Posted by McLeish Orlando on March 15, 2013 under Automobile Insurance, Community, Disability Benefits, Insurance Companies, News
The Ontario Trial Lawyers Association has recently sent out a newsletter to every MPP in Ontario regarding the Insurance Bureau of Canada misinforming officials about insurance premiums, claims cost and profits.
McLeish Orlando stands behind OTLA in ensuring that MPP officials are well informed. See below for the newsletter sent out by OTLA.
Read more of this article »
Posted by McLeish Orlando on March 10, 2013 under Community, News
McLeish Orlando LLP congratulates Ian Perry, along with the rest of his team from Osgoode Hall Law School, for their recent victory at the 40th annual Gale Cup Moot. Ian summered with the firm in 2012 and will be returning as an articling student for 2013/2014.
The Gale Cup, one of Canada’s oldest moot competitions, takes place in Toronto at the Ontario Court of Appeal and is meant to simulate a fictional appeal from a recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada. Judging panels are made up of presiding judges drawn from various jurisdictions across Canada. This year’s final panel included the recently appointed Justice Richard Wagner of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Read more of this article »
Posted by Dale Orlando on February 6, 2013 under Brain Injury, Community
An excellent blog post written by Marie Rowland, PhD, EmpowermentAlly.
Brain injury is confusing to people who don’t have one. It’s natural to want to say something, to voice an opinion or offer advice, even when we don’t understand.
And when you care for a loved one with a brain injury, it’s easy to get burnt out and say things out of frustration.
Here are a few things you might find yourself saying that are probably not helpful:
1. You seem fine to me.
The invisible signs of a brain injury — memory andconcentration problems, fatigue, insomnia, chronic pain, depression, or anxiety — these are sometimes more difficult to live with than visible disabilities. Research shows that having just a scar on the head can help a person with a brain injury feel validated and better understood.
Read more of this article »
Posted by Patrick Brown on February 1, 2013 under Community, Cycling, News, Our Firm, Safety
As the Provincial Government grapples with a new cycling strategy, anyone engaged in the debate understands that there are no simple solutions or quick fixes. An old infrastructure designed for cars, clogged roadways with users competing for space, and a limited amount of funding make meaningful change at all levels seem next to impossible. Where do we begin? A one meter passing rule. That’s a good start, but not a long term solution. Riding paths that circle the City, although valuable do not get you safely to the store to buy bread, work or go to the local café. The implementation of bike lanes seems to be like trench warfare. Gains and losses are determined street by street, ward by ward, city by city. Exhausting, slow and for the most part disjointed.
However there is hope! It emerges from the forward thinking of our Chief Coroners’ Office. It is not based on specifics, but on how decision makers are to look at things. A new culture perhaps. Its called “Complete Streets”. Words, that to date, are not mentioned in any provincial policy statement, legislation, or standard. An approach that is growing in US. One that has been advocated for the last few years by active transportation advocates like TCAT and Cycle Toronto.
One that now has some wheels. 
In 2012 the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario released the Cycling Death Review. During the course of the review, various stakeholders including the Coroner’s Office, medical professionals, law enforcement, Toronto Transit Commission, Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), Ontario Medical Association, City of Toronto, and various cycling and road associations participated.
Following the review the Dr. Dan Cass, Deputy Chief Coroner made his number one recommendation to be “Complete Streets”. The words were clear. “To the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing a complete streets approach should be adopted to guide the redevelopment of existing communities and the creation of new communities throughout Ontario.”
Shortly after that, the Coroners office released the Pedestrian Death Review. Again, the very first recommendation was “Complete Streets”. “The complete streets approach should be adopted to guide the development of new communities and the redevelopment of existing communities in Ontario. Complete streets should be designed to be safe, convenient and comfortable for every user, regardless of transportation mode, physical ability, or age.”
Read more of this article »
Posted by McLeish Orlando on October 29, 2012 under Accident Prevention, Community, Safety
Halloween is just around the corner and there will be a number of kids across Ontario going door-to-door trick-or-treating.
To avoid personal injuries McLeish Orlando is sharing a list of tips n’ tricks collected by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) for drivers, parents and kids to make sure safety and accident prevention is top of mind this All Hallows’ Eve.
Drivers:
• When pulling in or out of driveways stay alert to your surroundings.
• Avoid driving during the hours of 6-9 pm when most trick-or-treating takes place.
• Stay well below the speed limit and give yourself extra time to get to your destination.
• Do not use a cell phone while driving. Driving must be your main focus as a little trick-or-treater could pop out any time.
