Knowledge Centre

Life Insurance – Death of the Insured While Committing a Hybrid Offence – Validity of a General Exclusion in the Policy

May 2017 Donati Maisonneuve, Quebec

Desjardins Sécurité Financière, compagnie d’assurance-vie v. Émond, 2017 SCC 19

The Supreme Court examined the scope of a general exclusion clause stating that no life insurance benefits shall be paid if the insured dies while committing a “criminal act.” The decision by the Court of Appeal had been summarized in our April 2016 Newsletter.