Groundbreaking Decisions

Oldfield vs. Transamerica Insurance Company - When Mrs. Oldfield's husband died suddenly after a criminal act, the insurance company refused to pay her the proceeds of his policy. They claimed that the policy was in default because it did not cover death by a criminal act. Alf Kwinter took the case to the Supreme Court of Canada, which ruled that public policy should not bar the rights of an innocent beneficiary to obtain proceeds of a life insurance policy, regardless of the activities associated with the insured's death. This was a groundbreaking decision and made front page news across the country.