year of call
- 1982, Alberta
education
- Bachelor of Physical Education, University of Calgary, 1974
- Bachelor of Education (with distinction), University of Calgary, 1978
- Bachelor of Laws, University of Calgary, 1981
professional associations
- Law Society of Alberta
- Canadian Bar Association
- Calgary Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association
- Canadian Defence Lawyers
representative work
- Frequently acts as a mediator requested by both plaintiff and defence counsel in personal injury cases.
- Extensive experience as counsel for parties in Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR) conferences and Private Mediations.
- Represented a plaintiff in a complex medical malpractice case involving a five week trial, resulting in an award of over $3.6 million: Forsberg v. Naidoo, 2011 ABQB 252.
- Represented a plaintiff pedestrian who suffered a leg amputation as a result of a car accident, and obtained a trial judgment for damages including relocation and renovation of his home to accommodate his disability: Hurd v. Hodgson, [1988] A.J. No. 705, 61 Alta. L.R. (2d) 36, 89 A.R. 241.
- Counsel for the successful defendants in two trials involving claims in excess of $1 million in which causation of the injuries was in dispute: Weatherall v. Seaba, 2008 ABQB 689; Sidorsky v. Lowry, 2009 ABQB 68.
- Represented defendants in two separate personal injury actions, each involving claims in excess of $1.5 million. Causation of the injuries was in dispute. At trial the judgments in each case were less than $50,000 and costs were awarded to the Defendants: Weatherall v. Seaba, 2008 ABQB 689; Sidorsky v. Lowry, 2009 ABQB 68.
- Represented an insured defendant at trial in a constitutional challenge “test” case involving the interpretation of the Alberta Minor Injury Regulation: Morrow v. Zhang, 2008 ABQB 125.
- Represented the insurers in two seminal Alberta Court of Appeal cases involving denials of coverage under an automobile policy based on lack of consent to drive: E.T. (Estate of) v. Tran, 2007 ABCA 13; Saravia v. Perez, 2007 ABCA 12.
- Defended two lawsuits arising from motor vehicle accidents in which the defendants’ vehicles hit black ice and the defendants were found not negligent Sharma v Smook, [1996] A.J. No. 866, 191 A.R. 152, 66 A.C.W.S. (3d) 383; Barriault v. Scherger, 1998 ABQB 281.
- Represented several defendants accused of defamation in relation to political activities: Cooper v. Hennan, 2005 ABQB 709.
- Represented an oil and gas company in a claim for damages to its facility arising from an explosion and fire due to the negligence of a contractor, resolved at mediation.
- Has represented both insurers and insured persons in fire cases involving coverage issues under insurance policies: Royal Bank of Canada v. Safeco Insurance Co. of America, [1988] A.J. No. 214, 58 Alta. L.R. (2d) 239, 85 A.R. 357; 529198 Alberta Ltd. v. Thibeault Masonry Ltd., 2001 ABQB 1108; Carscallen v. Chubb Insurance Company of Canada, 2013 ABCA 263.
- Represented an oil and gas company in successfully defending an injunction application to prevent the sale of shares or assets pending remedial action in relation to alleged pollution: Chemelli (Next friend of) v. Ryerson Oil and Gas Ltd., [1993] A.J. No. 1296.
- Frequently provides coverage opinions to insurers under a variety of policy types and in a variety of fact situations.
awards, recognition & accomplishments
- Listed in Best Lawyers in Canada in the Personal Injury Law and Insurance Law categories
- Listed by Lexpert as repeatedly recommended personal injury lawyer
- Rated BV – Very high Peer Review In Legal Ability and Ethical Standards by Martindale Hubbell for over 20 years
teaching & publications
- Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association
- The Canadian Defence Lawyers
- Canadian Institute
- Canadian Bar Association, Civil Litigation and Insurance Subsections
- Faculty of Law, University of Calgary
- Insurance Institute of Southern Alberta
- Alberta Association of Insurance Adjusters
