Posted by Rikin Morzaria
closeAuthor: Rikin Morzaria
Name: Rikin Morzaria
Email: rmorzaria@mcleishorlando.com
Site: http://www.mcleishorlando.com
About: Rikin Morzaria is a lawyer with McLeish Orlando LLP. Since his call to the Bar, Rikin has dedicated his practice to plaintiffs' personal injury and wrongful death cases, including products liability, medical malpractice, and disability benefits claims. Rikin is a member of The Law Society of Upper Canada, Ontario Trial Lawyers' Association, Canadian Bar Association, and Ontario Bar Association. He is currently the Secretary of the Board of Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) and the chair of the New Lawyers' Division of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association.See Authors Posts (33) on September 2, 2010 (6 days ago) under Our Firm | 
On August 28, 2010, the Toronto Star published a column by Joel Cohen about the changes to auto insurance. We have written several posts about the reductions to benefits and hardship that this will place on innocent accident victims. It is important that all consumers be aware of how the reductions will impact on their coverage.
Mr. Cohen suggested in his column that the changes were necessary because of “skyrocketing litigation costs” and “outrageous settlements.” Mr. Cohen presented absolutely no evidence to support these claims. If you did not read to the end, you might also have missed the fact that Mr. Cohen represents that auto industry and is the President of the Toronto Automobile Dealers Association.
In a response to Mr. Cohen, Dale Orlando wrote to the Toronto Star on behalf of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association to defend of the rights of innocent accident victims. The full text of his response is below: Read more of this article »
Posted by Patrick Brown
closeAuthor: Patrick Brown
Name: Patrick Brown
Email: pbrown@mcleishorlando.com
Site: http://www.mcleishorlando.com
About: Patrick Brown is a partner with McLeish Orlando LLP and is the Immediate Past President of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. He currently sits as a Director for the Ontario Safety League and the Toronto Cyclist Union. He is an executive members of the Ontario Bar Association's Inusrance Section. He restricts his litigation practice to representing those suffering serious personal injury and families who have lost a loved one due to the negligent actions of another. He has written for Canada Law Books and has legal articles published in various legal magazines.See Authors Posts (9) on August 3, 2010 under Accident Benefits, Claims Denial, Disability Benefits, Insurance Companies, News, Our Firm, automobile insurance |
After September 1, 2010, car insurance companies and brokers across Ontario will be presenting consumers with new choices for their auto insurance renewals. A daunting process is ahead. The insurance system in Ontario is one of the most complicated systems in North America.
Even though car insurance is a major budgetary item for many families, many consumers are unfamiliar with the coverage they actually have. After September 1, consumers will be given a number of choices as to amount of benefits they wish to purchase. By giving such a choice, the intent was to give them a break on premiums being paid.
The new basic auto policy being sold contains far less benefits than what existed before September 1. With benefits being drastically reduced, one would of course expect to see some significant reductions in how much one has to pay in premiums.
Therefore it is absolutely critical that each consumer ask their insurance company and brokers what are they buying and at what price. Like shopping in a supermarket, each item ought to have a price tag. Read more of this article »
Posted by Rikin MorzariacloseAuthor: Rikin Morzaria
Name: Rikin Morzaria
Email: rmorzaria@mcleishorlando.com
Site: http://www.mcleishorlando.com
About: Rikin Morzaria is a lawyer with McLeish Orlando LLP. Since his call to the Bar, Rikin has dedicated his practice to plaintiffs' personal injury and wrongful death cases, including products liability, medical malpractice, and disability benefits claims. Rikin is a member of The Law Society of Upper Canada, Ontario Trial Lawyers' Association, Canadian Bar Association, and Ontario Bar Association. He is currently the Secretary of the Board of Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) and the chair of the New Lawyers' Division of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association.See Authors Posts (33) on July 23, 2010 under Cycling |
With the gorgeous summer weather, we are seeing an increasing number of cyclists on the road. Many people are new to cycling in an urban environment and even those of us who have been cycling for some time can use a refresher on safe cycling practices.
Joe Travers at Biking Toronto has been posting a helpful series titled, “10 Secrets to Cycling with Traffic”. A link to each of his ten tips is below. Feel free to use the comments section to discuss your own tips or to provide a critique of Mr. Travers’ tips.
