Use or Operation' of an Automobile: A Case-by-Case Approach

• Author: John A. McLeish and Meighan Ferris-Miles
• Pages: 191-200



UseorOperation

ofanAutomobile

ACasebyCaseApproach

John A. McLeish* and Meighan Ferris-Miles

A. INTRODUCTION

InOctobertheSupremeCourtreleasedtwodecisionsthatseem-

ingly narrowed the interpretation of the ter m use or operation as

containedinthestandardautoinsurancepolicyWhiletheinsurance

industry may be celebrating the seemi ngly narrowed interpretation

ofthetermuseoroperationthereisnoneedforthoserepresenting

plaintisinpersonalinjurycasesinvolvingvehiclestogetdiscouraged

TheCourtmadeitclearthatthefactsofeachclaimmustbecarefullyex-

aminedandconsideredwithreferencetothelanguageoftheapplicable

standardautoinsurancepolicyThepurposeofthispaperistoprovide

guidanceintohowthiscasebycaseanalysiscanbedoneinthefuture

Itishopedthattheanalysisthatfollowswillassistlawyersrepresenting

 SeniorPartnerMcLeishOrlandoLLPMrMcLeishhasdedicatedalmosthisentire

legalcareertorepresentingindividualswhohavesueredtraumaticbraininjuries

spinalcordinjuriesandseriousorthopedicinjuriesaswellasfamilieswherea

familymemberhasbeenkilledthroughnegligenceJohnisapastpresidentofthe

OntarioTrialLawyersAssociationapastgovernoroftheAssociationofTrialLaw-

yersofAmericaandapastdirectoroftheOntarioBrainInjuryAssociationHeis

afellowoftheAmericanCollegeofTrialLawyersandotherlegalorganizations

relatedtotrialadvocacyandpersonalinjurypractice

Citadel General Assurance Co. v. VytlingamDLRthSCC

VytlingamandLumberm ens Mutual Casualty Co. v. HerbisonDLRth

SCCHerbison