{"settlement":{"id":"aviva-denturist-business-income-insurance-2026","slug":"aviva-denturist-business-income-insurance-2026","title":"Aviva Denturist COVID-19 Business Interruption Class Action","category":"Insurance","status":"Claims open","tags":{"industry":["Insurance","Healthcare provider"],"geographic":["Ontario"],"recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Account records required","Other documentation"],"eligibilityTrigger":["Held an account or contract","Operated a business or merchant"]},"classDefinition":"All persons, natural or corporate, carrying on operations usual to a denturist who were insured by Aviva Insurance Company of Canada under a Commercial Insurance Policy issued by Aviva on behalf of the Denturist Association of Ontario, pursuant to the Denturists and Hearing Aid Specialists Program (Policy 81278157), which included Restricted Access coverage and/or Negative Publicity coverage under the Business Income, Actual Loss Sustained (Broad Form Perils) form (Form 402014-02), and who submitted a claim to Aviva for loss of business income: (a) while access to their premises was restricted in whole or in part by the mandatory closure order made by the Province of Ontario on March 23, 2020; (b) while access to their premises was restricted in whole or in part by any subsequent order of civil authority; and/or (c) as a direct result of an outbreak of COVID-19 within 1 kilometre of their premises.","plainLanguageSummary":"If you ran a denturist practice insured by Aviva under the Denturist Association of Ontario program policy with Restricted Access or Negative Publicity coverage, and you claimed lost business income from COVID-19 closures or a nearby outbreak, you may be eligible for a cash payment from the settlement fund.","eligibilityCriteria":["You (personally or through a corporation) carried on operations usual to a denturist.","You were insured by Aviva under the Denturists and Hearing Aid Specialists Program policy issued by Aviva on behalf of the Denturist Association of Ontario (Policy 81278157).","Your policy included Restricted Access coverage and/or Negative Publicity coverage under the Business Income, Actual Loss Sustained (Broad Form Perils) form (Form 402014-02).","You submitted a claim to Aviva for loss of business income.","Your claimed loss happened while access to your premises was restricted in whole or in part by Ontario’s March 23, 2020 closure order or a later order of civil authority, and/or as a direct result of a COVID-19 outbreak within 1 kilometre of your premises."],"recoveryRange":"Payments come from a C$6,862,724.50 settlement fund, after court approved legal fees, the plaintiff’s honorarium and administration costs are deducted. Each eligible business’s share is set under the court approved Distribution Protocol and is based on its verified loss of business income.","filingInstructions":"Gather your supporting documents, including your Annual Financial Statements, as early as possible.\nGo to the Online Claims Form prepared by the Claims Administrator, MDD Forensic Accountants.\nFollow the step by step instructions in the form to complete your claim.\nProvide the supporting documents the Claims Administrator requires to verify your claim.\nSubmit your claim no later than 11:59 pm EST on May 1, 2027.\nIf you cannot file online, contact the Claims Administrator at denturistclassaction@mdd.com or 519-432-1123 to ask about filing a paper claim.","caseBackground":"This class action was brought on behalf of denturists insured by Aviva Insurance Company of Canada through a group business insurance program set up for members of the Denturist Association of Ontario. The lawsuit alleged that Aviva breached its insurance contracts when it denied claims for lost business income after COVID-19 closure orders and outbreaks restricted access to denturist offices starting in March 2020.\n\nAviva agreed to pay $6,862,724.50 to settle the case without admitting any wrongdoing, and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the settlement on October 26, 2026. After court-approved legal fees, expenses, a payment to the representative plaintiff, and administration costs are deducted, the remaining money will be shared among eligible class members who file a claim under the court-approved Distribution Protocol.","administratorName":"MDD Forensic Accountants","administratorContacts":[{"type":"email","label":"","value":"denturistclassaction@mdd.com"},{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"519-432-1123"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"Matson Driscoll & Damico Ltd, 148 Fullarton Street, Suite 1704, London ON N6A 5P3"}],"administratorRole":"claims","agentName":"","agentContacts":[],"agentClaimFormHelp":false,"classCounselName":"Lerners LLP","classCounselContacts":[{"type":"email","label":"","value":"denturistclassaction@lerners.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"519-640-6362"},{"type":"phone","label":"Toll-free","value":"1-844-867-9024"},{"type":"fax","label":"","value":"519-932-3362"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://lerners.ca/deals-and-cases/denturists-class-action"}],"classCounselFirms":[{"name":"Lerners LLP","region":"","contacts":[{"type":"email","label":"","value":"denturistclassaction@lerners.