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Date: November 09, 2012
Accessibilité accrue à la justice pour les PME québécoises : L’Assurance de frais juridiques DASaffaires maintenant offerte au Québec
(ENGLISH VERSION FOLLOWS)
Une semaine complète de conseils juridiques gratuits pour les PME
Montréal, QC – Le 5 novembre 2012 – DAS Canada, l’unique assureur spécialisé en assurance de frais juridiques au pays, a annoncé aujourd’hui le lancement de la police d’assurance DASaffaires partout au Québec, ainsi qu’une semaine complète de conseils juridiques téléphoniques gratuits, un des éléments-phare de la police DASaffaires. Bien que le concept d’assurance de frais juridiques ne soit pas inconnu au Québec, de telles polices s’adressent habituellement aux particuliers. À compter de ce jour, les petites et moyennes entreprises pourront également bénéficier de cette assurance frais juridiques, tout en profitant de la paix d’esprit que procure ce type d’assurance contre les frais juridiques imprévus.
«Le Québec est un marché très important pour nous, car les dirigeants d’entreprises s’y connaissent en assurances et comprennent bien le concept d’assurance frais juridiques», a déclaré Barbara Haynes, directrice générale de DAS Canada. «Nous avons mis beaucoup d’efforts pour nous implanter au Québec, et nous sommes ravis de pouvoir enfin fournir aux propriétaires de petites et moyennes entreprises un accès à la justice à des coûts abordables. C’est pourquoi nous offrons une semaine complète de conseils juridiques gratuits, sur appel téléphonique, afin de démontrer clairement la valeur d’une telle police d’assurance».
Ce service de conseils gratuits tombe à point, car la majorité des petites et moyennes entreprises du Québec arrivent à la fin de leur exercice financier. Les dirigeants de ces compagnies peuvent avoir des questions concernant la gestion du personnel, les déclarations de revenus, les factures en souffrance, et de nombreuses autres questions d’ordre juridique pouvant se présenter à l’entreprise. Puisque la plupart de ces entrepreneurs sont incapables de s’offrir les services d’un conseiller financier ou d’un avocat à temps plein, une situation qui est à priori banale peut rapidement se transformer en un problème juridique assez coûteux.
Une police d’assurance DASaffaires couvrirait les frais juridiques associés à de telles situations, tout en procurant les conseils nécessaires et l’inestimable assistance requise pour s’y retrouver dans le système judiciaire actuel. De nombreux scénarios se présentent aux propriétaires de petites entreprises québécoises, telles qu’un contrôle fiscal, la révocation d’un permis professionnel, ou un litige au sujet d’un contrat d’embauche. Sachant que le tarif moyen d’un avocat au Québec est de plus de $250/heure, des situations minimes peuvent finir par représenter un poids financier considérable pour une entreprise de petite taille.
Selon Pierre Bazinet, avocat spécialisé en assurances et en litige auprès du cabinet Robinson Sheppard Shapiro s.e.n.c.r.l/LLP de Montréal, «Ce produit d’assurance vient changer la donne pour les petites entreprises du Québec. Les petites compagnies sont continuellement aux prises avec la gestion quotidienne des dépenses, et pour la plupart, des frais juridiques inattendus ne sont vraiment pas compris au budget. L’assurance frais juridiques pour petites entreprises aura donc pour effet d’égaliser les chances pour tous les entrepreneurs, en offrant aux propriétaires de petites entreprises un accès réel à la justice.»
Quoi: DAS Canada lance sa police d’assurance frais juridiques au Québec, en offrant la semaine de conseils juridiques téléphoniques, bilingues et gratuits, aux petites et moyennes entreprises (pour toutes questions relatives aux aspects juridiques de l’entreprise).
Où: Disponible pour toutes les petites et moyennes entreprises établies au Québec – Composez le 1-877-882-3842 et mentionnez «QUÉBEC».
Quand: La ligne téléphonique de conseils gratuits sera disponible à compter du 6 novembre à minuit, jusqu’au 13 novembre 2012, 17 h.
