Tanya Beatty

The applicant, who sustained a catastrophic brain injury in a 1997 motor vehicle accident, applied for retroactive attendant care benefits (ACBs) in 2021.

The respondent insurer denied the retroactive claim.

The Tribunal found that the applicant was entitled to retroactive ACBs for the period after his discharge from the hospital, as well as for two weekends spent at home during his hospital stay, because the services were reasonably necessary and quantifiable.

The Tribunal also held that interest on the overdue benefits began to accrue 10 business days after the 2021 application was submitted.

Finally, the Tribunal granted a special award of $42,000 under s. 10 of Regulation 664, finding that the respondent unreasonably withheld benefits by failing to adequately inform the applicant of his potential entitlement to ACBs shortly after the accident.

The applicant insurer sought leave to appeal an order dismissing its motion to compel the plaintiff to attend three defence medical examinations and a future care assessment.

The motion judge had denied the examinations due to the insurer's failure to comply with the rules regarding the delivery of expert reports prior to pre-trial conferences.

The Divisional Court dismissed the motion for leave to appeal, finding no conflicting decisions and no good reason to doubt the correctness of the motion judge's exercise of discretion under section 105 of the Courts of Justice Act.