Meet the pack.

(Scroll down. We’re not actually beagles.)

 

A cute beagle puppy biting on a bone
Daniel Strigberger | Insurance coverage and private arbitration lawyer

daniel@strigberger.com
226.210.2265

 

Publications

Education

  • LL.B., University of Ottawa, 2001
  • Ontario Bar, 2002
  • Canadian Risk Management (CRM), 2012

Daniel Strigberger

I love coverage. Want to know if the “your work” exclusion applies? Ask me. Want to know if a “house” is a “home”? Ask me. Want to know the best toppings to cover a pizza? Don’t ask me: I can’t eat gluten. But I do digest various insurance policy definitions, wordings, and exclusions without any heartburn.

When the pandemic began, I started road cycling around my neighbourhood, and then around Waterloo Region, and then around Watopia. When I’m not on the road bike saddle, I’m in the road coverage saddle, as I cycle through complex coverage files involving motor vehicles, including priority and loss transfer disputes, off-road vehicles, out-of-province accidents, auto policy coverage, and family protection coverage.

I also seem to have the art of persuasion covered. While in law school, I convinced a local pub to name a burger after me. For only $3.99 (plus GST), patrons could order a fountain drink, side of fries, and a “Strigberger” (it cost an extra 50 cents for a “Strig with Cheese”). I then persuaded an insurance law firm to hire me, and the rest is Strigberger history (plus 50 cents for cheese).

