A clause obliging the insurer to defend an insured, or pay for the insured’s defence, is a well know feature of liability insurance policies. Recently, some Canadian courts have held that the duty of one party to defend or pay for defence of another party to the contract may arise in contracts outside the field […]

The scope of an insurer’s duty to defend is a crucial issue in relating to any liability insurance policy, particularly those applying to building projects.   One of the questions which may arise is:  what is the nature of a “claim” for the purpose of the duty to defend?  That question will almost always be determined […]

Incorporation by reference in building contracts By Thomas G. Heintzman and Julie Parla1 A common clause in a building contract is one which incorporates the terms of another contract or document into the building contract in issue. The effect of such a clause is referred to as “Incorporation by Reference”. These clauses are common in […]

One of the most difficult issues in the law of alternative dispute resolution is whether a mediation clause creates an enforceable obligation.  That issue has an impact on related issues and rights.  If a party gets the issue wrong, it may miss a limitation period or affect its right to rely upon an arbitration or […]

One of the most difficult issues in Canadian construction law is the impact of insurance on claims between owners, contractors and subcontractors. There are two levels to the issue: What is the impact of a clause in the building contract by which one party agrees to obtain insurance? And what is the impact of the […]

When does an insurance clause in a construction contract bar a claim by the owner against the contractor?  Is it barred if the contract requires that the contractor obtain insurance and that the owner is to be named as an additional insured and that subrogation is waived against the owner?  That was the issue in […]

An insurance clause in a building contract usually provides that one of the parties will obtain insurance for the project, and that some or all of the other parties engaged on the project will be covered under that insurance. The issue raised by such a clause is whether the party that agreed to take out […]

Construction Law –  Insurance – Duty to Defend A recent Ontario decision regarding the duty to defend against claims may have wide reaching implications for construction law even though the action did not involve a building contract.  In Cadillac Fairview v. Jamesway Construction, 2011, the Ontario Superior Court recently held that an indemnity obligation in […]