À propos de DAS Canada
DAS Legal Protection Insurance Company Limited (DAS Canada) est une filiale du Groupe DAS, chef de file à l’échelle mondiale dans le domaine de l’assurance de frais juridiques, d’une valeur de dix milliards de dollars. Le Groupe DAS a son bureau chef en Allemagne et est lui-même une filiale d’ERGO, le principal assureur du groupe Munich Re, qui exerce ses activités en Europe et en Asie. DAS Canada s’est engagé à fournir une approche avant-gardiste du marché de l’assurance de frais juridiques, combinant une attitude innovatrice et près d’un siècle d’expertise. Spécialiste des assurances juridiques et offrant une large gamme de services, DAS Canada peut procurer l’accès à des services juridiques de qualité et abordables à tous les particuliers, groupes, et petites et moyennes entreprises. Les polices d’assurances sont disponibles dans toutes les provinces et territoires du Canada. Pour plus d’informations, visitez le www.das.ca.
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Personnes-ressources:
647-668-8140
Date: November 09, 2012
Finally! Affordable Access to Justice for Quebec Small and Medium Sized Businesses
DASbusiness Insurance Launches in Quebec – Offers Free Week of Legal Advice for SME’s
Montreal, QC – November 6, 2012 – DAS Canada, Canada’s only specialty legal expense insurer, today announced the launch of their DASbusiness policy across Quebec with a week of free telephone-based legal advice, one of the key features of a DASbusiness policy. While the concept of legal expense insurance is not new to Quebec, such policies have traditionally focused on individuals. Now, owners of small and medium sized businesses can also benefit from legal expense insurance and the peace of mind it provides against unexpected legal fees.
“Quebec is a very important market for us, with business owners who are very savvy and understand the legal expense insurance concept well,” said Barbara Haynes, CEO of DAS Canada. “We've been working towards putting down roots in Quebec and we're thrilled that we can now bring affordable access to justice to its small and medium sized business owners, with a free week of telephone-based legal advice to really demonstrate the value of a policy.”
The free advice week timing is ideal as a majority of Quebec small businesses approach their fiscal year-end. Many small businesses may be dealing with staffing issues, tax filings, or outstanding invoices, and many legal issues are beginning to emerge. With most small businesses unable to afford in-house counsel or a lawyer on retainer, minor issues can quickly turn into costly legal problems.
A DASbusiness policy would cover legal fees associated with such issues, while also providing advice and invaluable assistance in navigating the justice system. Many common scenarios present themselves in small businesses across Quebec every day; situations such as tax audits, business license revocation or employment disputes. With the average price of a lawyer in Quebec at over $250/hour, even minor issues can end up causing significant financial hardships to small companies.
“This is a game-changing product for small businesses in Quebec,” said Pierre Bazinet, a lawyer specializing in insurance with Robinson Sheppard Shapiro s.e.n.c.r.l/LLP in Montreal. “Small businesses often struggle with day-to-day expenses, and unexpected legal fees are not something most can afford. Legal expense insurance for small business is leveling the playing field and making access to justice affordable for small business owners.”
What: DAS Canada Launches in Quebec with a week of free bilingual legal advice for Quebec small businesses (on any business legal related matter.)
Where: Available to any SME based in Quebec - Call 1-877-882-3842 and quote ‘QUEBEC.’
When: The advice line is open from 12:01am November 6th until 5pm November 13th, 2012.
Contact:
Patrick McCaully Samantha Goldsilver
Pointman! Public Relations Pointman! Public Relations
416-855-9427 647-668-8140
patrick@pointmanpr.com samantha@pointmanpr.com
Date: October 17, 2012
The Most Important Business Insurance You’ve Never Heard Of
For DAS Canada, EVERY week is SMALL BUSINESS WEEK
Toronto, ON – This week is Small Business Week, an annual salute to the risk takers and dreamers who propel our economy forward and create jobs by inventing new products and services. But when this week is over, we’ll all go back to “business as usual,” with countless entrepreneurs unaware of an insurance product that could save them from crippling legal fees down the road.
While these innovators know their products or services inside-out, few know about the existence of a new insurance product designed to protect them from costly legal disputes. While most know they need coverage for liability and property, awareness of legal expense insurance is only just beginning to catch on. Legal expense insurance has been wildly popular in Europe for decades, but has only recently become available in Canada. Though the benefits could mean the difference between success and bankruptcy, few small businesses are aware of the many compelling reasons to purchase such a policy.
“All businesses have employees, file taxes, and have clients who don’t pay. As such, they will inevitably encounter legal issues, some predictable, others unimaginable,” said Barbara Haynes, CEO, DAS Canada, a provider of legal expense insurance. “Look at the Toronto restaurant owner who was charged with assault for throwing spices at an intruder. Or the convenience store owner charged with forcible confinement and assault after detaining a shoplifter. Both of these small business owners faced huge legal defence bills.”