Reported Decisions

  • Naim v Co-operators General Insurance Company (2024), Licence Appeal Tribunal (Coverage – Whether the claimant was an insured person under a policy as a ‘dependant’)
  • Clarke v Coseco Insurance (2024), Licence Appeal Tribunal (Coverage – Whether the claimant was an insured person under a policy as a ‘dependant’)
  • Aviva  v Echelon (2024), Superior Court (Loss Transfer Appeal – Does loss transfer apply against a licensed Ontario insurance company when the accident happens outside Ontario and the loss transfer claim is against a policy issued outside Ontario?)
  • Dufferin Mutual v Edge Mutual (2024), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Financial dependency)
  • Echelon v Aviva (2014), Private Arbitration (Loss Transfer – Does loss transfer apply against a licensed Ontario insurance company when the accident happens outside Ontario and the loss transfer claim is against a policy issued outside Ontario?)
  • Co-operators v Chubb (2024), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Financial and care dependency)
  • Optimum v Economical et al (2024), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Policy termination).
  • Pridmore v Drenth (2023), Superior Court (Coverage – Meaning of “authorized by law to drive” in Statutory Condition 4 in automobile policy, where insured was driving an ATV; Relief from Forfeiture)
  • Echelon v Gore (2023), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Optional benefits)
  • Beaudin v Travelers Insurance Company of Canada (2022), Court of Appeal (Coverage – Whether a dirt bike being driven in a race was an “automobile”)
  • Chubb v Coseco (2022), Private Arbitration (Loss Transfer – Does loss transfer apply in a claim involving the “other automobile” provisions of the OAP 1 and optional benefits?)
  • Rios v Chieftain Insurance (2024), Licence Appeal Tribunal (Coverage – Late application for benefits, contrary to section 32 of the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule)
  • Beaudin v Travelers Insurance Company of Canada (2021), Divisional Court (Coverage – Whether a dirt bike being driven in a race was an “automobile”)
  • Lindo v Echelon Insurance (2021), Licence Appeal Tribunal (Coverage – Whether claimant who was victim of a drive-by shooting was involved in an “accident”)
  • Dufferin Mutual v Aviva (2021), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Are adjusting fees recoverable in a priority dispute?)
  • Co-operators v Intact (2020), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – What happens when an insured asks the insurer to remove road coverage from the policy before an accident)?
  • Travelers v CAA (2020), Court of Appeal (Priority Dispute Appeal – Does Ontario’s priority dispute scheme apply against a licensed Ontario insurer under an auto policy written and sold in another province, when the accident happens in the other province?)
  • Pembridge v Sovereign (2019), Superior Court (Priority Dispute Appeal – Once an insurer ‘accepts priority, can they subsequently retract their acceptance?)
  • Perneroski v Echelon (2019), Court of Appeal (Coverage – Was the claimant’s uninsured dirt bike an “automobile” under the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule while he was driving it in Georgia, USA?)
  • Coseco v Liberty Mutual and GMAC (2019), Superior Court (Priority Dispute Appeal – Does Ontario’s priority dispute scheme apply to an out of province insurer (Canadian or American) if their insured is involved in an accident in Ontario?)
  • Co-operators v ICBC (2019), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Financial dependency)
  • Co-operators v Ace INA (2019), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Financial dependency)
  • Co-operators v Intact (2019), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Financial dependency)
  • Coseco v Liberty Mutual and GMAC (2019), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Does Ontario’s priority dispute scheme apply to an out of province insurer (Canadian or American) if their insured is involved in an accident in Ontario?)
  • Northbridge v Intact and Co-operators (2018), Superior Court (Priority Dispute Appeal – What is an “occupant”?; Can Insurer A pursue Insurer C for priority by relying on Insurer B’s priority dispute notice to Insurer C?)
  • Pembridge v Sovereign (2018), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute Appeal – Once an insurer ‘accepts priority, can they subsequently retract their acceptance?)
  • Travelers v CAA (2018), Superior Court (Priority Dispute Appeal – Does Ontario’s priority dispute scheme apply against a licensed Ontario insurer under an auto policy written and sold in another province, when the accident happens in the other province?)
  • Wawanesa v Northbridge and Allstate (2018), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – When a claimant has sole discretion to choose their insurer, when does their election happen?)
  • Unica v Wawanesa (2018), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Financial dependency)
  • TD Insurance v Dominion (2018), Superior Court (Priority Dispute Appeal – Regular use) 
  • Dominion v State Farm (2018), Court of Appeal (Priority Dispute Appeal – Is an ‘excluded driver’ the same as a ‘listed driver’ under the definition of “insured person”?)
  • Co-operators v Intact and Northbridge (2018), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – “Occupant”, regular use, stacked priority dispute notices)
  • Echelon v Allstate (2018), Private Arbitration (Loss Transfer – Interplay between loss transfer rights and “other automobile” provisions in the automobile policy)
  • Economical v Echelon (2017), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Reimbursement issues)
  • Travelers v CAA (2017), Superior Court (Priority Dispute Appeal – Preliminary issue dealing with arbitration agreement and leave to appeal issues)
  • TD Insurance v Travelers (2017), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Regular use)
  • State Farm v Belair (2017), Superior Court (Loss Transfer Appeal – Fault – When does Rule 13 apply at an intersection?)
  • State Farm v Economical (2017), Private Arbitration (Loss Transfer – Fault – Rules 12 and 14 of fault determination rules)
  • Allstate v Gore and MVACF (2017), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Meaning of “involved in the incident”)
  • Dominion v State Farm (2016), Superior Court (Priority Dispute Appeal – Is an ‘excluded driver’ the same as a ‘listed driver’ under the definition of “insured person”?)
  • Ayr Farmers Mutual v Wright (2016), Court of Appeal (Coverage – Can threshold issues of accident benefits coverage be decided at first instance in court?)
  • Economical v Caughy (2016), Court of Appeal (Coverage – Whether tripping over a parked motorcycle was an “accident” under the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule)
  • State Farm v Aviva (2015), Court of Appeal (Loss Transfer Appeal – Fault – What does “ordinary use of law” mean under section 5 of the fault determination rules?)
  • State Farm v Old Republic (2015), Court of Appeal (Loss Transfer Appeal – Fault – Does Rule 9 apply to allocate fault between automobile A and automobile C?)
  • Economical v State Farm (2015), Court of Appeal (Priority Dispute Appeal – Whether the insured’s vehicle had “road coverage” on it at the time of the accident)
  • Co-operators v Allstate (2015), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute)
  • State Farm v Allstate (2015), Private Arbitration (Loss Transfer – Fault – Meaning of “adjacent lanes”)
  • Economical v Caughy (2014), Coverage (Whether tripping over a parked motorcycle was an “accident” under the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule)
  • Intact v Co-operators (2014), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Financial dependency)
  • Intact v Co-operators (2014), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Regular Use)
  • State Farm v Royal&Sunalliance (2014), Private Arbitration (Loss Transfer – Meaning of “backing up” under Rule 19 of the fault determination rules)
  • Economical v State Farm (2014), Court of Appeal (Priority Dispute Appeal – Whether the insured’s vehicle had “road coverage” on it at the time of the accident)
  • State Farm v Old Republic (2014), Superior Court (Loss Transfer Appeal – Fault – Does Rule 9 apply to allocate fault between automobile A and automobile C?)
  • Co-operators v Ontario (2014), Superior Court (Priority Dispute Appeal – When must the insurer paying benefits give another insurer, instead of the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund, a priority dispute notice?)
  • Waterloo Insurance v The Personal (2014), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Financial dependency)
  • Dominion v Her Majesty (MVACF) (2013), Superior Court (Priority Dispute Appeal – Financial dependency)
  • Farmers Mutual v State Farm (2013), Superior Court (Loss Transfer Appeal – Fault – Application of Rule 7)
  • State Farm v Economical (2013), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Deflection and fraudulent policy)
  • State Farm v Co-operators (2013), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Whether there are any saving provisions available for missing 1-year limitation period under s7 of OReg 283/95)
  • Economical v Royal&Sunalliance (2013), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Policy termination)
  • Economical v York Fire (2013), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Care dependency)
  • State Farm v Axa (2013), Private Arbitration (Loss Transfer – Whether the second party insurer’s decision to treat its Quebec policy as void ab initio relieved it of its loss transfer obligations in Ontario)
  • Economical v Royal&Sunalliance (2013), Private Arbitration (Loss Transfer – Fault in pedestrian accident)
  • Economical v Her Majesty (2013), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – When must the insurer paying benefits give another insurer, instead of the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund, a priority dispute notice?)
  • Federation v Kingsway (2012), Court of Appeal (Loss Transfer Appeal – When does the loss transfer limitation period to initiate arbitration start?)
  • Economical v Lombard (2012), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Late notice under section 3 of OReg 283/95)
  • Economical v Nordic (2012), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – When does the 1-year limitation period to initiate arbitration start?)
  • Dominion v Federated (2012), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Regular use)
  • Federation v Kingsway (2011), Superior Court (Loss Transfer Appeal – When does the loss transfer limitation period to initiate arbitration start?)
  • Primmum v Allstate (2010), Superior Court (Loss Transfer Appeal – Does loss transfer apply against a licensed Ontario insurance company when the accident happens outside Ontario and the loss transfer claim is against a policy issued outside Ontario?)
  • K. (C.S.) v Economical (2010), FSCO Arbitration
  • Poutney v Economical (2010), FSCO Arbitration (Coverage – Death benefits and financial dependency).\
  • ING v Economical (2010), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Financial dependency and child support)
  • Valauskas v Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund (2009), FSCO Appeal (Nexus)
  • Unifund v Danilov (2009), FSCO Arbitration (Nexus)
  • Ace INA v Co-operators (2009), Superior Court (Priority Dispute Appeal – Regular use)
  • MedCentra v Economical (2009), Superior Court (Coverage – Can a treatment provider/assessment centre pursue an accident benefits insurer directly for payments)
  • Jevco v Economical (2009), Private Arbitration (Loss Transfer – loss transfer priority as between the insurer of the driver and the insurer of the rental vehicle)
  • Dominion v Pafco (2008), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute – Spouse)
  • CAA v American Home (2007), Private Arbitration (Loss Transfer – Does loss transfer apply against a licensed Ontario insurance company when the accident happens outside Ontario and the loss transfer claim is against a policy issued outside Ontario?)