• Pay extra attention to what is going on around you. Be conscious of sidewalks and roadways and watch for any children darting across the street or in between parked cars.
Parents:
• Replace your child’s mask with makeup to make sure that they have a clear, unobstructed view of their surroundings.
• Avoid costumes that have dark colors and that will go unnoticed by drivers. Instead choose bright colors, or add reflective tape.
• Accompany your child, or if they are old enough make sure they are with a group of responsible friends.
• Instruct children to stay on sidewalks where they are available, but if they must cross, to look both ways before walking across the street. They should check for cars, trucks and motorcycles
• If your community has no sidewalks, walking beside the road at night can be very dangerous – adult accompaniment and flashlights are a must, regardless of the child’s age.
• Halloween isn’t just for the young. If attending a party with the intention to drink plan ahead, make arrangements to get a ride with a designated driver or a taxi.
Kids:
• Use a flashlight so you will see and be seen more easily.
• Costumes should be short enough to avoid trips and falls.
• Remember not to eat any of your candy until an adult at home has checked them over. Don’t eat candy that has already been opened.
• Stay out of dark areas. Keep to well-lit areas and only visit homes that have their outside porch lights on. Trick-or-treaters should not go inside homes.
Sources (IBC, CAA and Safe Kids Canada)
For more information from IBC on Halloween safety tips click here
Posted by Katherine Pattillo on January 30, 2012 under Charity, Community, Our Firm
During the month of December, the staff and lawyers at McLeish Orlando LLP banded together for the great cause of raising money and collecting food for the Daily Bread Food Bank. Every December, a number of Toronto law firms get together, led and organized by Blakes LLP, for the Holiday Law Firm Food Bank Challange to see who can be
raise the most money for the Daily Bread Food Bank.
The Daily Bread Food Bank’s mandate is to fight to end hunger. As Canada’s largest food bank the Daily Bread Food Bank provides food to thousands of individuals and families across Toronto. The annual law firm challenge raised $245,000.00 this year for the Daily Bread Food Bank. For every $500.00 that is raised, a truck is able to deliver 275,000 lbs of food. For every $25 that is raised, a hamper box containing 3 days worth of groceries is provided to a person in need.
This was our first year participating in the Holiday Law Firm Challange and we were out to win and show our strong support for this great cause. With the help of many very generous donors and the overwhleming enthusiasm of the McLeish Orlando staff and lawyers, we were able to raise $37,041.49. Not only was this the largest amount raised on a per capita basis, but this was also the largest amount raised by a Toronto law firm in the challange. We are proud to support such a great organization, and we are already looking forward to next year’s competition to help raise even more money than this year for the Daily Bread Food Bank.
Posted by Patrick Brown on September 29, 2011 under Community, News, Our Firm, Safety
Halloween is coming fast. To ensure children are safe while still having fun, Halloween safety tips include:
Safe Costumes
Before buying or making your childs’ costumes, consider the following:
- Avoid Trips and Falls. The UL Safety Guide advises that Halloween costumes should “allow full movement for your kids. Costumes that drag, constrict or drape pose a dangerous hazard, especially at night. Check to ensure that costumes don’t restrict your children’s vision, and instruct them to watch out for tripping hazards, such as cords”.
- Flame Resistant Material: Also check to see if the costume is made of flame-resistant materials. During Halloween many jack o lanterns are lit by candles located near the trick or treat areas.
- Be Seen, Be Safe: Attaching reflective materials to costumes also ensures greater visibility. Make sure each child has a flashlight to help them see and be seen.
- See more at the Under Writers Laboratories Halloween Safety Guide
Jack O Lanterns:
Battery lit lanterns are the best option to keep children safe. If candles are used, the pumpkin should be placed well out of reach of all children.
Candy:
Make sure the kids do not eat the candy until you have had an opportunity of inspecting it at home under the light. Suspicious or open packages should be thrown away.
Road Safety Tips:
A quick reminder of road safety tips should be given to the kids going out on their own or in a group. The Ontario Safety League posts Elmer’s 7 Safety Rules which include looking all ways before you cross the street and when “leaving a curb, don’t run.”
For those driving, reduce your speed and keep a look out!
Posted by Rikin Morzaria on June 13, 2011 under Charity, Community
The 10th annual Practical Strategies for Health Care Professionals conference took place on Thursday June 9, 2011 and was an overwhelming success. Each year, McLeish Orlando co-sponsors this conference which is undertaken as a fundraising venture with 100% of the registration fees being donated to charity. This year, the conference raised over $20,000.00 for the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. McLeish Orlando wishes to thank all of the presenters and each of the over 200 attendees that helped make the conference a success.
