Renn A. Holness is a gifted lawyer and author to over 1000 legal blog articles. Married father of two daughters, son of a neurosurgeon and founder of Holness and Small Law Group
This vehicle injury case arises from a motor vehicle accident on September 14, 2018, in which the plaintiff was struck from behind while traveling on Highway 1( Gill v. Gregory,2025 BCSC 352). Liability for the accident has been admitted. The plaintiff, a heavy-duty mechanic employed by Coast Mountain Bus Lines and Vancouver Port Authority, returned…
In today’s case, Thiessen v. Kepfer, 2025 BCSC 127 the Supreme Court ruled on cost awards following an ICBC personal injury trial. The plaintiff was awarded $1,224,699.74 in damages for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident which occurred in April, 2017. The key issue in this cost ruling was whether the plaintiff was entitled…
In MacFarlane v. Gustafson, 2024 BCCA 400, the injury claimant sought personal injury damages arising from a serious car accident injury. The claimant made a reasonable offer before trial which was rejected. One key matter concerned the trial judge’s decision to award double costs to the claimant under Rule 9-1(1)(c) of the Supreme Court Civil…
The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) plays a pivotal role in the province’s motor vehicle insurance landscape. Established in 1973, ICBC is not only the sole provider of basic auto insurance but also competes in the optional insurance market. While its mandate includes providing affordable insurance and promoting road safety, concerns have arisen over…
In the personal injury case of Sharma v. Sagoo (2024 BCCA 319), the claimant appealed the trial judge’s award for various heads of damages, including the cost of future care. The trial judge had awarded $6,600 for future care, a figure that included reduced amounts for treatments such as physiotherapy, massage therapy, custom orthotics, and…
In the personal injury case of Reaume v. Rossetto, 2024 BCSC 1430, the Supreme Court of British Columbia awarded double costs the a successful claimant. The claimant was awarded $1,021,953 in damages for personal injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Subsequently, she sought double costs from the defendants under Rule 9‑1(4) of the Supreme…
In the personal injury case Kherani v. Da Silva, 2024 BCSC 1349 the claimant sought damages for personal injuries arising from a 2017 motor vehicle accident. The collision affected her ability to work as an ophthalmic surgeon, leading to a significant loss of income-earning capacity. This case summary focuses on the plaintiff’s loss of earnings…
In the personal injury appeal of Takhar v. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, 2024 BCCA 275, the appellant sought an award for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. The appellant was sideswiped by an unidentified vehicle while driving. Since the other driver could not be identified, he named the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia…
ICBC claimed bias of the trial judge in the following ICBC injury case. The Court of Appeal disagreed with ICBC, BC’s auto insurance monopoly. In particular ICBC claimed, without success that it was unfair that the judge: Expressed cynicism about the legislature’s motives in limiting the number of expert reports that can be commissioned; Commented…
In the personal injury case of Forstved v. Kokabi, 2018 BCSC 111, the Supreme Court addressed three late applications seeking additional document production . The plaintiff, suffered a traumatic brain injury from a 2012 car accident which impaired his business competency and ability to earn income. The defendants requested numerous documents related to his past…