Sitting on the train or bus, watching TV or streaming music online, we’ve all seen the ads for personal injury lawyers or class-action lawsuits. Coupled with higher expectations for corporate accountability, Canadians are becoming more aware of and interested in pursuing legal action.
Consider: 82% of companies were involved in at least one lawsuit in 2024. More than half of respondents say reaching a pre-trial settlement has become more difficult, meaning more cases are going to trial. [1]
For your customers, a lawsuit can cause costs to rise, stress to increase and trust to decline. That’s where Intact’s in-house litigation team stands apart. With 600+ legal professionals, we help customers achieve timely, practical outcomes. Because legal services are included in our standard commercial insurance contract, customers benefit from a seamless defence model focused on protecting the insured’s position, not billable hours.
With Intact’s legal team, your customers benefit from a clear legal strategy, close management of the file and the ability to act at the right time. The result? Your customers can get back to business faster, reducing disruptions, protecting reputation and managing costs.
We get involved early, simplify what’s complex, and apply the right strategy to the right file, resolving matters efficiently and defending decisively when the facts show customers aren’t responsible. We keep steps proportionate and are driven by protecting the customer’s position, including going to trial when that’s the best path.
The results below offer a snapshot of what our in-house litigation lawyers do every day: protect businesses, reputations, and bottom lines.
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SLIP AND FALL ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTY (ATLANTIC) |
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Overview An individual fell in a commercial parking lot, next to an accessible parking space and filed a lawsuit for negligence against both the tenant/operator and the landlord, our insured. |
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How our legal team made the difference We narrowed the case early to the “reasonable care” standard under the Occupiers’ Liability Act and showed the insured had a consistent inspection/maintenance program managed by an independent contractor. The claim was dismissed with costs, protecting the insured’s reputation and minimizing disruption. |
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SUMMARY JUDGEMENT (ONTARIO) |
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Overview Our insured’s subcontractor caused property damage to the plaintiff’s property. The building’s concierge notified the property manager of the damage on the day it occurred. |
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How our legal team made the difference We obtained an early dismissal by establishing a clear limitation-period defence based on the plaintiff having notice of the damage through their property manager the day it occurred. The matter was resolved by summary judgment (no trial), with costs awarded in our insured’s favour. |
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CLASS ACTION (QUEBEC) |
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Overview A concerned group of residents applied to institute a class action suit against homeless shelters due to increased issues of incivility in the neighbourhoods. Our insured, a non-profit organization, was named in the suit. |
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How our legal team made the difference We intervened early with an evidence-based defence showing the non-profit insured was acting responsibly in a complex, resource-constrained environment. The court refused to authorize the class action (treating it as a broader social issue not caused by defendants), thereby avoiding a costly proceeding. The decision is currently under appeal. |
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CONSTRUCTION DISPUTE (WEST) |
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Overview A residential construction project initiated by our insured caused damage to a neighbouring property, resulting in a lawsuit with multiple causes of action, including negligence, trespass and nuisance. Our insured reported the claim two months before the original trial date. |
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How our legal team made the difference After the claim was reported close to trial, we quickly secured an adjournment to gather facts and build a focused defence on legal responsibility and the insured’s reasonable conduct. All claims against our insured were dismissed, avoiding trial stress and expense. |
For your customers, that depth of experience and expertise translates into something simple: confidence that your customers are in good hands, no matter what comes their way. Together, our experts deliver results, helping customers get back on track faster.
This article was created in partnership with Intact
[1] 2025 Annual Litigation Trends Survey: PERSPECTIVES FROM CORPORATE COUNSEL
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Stéphanie Lalonde is a lawyer and claims leader with nearly 20 years of experience in the insurance industry. She currently serves as Deputy Senior Vice President, Claims, Casualty and Claims Legal Services at Intact, leading a national team of 350+ casualty adjusters and 600+ lawyers and support professionals
