William Renahan

The arbitrator inadvertently read a settlement offer submitted by the insurer prior to the hearing, after he had finished writing his decision but before it was formatted and released.

The applicant requested that the arbitrator recuse himself on the grounds of a reasonable apprehension of bias.

The arbitrator dismissed the motion, finding that an informed person, viewing the matter realistically and practically, would not conclude that his impartiality was compromised, as the decision had already been written and was not changed.

The applicant was injured in a motor vehicle accident and sought statutory accident benefits for caregiver, attendant care, and housekeeping expenses, as well as the cost of a psychological assessment.

The arbitrator dismissed all claims, finding that the applicant was not the primary caregiver for his children prior to the accident, did not require attendant care, and provided inconsistent evidence regarding housekeeping expenses.

The claim for the psychological assessment was dismissed due to a lack of evidence.

The applicant sought non-earner benefits following two motor vehicle accidents.

The insurer denied the claims and the applicant applied for arbitration.

The arbitrator dismissed the applications, finding they were commenced beyond the two-year limitation period under section 281.1 of the Insurance Act.

In the alternative, the arbitrator found the applicant did not suffer a complete inability to carry on a normal life.

The applicant was ordered to pay $2,000 in expenses to the insurer.

The applicant sought statutory accident benefits following a series of altercations and collisions with another driver that began in a car wash.

The arbitrator found that while the initial collisions were 'accidents' under the Schedule, the subsequent physical assault and the applicant's intentional ramming of the other vehicle were not.

The application was dismissed because the applicant, who was repeatedly disruptive and abusive during the hearing, failed to provide credible evidence of disability, causation, or income loss.

The arbitrator concluded the hearing early due to the applicant's contemptuous and abusive behaviour, which constituted an abuse of process.

The applicant sought statutory accident benefits following a series of incidents that began with a minor collision in a car wash, escalated to a physical assault by the other driver, and culminated in the applicant intentionally ramming the other driver's vehicle under a tractor-trailer.

The arbitrator found that while the initial collisions were 'accidents' under the Schedule, the assault and the intentional ramming were not.

The application for weekly income benefits was dismissed because the applicant, who repeatedly disrupted the hearing and abused the process, failed to provide credible evidence of disability, causation, or income.

The hearing was ultimately concluded early due to the applicant's abusive and contemptuous behaviour.

The applicant was injured in a motor vehicle accident and received income replacement benefits based on his employment as a firefighter.

A dispute arose over whether his pre-accident earning capacity should also include income from his incorporated boat performance business, which had historically operated at a loss.

The arbitrator found that despite the corporate structure, the applicant was self-employed in substance.

The arbitrator assessed the applicant's gross annual income from self-employment at $22,000, based on what he could reasonably have earned as a part-time outboard motor mechanic.

The claim for a special award was dismissed as the insurer's position was not unreasonable.