M. Steven Rastin

(705) 722-6393 rastin@gluckstein.com

Appeal court ruling raises questions, concerns about ATE insurance

/ Personal Injury /

By LegalMatters Staff • A recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision “raises more questions than answers and highlights the landmines” associated with after-the-event (ATE) legal protection insurance, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin. In the case, the plaintiff lost at trial and a dispute afterward as to who was entitled to a $100,000 ATE policy. “After-the-event […]

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Business interruption insurance fallout could be far-reaching

/ COVID-19 /

By LegalMatters Staff • The ensuing legal battle over business interruption insurance could end in financial ruin for thousands of small and medium businesses, and is also a serious threat to their insurers, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin. Rastin, who was recently named Canadian co-chair of the American Association of Justice’s Business Interruption Litigation Task

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Insurance claimants have become ‘the silent victims’ in the pandemic

/ COVID-19 /

By LegalMatters Staff • Auto accident benefits claimants have become forgotten victims in the aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdown and more needs to be done to ensure they receive the help they deserve, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin Social distancing necessary to combat the coronavirus has left many people unable to get the treatment they

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Ontario needs to mandate auto insurance premium reductions

/ COVID-19 /

We are living in a difficult time; people are getting sick and dying and the economy is in chaos. Recent Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) projections show a forecast of a federal deficit of nearly $250 billion. Millions of Canadians are out of work and many small and medium-sized businesses will not survive the current crisis.

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Court rebukes defence practice of contacting doctors for records

/ Personal Injury /

By LegalMatters Staff • A recent court decision should serve as a warning to insurance company counsel who bypass plaintiff’s lawyers to obtain medical records, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin. “This practice violates patient-doctor confidentiality, violates the Rules of Practice and Procedure, violates the Rules of Civil Procedure, however, in some cases it appears to be a longstanding

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Pandemic presents new challenges when it comes to estate planning

/ COVID-19 /

The spread of COVID-19 has been an unprecedented challenge for all Canadians and has significantly impacted most aspects of everyday life. The pandemic has also sparked an interest in creating and amending one’s will. However, the social distancing requirements designed to protect Canadians have created a new challenge in creating and amending wills, which the

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Find out how COVID-19 affects trip insurance and cancellation refunds

/ COVID-19 /

As the situation regarding COVID-19 continues to develop, international business and leisure travel has become an anomaly and many Canadians will be staying home for the foreseeable future. Those who booked a trip in advance that has now been cancelled and paid for travel insurance may have questions about their policy. The key is to

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Nuanced rules around appealing an LTD claim allow for some flexibility

/ Personal Injury /

By Paul Russell, LegalMatters Staff • Three Ontario Court of Appeal decisions show that the limitation period to appeal a denial for long-term disability (LTD) benefits does not necessarily begin as soon as the original claim is rejected says Barrie-area personal injury lawyer Steve Rastin. “Recent case law supports the idea that these periods are

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