News Post
4th Annual National Tour – Virtual Edition
October 28, 2020
Origin and Cause’s Annual National Tour is back! This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will be hosting the event virtually.
History has shown that in times of economic hardship and high unemployment, instances of insurance fraud increase dramatically, and the current global recession is no exception. Our own observations in the field and conversations with insurers support this narrative. We have seen an increasing number of suspicious claims in the past several months that represent a growing problem for insurers.
Accordingly, this year’s National Tour will focus on the investigation of suspicious claims involving Break & Enters, Water, Structure Fires, Vehicles and Structural Damage. We’ll be covering critical steps in the investigative process as well as tips to help adjusters, lawyers and risk managers identify and manage insurance fraud.
We have an exciting lineup of presenters and topics. These presentations are FREE for anyone to attend and for each attendee Origin and Cause will donate $25 to their choice of the following charities: Canadian Burn Survivors Community, Disaster Aid Canada or Breakfast Club Canada.
Presentations
Presenters
Mazen Habash, P.Eng., CFEI, CCFI-C
President & Consulting Forensic Engineer
Mazen is the president of Origin and Cause and specializes in fire investigation, electrical and electronic failures, product liability and alarm system analysis. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, he has performed over 3,000 fire, product liability and alarm system investigations. Mazen is a licensed professional engineer and designated consulting engineer, and is qualified as an expert witness in civil and criminal courts in three provinces. He is also certified at two levels by the Canadian Alarm and Security Association as an alarm technician.
Adam Grant
Partner, McCague Borlack LLP
Adam has acted on a range of civil motions, trials, appeals, and mediations for a broad range of clients involving many aspects of business and insurance litigation including construction liens, corporate oppression, and breach of trust. His practice at McCague Borlack is primarily focused on subrogation matters, involving all types of losses including fires, floods, theft, negligent construction, product and equipment defects. He has spent his entire legal career focused on plaintiff-side litigation.
Mario Delorme, CFEI
Fire & Explosion Investigator and Eastern Canada Manager
Mario specializes in fire and explosion investigations and has completed over 1,300 fire and explosion investigations. He has over 20 years of policing experience, including nine years as a criminal investigator and two as a detective sergeant with the Kingston Police, as well as two years as a fire investigator with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office.
Ian R. Daunt, FCII, FCIP, CFEI, CCFI-c
International Executive General Adjuster
Ian began his career with the Guardian Royal Exchange in his native Cork, Ireland in 1977. He became an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute in London, England in 1983 and a Fellow in 1990. He secured his FCIP designation from the Insurance Institute of Canada in February 1999. Ian joined Crawford’s Global Technical Services division in 1992 and was designated as an Executive General Adjuster in 2007 and International Executive General Adjuster in 2017. He is a past president of CAFI, South Central Ontario chapter (2006 to 2009).
Michelle Holden Bradley, P.Eng. CFEI, CVFI
Forensic Engineer
Michelle specializes in vehicle fire investigation, failure analysis, product liability, residential and commercial appliances, equipment malfunctions in sprinkler systems, and heating and refrigeration equipment. She also has experience investigating vehicle fires including transport trucks, forestry and farm equipment. Prior to entering the field of forensic engineering, Michelle performed mechanical engineering tests and evaluations for Ford Canada and was an equipment engineer for Samsung Austin Semiconductor.
Andrew Graham
Partner, Harrison Pensa LLP
Andrew is a Partner in the Insurance Services Group at HARRISON PENSA™. Andrew has a broad commercial and insurance litigation practice with a focus on pursuing subrogation claims across Ontario for a range of insurance clients in fire, flood, automobile, and defective product claims. He also represents individuals who have sustained injuries through accidents or the negligence of others. Andrew is routinely called on by clients to provide coverage opinions in relation to automobile, homeowner, CGL and professional liability policies. In addition, Andrew has experience in professional liability matters and is on the preferred counsel list for LawPRO, Ontario’s professional liability insurer for lawyers.
Adam Lohonyai, MEng, P. Eng.
Forensic Structural Engineer
Adam specializes in structural forensic investigation and holds a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Alberta. He is a licensed professional engineer in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia. To date, Adam has completed over 400 projects with Origin and Cause. Adam’s background includes work as a structural engineer providing service for new building construction, personal fall arrest systems, roll-over protection systems, structural assessments, repairs, and failure investigations. He also has experience teaching engineering labs and researching building envelopes, structural health monitoring, and masonry walls at the University of Alberta.
Charities
Canadian Burn Survivors Community
The Canadian Burn Survivors Community (CBSC) is a community comprised of burn survivors, fire-fighters, burn unit staff, and advisors who have come together to offer support and education to any person or people that have been affected by burns. Their main objectives is to help support the development of the psychological well-being of burn survivors in Canada, support the sharing of materials and programs to educate our citizens in the prevention of burns in Canada, and encourage professional development of firefighters, health care providers and anyone affected by the trauma of burns in Canada.
Disaster Aid Canada provides humanitarian relief and aid in the form of equipment and materials that provide shelter, warmth and comfort to people displaced by natural or other disasters. Depending upon the requirements they may fundraise and donate the money to a partner organization on the ground or provide immediate relief with a Disaster Relief Kit. Disaster Aid Canada is made possible by our generous donors who want to help bring relief to those who have lost everything. This gives them hope as they begin to rebuild their lives.
Feeding young Canadians since 1994 and serving more than 257,743 nutritious breakfasts daily in 1,887 schools throughout Canada, the Breakfast Club Canada makes sure all children have an equal chance to learn. With COVID-19 they are collaborating with food banks and other local resources to help distribute “grab & go” bags containing basic food items. These bags will be distributed in a way that encourages social distancing and prevents unnecessary congregation.