- Drivers Don’t Want to Kill You
- Ride in a Straight Line
- Play by the Rules
- Avoid the “Stoplight Squeeze”
- Signal Sensibly
- Take That Lane
- Make Them THINK You’re Unpredictable
- Ride With Others
- Avoid the Right Hook
- Practice Your Route
Posted by McLeish Orlando
closeAuthor: McLeish Orlando
Name: McLeish Orlando
Email: mo@squarezero.ca
Site: http://www.mcleishorlando.com
About: See Authors Posts (4) on July 19, 2010 under Our Firm |
Dale Orlando cuts the ribbon at Toronto Rehab's Lyndhurst Centre
On May 12, 2010, lawyers from McLeish Orlando LLP attended a Ribbon Cutting ceremony at the Lyndhurst site to mark the official opening of a Patient Dining Room, sponsored by McLeish Orlando LLP and a partner firm. The event included the unveiling of an accessible computer system and complimentary internet service for patients. McLeish Orlando LLP and a partner firm have committed a total of $1 million to be invested in Toronto Rehab’s Lyndhurst and University centres.
Posted by Patrick BrowncloseAuthor: Patrick Brown
Name: Patrick Brown
Email: pbrown@mcleishorlando.com
Site: http://www.mcleishorlando.com
About: Patrick Brown is a partner with McLeish Orlando LLP and is the Immediate Past President of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. He currently sits as a Director for the Ontario Safety League and the Toronto Cyclist Union. He is an executive members of the Ontario Bar Association's Inusrance Section. He restricts his litigation practice to representing those suffering serious personal injury and families who have lost a loved one due to the negligent actions of another. He has written for Canada Law Books and has legal articles published in various legal magazines.See Authors Posts (9) on June 25, 2010 under Cycling, News, Our Firm |
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/818052–helmet-project-has-kids-covered
What a day indeed. 250 kids and their parents packed in to the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club to be custom fitted with a brand new bike helmet. The event was the official kick off to the 2010 “Helmets for Kids” campaign in Toronto. 
Our firm was proud to donate the 250 helmets to make this event happen. OTLA has been running the program since 2002 across Ontario, but this was the first one in Toronto. We can’t think of a better way of giving back to our community than keeping kids safe. It was a lot of fun in getting this together and getting these helmets on the heads of the kids.
We were very pleased to have community sponsorship from not only OTLA but also the Boys and Girls Club, the Ontario Safety League, the Ontario Brian Injury Association, Brain Injury Society of Toronto, the Toronto Police, CP24, and the Toronto Cyclists Union. Read more of this article »
Posted by Patrick BrowncloseAuthor: Patrick Brown
Name: Patrick Brown
Email: pbrown@mcleishorlando.com
Site: http://www.mcleishorlando.com
About: Patrick Brown is a partner with McLeish Orlando LLP and is the Immediate Past President of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. He currently sits as a Director for the Ontario Safety League and the Toronto Cyclist Union. He is an executive members of the Ontario Bar Association's Inusrance Section. He restricts his litigation practice to representing those suffering serious personal injury and families who have lost a loved one due to the negligent actions of another. He has written for Canada Law Books and has legal articles published in various legal magazines.See Authors Posts (9) on June 8, 2010 under Cycling, News, Our Firm |
Recently Cheri DiNovo an MPP for Parkdale has brought forward a private members bill requiring motorists to give three feet of space to cyclists. A similar law has been passed in 16 States south of the border. What will be seen is how Minister Kathleen Wynne and the government reacts to the proposed law.
Is this a good law for Ontario?
Yes it is. If every driver obeyed this basic concept of giving space to cyclists, there would be a sharp reduction in the number of cyclists killed and injured on our roads. Statistics indicate that the majority of cyclist’s injuries and deaths are caused at the time a vehicle passes. There are very few who could possibly argue that if the law was obeyed, the number of accidents would be reduced.
Read more of this article »
Posted by Rikin MorzariacloseAuthor: Rikin Morzaria
Name: Rikin Morzaria
Email: rmorzaria@mcleishorlando.com
Site: http://www.mcleishorlando.com
About: Rikin Morzaria is a lawyer with McLeish Orlando LLP. Since his call to the Bar, Rikin has dedicated his practice to plaintiffs' personal injury and wrongful death cases, including products liability, medical malpractice, and disability benefits claims. Rikin is a member of The Law Society of Upper Canada, Ontario Trial Lawyers' Association, Canadian Bar Association, and Ontario Bar Association. He is currently the Secretary of the Board of Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) and the chair of the New Lawyers' Division of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association.See Authors Posts (33) on May 31, 2010 under Accident Benefits, Case Law, Claims Denial |
When an insurance company denies accident benefits to an insured person, the insurer must advise the insured person of his or her right to dispute the denial and of the most important points in the process. A recent court decision has confirmed that if an insurer falls short of this requirement, it will not be able to rely on the limitation period that begins with that denial.
