Claims Examples

Toxic mould formed after water damage cleanup

A restoration contractor was hired to clean up and remediate a condominium complex after a water pipe had ruptured causing water damage to many suites. After the job was completed, the contractor was sued when it was discovered that areas of drywall and insulation were wet, and toxic mould had formed, resulting in bodily injury.

Failure to disclose severe groundwater contamination

An environmental engineer, retained by a prospective land purchaser, was sued for failure to disclose severe groundwater contamination in her environmental site assessment, resulting in financial loss and defence costs.

Fractured Fuel Supply Line

A general contractor was hired to build a new highway in Northern Canada. A temporary residential camp was set up for the workers and powered by a diesel generator. Snow and hay bales were placed around the generator to act as a sound barrier; however, the extra weight resulted in a fractured fuel supply line, which allowed 8,000 litres of diesel fuel to escape into the environment.

Environmental Fine for Pollution of River

During construction of a new aquatic centre a piling subcontractor struck and ruptured an existing water main, which led to the discharge of approximately 12 million litres of chlorinated water into a nearby river. In addition to cleanup and monitoring costs, the general contractor was fined under the Fisheries Act.

Gasoline Contamination

Gasoline from a leaking underground storage tank contaminated a service station’s site and also migrated onto neighbouring property and drinking water wells via the storm sewer.

Oil release

A trailer storing barrels of oil at a manufacturing facility flipped over when a support leg failed, resulting in a release of oil from the damaged barrels.

Fuel supply line broken by fallen ice

A release from an exterior above ground fuel tank occurred as a result of ice falling from an adjacent roof onto it and breaking the fuel supply line between the storage tank and boilers.

Equipment Leak

A piece of machinery was moved from the shop floor at a manufacturing plant as part of a process line re-organization, at which point a leak was discovered emanating from the equipment into an unsealed trench pit.

Accidental Discharge of diluted residual material

A manufacturer of industrial cleaning compounds experienced an accidental discharge of approximately 16,000 litres of diluted residual material from an on-site blending tank into a storm sewer and neighbouring river.

Property oil leak

Learn what happened to one business owner when the theft of a popular item led to $310,000 in environmental damages. Watch video.