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"519-640-6362"},{"type":"phone","label":"Toll-free","value":"1-844-867-9024"},{"type":"fax","label":"","value":"519-932-3362"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://lerners.ca/deals-and-cases/denturists-class-action"}]}],"submissionMethods":[{"type":"online","label":"Online Claims Form","value":"https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=_1ovYctXFEKfy9bkZl2JDPYbMfGc2BpFtUoSqnN6yuJUMkpTRlg3M0IzS1dJWE5GSTRPT1VRN0w1Mi4u&route=shorturl"}],"sourceDocuments":[{"url":"/uploads/a021a99998209fc0ba2807fa-Notice-of-Settlement-Approval.pdf","title":"Notice to Class Members"}],"shortFormNoticeUrl":"","longFormNoticeUrl":"/uploads/a021a99998209fc0ba2807fa-Notice-of-Settlement-Approval.pdf","settlementAgreementUrl":"","claimFormDocumentUrl":"","claimForms":[],"claimFormsButtonLabel":"claim-form","claimFormsUnavailable":true,"claimFormsUnavailableReason":"MDD Forensic Accountants, the court appointed claims administrator, accepts claims through an online claim form and does not publish a downloadable form. If you need to file on paper, email denturistclassaction@mdd.com or call 519‑432‑1123 to arrange a hardcopy claim.","claimFormGuides":[],"additionalDocuments":[],"optOutFormUrl":"","optOutInstructions":"","objectionFormUrl":"","objectionInstructions":"","faqs":[{"answer":"Your Claim Form must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm EST on May 1, 2027. Claims filed after that date will not be eligible for compensation.","question":"What is the deadline to file a claim?"},{"answer":"The preferred way is to complete the Online Claims Form prepared by the Claims Administrator, which walks you through each step. If you need to file a paper claim, contact the Claims Administrator at denturistclassaction@mdd.com or 519-432-1123 for details.","question":"How do I file a claim?"},{"answer":"The Claims Administrator will require supporting documentation to verify your claim, including your Annual Financial Statements. Start gathering these early so you have them ready before the May 1, 2027 deadline.","question":"What documents do I need?"},{"answer":"The notice does not state a set amount per claimant. The $6,862,724.50 settlement, less court-approved legal fees, disbursements and applicable taxes, a $15,000 honorarium to the representative plaintiff, and administration costs, will be shared among eligible class members under the court-approved Distribution Protocol.","question":"How much will I receive?"},{"answer":"Contact the Claims Administrator, MDD Forensic Accountants, at denturistclassaction@mdd.com or 519-432-1123. You can also reach Class Counsel at Lerners LLP at denturistclassaction@lerners.ca or toll free at 1-844-867-9024.","question":"Who can I contact with questions?"}],"eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"denturist-operations","text":"Did you, personally or through a corporation, carry on the operations of a denturist?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"aviva-denturist-policy","text":"Were you insured by Aviva under the Denturists and Hearing Aid Specialists Program policy issued on behalf of the Denturist Association of Ontario?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"This is the group commercial insurance policy numbered 81278157.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"restricted-access-coverage","text":"Did your policy include Restricted Access coverage or Negative Publicity coverage?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"These coverages fall under the Business Income (Actual Loss Sustained) Broad Form Perils form 402014-02.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"submitted-claim-to-aviva","text":"Did you submit a claim to Aviva for loss of business income?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"covid-related-loss","text":"Was your claimed loss caused by restricted access to your premises under Ontario's March 23, 2020 closure order or a later government order, or directly by a COVID-19 outbreak within 1 kilometre of your premises?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true}],"uncertainMessage":"Some of your answers were Not sure, so we could not confidently determine your eligibility.","qualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement.","nonQualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you do not appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement."},"claimCategories":[],"proceedings":null,"relatedSlugs":[],"group":null,"cardSummary":"For denturists insured by Aviva through the Denturist Association of Ontario program who claimed lost business income because of COVID-19 closures or outbreaks.","proofRequired":"","claimTime":"","claimAmount":"","coverageStartDate":"2020-03-23","coverageEndDate":"","deadline":"2027-05-01","optOutDeadline":"","objectionDeadline":"","approvalHearingDate":"","approvalHearingDates":[],"approvalPending":false,"resolution":"settlement","judgmentAppealed":false,"seriousHarmEnabled":false,"quietPresentation":false,"formHelperEnabled":false,"dateAdded":"2026-11-05","lastUpdated":"2026-11-05","firstPublishedAt":"2026-11-06 01:17:27","claimsOpenedAt":"2026-11-06 01:17:27","lastVerifiedAt":"2026-11-05","languages":["en","fr"]}}