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. INT RODUCTION

InOctober the SupremeCourt released two decisionst hat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i njury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refere ncetothelanguageoftheapplicable

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

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

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

 SeniorPartnerMcLeishO rlandoLLPMrMcLeishhasdedicatedalmosthisent ire

legalcareertorepr esentingind ividualswhohavesueredtrau maticbraininju ries

spinalcordinju riesandseriousor thopedicinju riesaswellasfam ilieswherea

familymemberhasb eenkilledt hroughnegligenceJoh nisapastpresidentofthe

OntarioTrialLawyersA ssociationapastgover noroftheAssociat ionofTrialLaw-

yersofAmericaandapastd irectoroftheOnt arioBrainInju ryAssociatio nHeis

afellowoftheAmerica nCollegeofTrialLawyersandot herlegalorganizat ions

relatedtotrialadvocac yandpersonali njurypractic e

 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