we sent in to https://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/mail.do?action=displayComment:
As a Not-for-Profit representing Ontario’s car accident victims, many of whom have been forced to unfairly pay HST on goods and services, we fully support clarification of the legislation that requires HST to be paid by insurers in addition to the maximum accident benefit amount limits specified in the SABS. We support clarification that HST for assessments or examinations, and for preparing reports in connection with these, should be paid by insurers in addition to the maximum limits provided in the SABS.
We also support more vigorous sanctions be used to enforce these regulations after this latest ‘clarification’ of existing legislation. Insurers must be held to account when they ignore the rules in order to enhance their profits. The failure to regulate has only encouraged the spread of such rule-breaking behavior.
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SCC granted leave in Maia Bent, et al. v. Howard Platnick, et al. re Ontario’s anti-SLAPP legislation in a case about an Ontario insurer medical opinion (IME) provider and medical file manipulations
Maia Bent, et al. v. Howard Platnick, et al.
From 2014 – In a scathing letter sent to Ontario MPPs, Rhona DesRoches – the chair of the fair association of victims for accident insurance reform (FAIR) – cites leaked documents from a discussion forum as evidence that “portions of medical reports have been removed, manipulated or even changed entirely without the author’s knowledge or consent in order to minimize victim injuries.” https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/auto/medical-files-routinely-altered-to-suit-insurers-claims-fair-46745.aspx
Background: http://www.fairassociation.ca/2017/12/assessors-medical-opinion-evidence-libel-and-public-interest-case/
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Ontario’s auto insurance reform needs more details: Herscu
News that the province plans to restore the default benefit limit for catastrophic injuries to $2 million is a “major change for the positive,” says Easy Legal Finance Inc. president and CEO Larry Herscu.
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Court clarifies motor vehicle accident mediation rules
A court ruling which clarifies who pays for mediation in motor vehicle accident claims is a “small victory” for plaintiffs, Ottawa personal injury lawyer Joseph Doris tells AdvocateDaily.com.
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Ian Mulgrew: Tribunal handling ICBC claims biased, say trial lawyers
The Civil Resolution Tribunal, which now handles minor ICBC claims, is misleading people on its website and not providing “independent” adjudication, the Trial Lawyers Association of B.C. charges in a letter to Attorney-General David Eby.
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Disability tax credit
The disability tax credit (DTC) is a non-refundable tax credit that helps persons with disabilities or their supporting persons reduce the amount of income tax they may have to pay. An individual may claim the disability amount once they are eligible for the DTC. This amount includes a supplement for persons under 18 years of age at the end of the year.