In Yifru v. Certas Direct Insurance Company, Certas Insurance denied Ms. Yifru’s claim for non-earner benefits on June 23, 2003. Certas advised Ms. Yifru that she could dispute the decision by applying for mediation within two years of the denial. However, it did not advise her that she had any further options if she and Certas failed to settle her claim at mediation.
Read more of this article »
Posted by Patrick BrowncloseAuthor: Patrick Brown
Name: Patrick Brown
Email: pbrown@mcleishorlando.com
Site: http://www.mcleishorlando.com
About: Patrick Brown is a partner with McLeish Orlando LLP and is the Immediate Past President of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. He currently sits as a Director for the Ontario Safety League and the Toronto Cyclist Union. He is an executive members of the Ontario Bar Association's Inusrance Section. He restricts his litigation practice to representing those suffering serious personal injury and families who have lost a loved one due to the negligent actions of another. He has written for Canada Law Books and has legal articles published in various legal magazines.See Authors Posts (9) on May 10, 2010 under Accident Benefits, Claims Denial, Disability Benefits, Insurance Companies, News, automobile insurance |
[This is the fifth of a five part series by Patrick Brown on upcoming changes to auto insurance]
Injured accident victims will have a significant amount of their benefits reduced due to assessment costs. Despite the dramatic slashing of benefits reported in my previous blogs, consumers will also face further reductions based on the fact that the cost of assessments will come out of the amount of benefits available.
For example, if a consumer is injured in a car accident and the injuries are not considered to be catastrophic, they presently have $100,000 in benefits for medical and rehabilitation treatment. Any assessment costs to obtain the benefit are over and above the $100,000.
Under the new standard policy without buy ups, the consumer will only have $50,000 available in benefit dollars. That $50,000 includes assessments costs. Therefore, if $5,000 is paid for an assessment to obtain the benefit, then the amount available to the injured person is reduced down to $45,000. Read more of this article »
Posted by Rikin MorzariacloseAuthor: Rikin Morzaria
Name: Rikin Morzaria
Email: rmorzaria@mcleishorlando.com
Site: http://www.mcleishorlando.com
About: Rikin Morzaria is a lawyer with McLeish Orlando LLP. Since his call to the Bar, Rikin has dedicated his practice to plaintiffs' personal injury and wrongful death cases, including products liability, medical malpractice, and disability benefits claims. Rikin is a member of The Law Society of Upper Canada, Ontario Trial Lawyers' Association, Canadian Bar Association, and Ontario Bar Association. He is currently the Secretary of the Board of Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) and the chair of the New Lawyers' Division of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association.See Authors Posts (33) on April 29, 2010 under Accident Benefits, News, automobile insurance |
Patrick Brown has made a series of posts recently discussing the changes to auto insurance in Ontario. In today’s Toronto Star, James Daw provides a useful illustration of what a lower premium may cost you in the long run, in terms of reduced benefits and coverage.
The table below is taken from Mr. Daw’s article:
m/wheels/article/801724
Posted by Patrick BrowncloseAuthor: Patrick Brown
Name: Patrick Brown
Email: pbrown@mcleishorlando.com
Site: http://www.mcleishorlando.com
About: Patrick Brown is a partner with McLeish Orlando LLP and is the Immediate Past President of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. He currently sits as a Director for the Ontario Safety League and the Toronto Cyclist Union. He is an executive members of the Ontario Bar Association's Inusrance Section. He restricts his litigation practice to representing those suffering serious personal injury and families who have lost a loved one due to the negligent actions of another. He has written for Canada Law Books and has legal articles published in various legal magazines.See Authors Posts (9) on April 27, 2010 under Accident Benefits, Claims Denial, Disability Benefits, Insurance Companies, News, automobile insurance |
[This is the fourth part of a series by Patrick Brown on upcoming changes to Ontario's Auto Insurance Laws]
Starting September 1, 2010, many family members who provide basic care needs to their injured family members will be cut out from receiving any compensation for these essential services. The new law eliminates any benefits going to a family member who help the disabled family member unless they show they suffered an “economic loss” because of it.
This will have a devastating impact on families who chose to have family members look after their severely injured loved ones. The new law was passed at the request of the insurance industry. It will force families to use outside agencies. Right now for instances, if a family member is hit by a car and suffers serious injury to the extent they can no longer dress, bathe or feed themselves, a benefit is available up to either 3,000 or 6,000 per month so that other families members can help. Under the new system, this funding will stop unless mom, dad or sibling can show they lost money somehow [i.e. they have to quit work or miss work without pay]. The only way to access the benefit is to have a third party care agency come in and provide the services. Read more of this article »
