The claimant sought entitlement to NEBs. The insurer argued that the limitation period barred the dispute. Adjudicator Lake held that the limitation period applied and that she did not have jurisdiction to extend the limitation period under the LAT Act. She also held that she did not have jurisdiction to apply the doctrine of equitable estoppel. The insurer had denied entitlement to NEBs in July 2016. The claimant did apply to the LAT within two years of the denial, but withdrew the LAT application while undergoing catastrophic impairment assessments. The insurer’s counsel at the time indicated that the insurer would not advance a limitation defence with regard to the issues in that first LAT dispute. Despite accepting that such agreement was made, Adjudicator Lake held that she did not have authority to apply equitable estoppel to prevent the insurer from relying on a limitations defence when the claimant reapplied to the LAT in 2019. Finally, Adjudicator Lake held that she did not have authority to extend the limitation period under the LAT Act.
