DUE TO CAPACITY THE SEMINAR IS FULL AND REGISTRATION HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED
Legal Considerations in Fire and Arson Investigation
EVENT LOCATION
OMIA (Ontario Mutual Insurance Association)
350 Pinebush Road, Cambridge
SEMINAR DATE – November 19, 2025 (8:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
Registration: 7:00 AM – 7:45 AM
Seminar: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Free parking at the facility
The International Association of Arson Investigators of Ontario recognizes the requirement for those requiring hours toward their professional education and training and will provide students with a certificate for 8 hours of education upon completion.
A link with the agenda and any specific instructions will be provided to all registrants closer to the date.
Join Jeff Goit and Pete Volaric, Partners at DiVincenzo Volaric LLP, for an engaging and interactive mock trial session focused on the examination and cross-examination of a fire expert.
With a combined 50 years of experience in insurance litigation, Jeff and Pete will guide participants through the strategies, challenges, and nuances of presenting and challenging expert evidence in court. The session will simulate a real-world trial scenario, offering practical insights into trial advocacy, expert witness preparation, and courtroom dynamics.
Jeff Goit’s practice focuses on insurance defense, including first-party claims, coverage analysis, and property losses, including fire claims and arson investigation. Pete Volaric brings decades of trial experience, with a specialty in property law, fire claims, arson investigation, coverage disputes, and insurance fraud. Both have appeared at all levels of Court in Ontario.
This hands-on session is ideal not only for legal professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of expert testimony, but it will also give forensic engineers and arson investigators examples of what to do and what not to do when called to be an expert at trial. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion throughout the session.
Udo Haan Case Study
In August 2018, a powerful explosion destroyed a home on Sprucedale Crescent in Kitchener, Ontario, prompting an intensive investigation by Waterloo Regional Police and the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office. Emergency responders arrived to find the structure completely leveled and Edra Haan deceased in the backyard; her death was later ruled a homicide. Investigators determined that her husband, Udo Haan, had deliberately caused the explosion by tampering with the home’s gas lines and using gasoline as an accelerant, actions intended to destroy evidence and possibly take his own life. The Ontario Fire Marshal’s investigation confirmed the presence of an intentional ignition source and accelerants, ruling out accidental causes. Despite sustaining critical injuries in the blast, Haan was arrested and later charged with first-degree murder and arson. In 2023, a court found him not criminally responsible due to a significant mental disorder, resulting in his detention under the supervision of the Ontario Review Board. The case highlights the complex interplay between forensic fire analysis, criminal intent, mental health considerations, and coordinated multi-agency response in cases involving domestic homicide and structural explosions.
SEMINAR FEE & REGISTRATION:
The seminar fee of $195.00 + HST = $220.35 includes the program, lunch, and refreshments.
To register for the program, please complete the Seminar Sign Up below or send an email with the subject IAAI Request for Participation to Doug Lowther at doug@first-er.com and include the following info:
- First and Last Name of Attendee
- Name of Employer
- Email Address
- Contact Number
In response to your Request for Participation, we will email an invoice to you, along with a link so you can issue payment via Credit Card or PayPal.
HOTEL INFORMATION
Cambridge Hotel
700 Hespeler Rd, Cambridge, Ontario
519-622-1505
$136.00/night
Block reserved under IAAI – Ontario Fall Seminar
Reservation Deadline is September 18th 2025
On behalf of IAAI Ontario, we look forward to seeing you in November!