While these are extreme and unusual examples, many much more common scenarios present themselves in small businesses across Canada every day; situations such as tax audits, business licence revocation or employment disputes. With the average price of a lawyer in Canada at over $360/hour, even minor issues can end up causing significant financial hardships to new companies.
Perhaps even more beneficial than having legal disputes covered when they arise is having round-the-clock access to legal advice when needed. DASbusiness policy holders have unlimited access to the insurer’s legal advice hotline, which enables them to get answers to their legal questions and be connected to a lawyer who practices in that area.
Simply having access to such valuable support can make an enormous financial difference to a small business.
Date: November 28, 2011
All That Ontario Businesses Need for Christmas is Free Legal Advice. Affordable Access to Justice Should Top Company Wish Lists, Whether They’ve been Naughty or Nice
Toronto, ON – This holiday season, DAS Canada is giving an early Christmas present to Ontario’s small and mid-sized businesses by gifting them with a full week of free legal advice. For the week of December 5, Ontario business owners will be able to get a taste of DAS Canada’s Legal Expense Insurance solution when DAS opens up its legal service hotline
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Date: November 08, 2011
Christmas Comes Early for Atlantic Small Businesses
HALIFAX, NS – Running a small business can be challenging at the best of times, and when every dollar counts, unexpected legal expenses can be catastrophic. To help keep businesses running smoothly and in the spirit of the upcoming holiday season, DAS Canada is offering small business owners a week of free access to its legal service hotline.
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Date: September 27, 2011
Confused Alberta Drivers to Get Clarity on ‘Distracted Drivers’ Law
CALGARY, AB –The introduction of Alberta’s new Distracted Driving law earlier this month is causing confusion among the province’s drivers. With the parameters of the legislation being kept vague, the fines issued have been and will continue to be at the discretion of the officer, leaving many drivers at a loss as to their options and rights.
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Date: July 13, 2011
Go ahead, sue me – I have insurance
David Chen, the Toronto grocer forced to fight criminal charges over his “citizen’s arrest” of an alleged shoplifter, racked up tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees to clear his name last year. Those bills make him an example of someone who could have benefited from what is known as “legal protection insurance,” says the head of a company trying to sell Canadians on the concept.
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Date: July 06, 2011
Making the case for legal expense insurance in Canada
Access to a lawyer or the legal system is increasingly difficult for middle-class Canadians, creating a demand for legal expense insurance (LEI), Barbara Haynes, president and CEO of DAS Canada said. During an interview with Canadian Underwriter, Haynes and Dr. Jochen Messemer, a member of the board of management of ERGO AG, DAS's parent company, described what they see as key differences between the European and Canadian marketplaces.
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Date: July 19, 2010
DAS Canada - a new Full Partner in the Broker Identity Program for 2010
The Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC) is pleased to announce that DAS Canada’s support of and commitment to insurance brokers was a top priority. In its first month of operation in Canada, DAS Canada already joined the ranks of Full Partner of the Broker Identity Program.
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Date: July 18, 2010
"...Now when someone calls to ask about legal expense insurance, we can point them in the direction of DAS..."
The Law Society of Upper Canada has welcomed a new legal expenses insurance scheme for individuals as a potential solution to access-to-justice problems in Ontario.
Earlier this month, DAS Canada received its insurance licence from the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, a move that paves the way for it to offer insurance policies covering legal actions arising from unforeseen events.
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Date: July 05, 2010
"Slickest and most efficient... quoting, bind issue..."
DAS Canada sold their first policy on July 5, 2010. Avaloch Insurance Brokers President, Chris Holman said of the quote, bind, issue, bill system after issuing the policy: “That was the slickest and most efficient method of quoting/binding I’ve ever worked with.”
Date: June 08, 2010
Barbara Haynes appointed CEO of DAS Canada
DAS Legal Protection Insurance Company Limited (DAS Canada) is pleased to announce the appointment of Barbara Haynes to the position of Chief Executive Officer, DAS Canada, the country’s first specialist in legal expense insurance.
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Date: May 13, 2010
DAS Canada receives Letters Patent from Canada’s Minister of Finance
DAS Legal Protection Insurance Company Limited (DAS Canada) is pleased to announce that it has received Letters Patent from the Minister of Finance, making it the first insurer in the country to specialize in offering legal expense insurance (LEI). Policies will be offered in Ontario followed by Alberta and British Columbia.
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