Ontario's Civil Litigation Shake-Up: Three Proposed Rule Changes Insurance Claims Professionals Should Know

Significant changes may soon be coming to Ontario's Rules of Civil Procedure. The Civil Rules Review Working Group's Phase Two Consultation Paper proposes a major overhaul aimed at speeding up civil cases, reducing procedural disputes, and making the court process more efficient and affordable. While much of the buzz around the changes has centered on the impact to litigators, these reforms will also have meaningful implications for insurance professionals managing claims. If you or your team handle insurance claims, three proposed rule changes to watch are:

1. The "up-front" exchange of evidence including delivery of documents at the outset of a claim and sworn witness statements;