Melissa Hoving

I graduated with my Paralegal Degree with Honours from Guelph Humber College in 2009. Fresh out of school, I joined a reputable personal injury firm, tackling plaintiff work with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for Netflix binges. In 2022, I leveled up and joined Daniel Strigberger’s practice as a law clerk, where I dove headfirst into the thrilling world of priority disputes—yes, it’s niche, but someone’s gotta do it!

Before my legal escapades, I worked with adults and children with physical and mental disabilities, teaching me patience, compassion, and the life-changing power of slowing down to savor the little things—like coffee that hasn’t gone cold.

Off the clock, I am the proud mom of three girls who keep me busy with their endless extracurricular activities (I’m considering adding “professional chauffeur” to my resume). A fair-weather runner, my cardio schedule has strict meteorological criteria: no rain, snow, heatwaves, or polar vortexes. When the weather doesn’t cooperate, I can be found at the gym perfecting my deadlift while pretending the barbell is a loss transfer dispute.

My idea of a good time includes traveling, biking, swimming, camping, and just about anything outdoors with my family and friends—except, of course, running in bad weather.

Jane Nisimov

With over 15 years of experience in the legal field, I’m your go-to legal assistant who thrives on organization, efficiency, and a healthy dose of caffeine. A proud graduate of York University’s Law and Society program (Class of 2010), I’ve been working in the legal industry since 2008, enhancing my skills in everything from drafting documents to managing complex case files.

Legal work isn’t just a job for me—it’s a passion. I genuinely love what I do, and I’m driven by the challenge of helping clients navigate the often-complex world of law. Whether it’s working behind the scenes or in the thick of it, I’m always ready to provide top-notch support.

When I’m not in the office, you’ll find me juggling life as a proud mom of two and a wife. Keeping the legal world in check by day and my family in check by night—I’m basically a superhero in disguise (minus the cape, because that would get caught in our virtual office printer).

I’m dedicated, reliable, and always up for a challenge—just don’t ask me to explain legal jargon at a family BBQ.