ARC Lawyer List
--- Litigation/Personal Injury | Criminal Defense | Other ---
ARC Lawyer Referral Policy
ARC will provide as much information as we have about any lawyer, including the following:
* what type of cases the lawyer has done
* any feedback about such lawyers performance
* what their price range is and whether they have a sliding scale
* what the lawyer's relationship is to cycling and cyclists
Note, there is also a forensics engineer specializing in cycling listed under Other.
This list is not a guarantee of quality or accessibility, only a compilation of information that we have received.
This list is updated as we receive new information which may be quite infrequently. ARC encourages all cyclists to help keep this a viable resource by letting us know about any information which may be out of date or incorrect or any new information to be added.
As far as ARC is aware, the lawyers on this list and their employers conform to ARC's goals of advocacy, education and social responsibility and are supportive of the needs of cyclists.
Litigation/Personal Injury
If you have had a crash and suffered only damage to your bike or very minor injuries, then you may just want to make an insurance claim (see our Facts About Automobile Accident Injury Claims for more information). However if you are suffering more serious injuries or time lost from work, you should seek immediate legal advice. If you feel there is any potential for ongoing or chronic injury (such as in your back or neck), you should definitely get it checked out at a hospital. Lawyers will generally provide anyone with a brief consultation for free, and depending on your case may pursue litigation in exchange for a portion of your award, so that there are no up-front costs.
Rita Bambers
Dutton, Brock, MacIntyre & Collier; 483 University; (416) 593-4411 x360
Comment -- Heard we needed lawyers in Cyclometer, practices insurance defense, participated in ARC's legal workshop Sep 97. She is familiar with no fault and could explain implications for cyclists. She represents people who are suing--mostly motor vehicle, slip and fall, product liability. Her firm is high profile--she would not charge top rate for cyclists because she is interested in issue. Would give reasonable rate or could give some work to legal assistants who would be cheaper.
Bohdan Bodnaruk
Bodnaruk & Capone; 370 King St. W., Suite 416, Toronto
Comment -- Retained by family of Melissa Cook--cyclist killed at Queen/Beech in Aug 97--to sue TTC.
Patrick Brown
McLeish Orlando LLP; One Queen Street East, Suite 1620,M5H 2Y2
email pbrown@mcleishorlando.com, Phone 416-366- 3311 x 6521, Fax 416-366-3330
Comment -- Pat is a cyclist and a personal injury lawyer. Pat restricts his practice to representing only those people who suffer personal injuries or cases of wrongful death. Pat and the firm do not represent any insurance companies or defend negligent drivers. All initial consultations are free. Pat and the firm will finance their clients’ entire case. They also do not charge anything to the client until the end of the case and they only charge if they win. Pat has represented numerous cyclists throughout Ontario who have been seriously injured after being struck down. He has also represented the families of cyclists that have been killed. He has published papers in Canadian legal publications and has lectured at a number of Universities and the Law Society. He sits as an Executive Director with the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and has, and continues to, lobby and appear before the Ontario Government requesting changes to the present auto insurance regime so as to rectify unjust and unfair restrictions that apply to innocent cyclists who are injured or killed by bad drivers.
Patrick has also contributed substantially to the legal information on this website, see for example the Facts About Automobile Accident Injury Claims.
Nella Cotrupi
Iler, Campbell; 160 John; (416) 598-0103
Comment -- Heard we were looking for legal representation from Urbane Cyclist. Firm has 4 litigation lawyers, 3 corporate and commercial lawyers, understands that we are mostly interested in litigation and would be very interested in participating in workshop or education about cycling issues.
Downtown Legal Services
Downtown Legal Services (U of T clinic); (416) 978-6447
Comment -- Unfortunately it's closed a lot of the time. Recommended by Tim Gleason, ARC member and union lawyer.
Tony Lafazanis
Suite 1250, 180 Dundas St. W., M5G 1Z8; (416) 979-1770; fax: (416) 977-0717; E-mail: tony@tonylafazanis.com
Comment -- Left message on ARC voicemail on 8/29/97 that he is a lawyer who rides to work and just found out about ARC. Will serve as an alternate lawyer if one of the three cannot make it for Sep 97 workshop and will also serve us in the future. He has been a personal injury lawyer for 14 years and has represented many cyclists--will do this without a retainer (common practice). He recommends contacting a place like POINTS to see if they have someone with background and sensitivity to cyclists. They charge only about $200 for HTA charges which is much cheaper than lawyers because they use paralegals and ex police officers.
Law Society Lawyer Referral Service
(416) 947-3330
Comment -- Free public service including a free 1/2 hour consultation with a lawyer specializing in your type of problem. Tim Gleason recommends this service for assistance in finding the type of lawyer you need.
Paul McCulloch
Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA); (416) 960-2284
Comment -- Interested in representing cyclists who lay private charges against drivers parked in the bike lanes.
Claudio Vitullo
www.claudiovitullo.com; 416-410-6958
Comment --
* Cyclist
* Employment & labour lawyer, specializes in work-related injuries (couriers), workers compensation claims, product liability (faulty bikes, etc.)
* Offers sliding scale and/or contingency fees
Criminal Defense
(Note: Criminal defence can be expensive but it's not generally reserved for the rich -- quite the opposite really. You can get legal aid but often many lawyers won't work for so little $$.)
Alexander Beadie
(416) 972-6800; E-mail: abeadie@sympatico.ca
Comment -- Alexander emailed ARC: I'm a cyclist and criminal lawyer with 12 years experience defending criminal cases in Toronto and area. Recently, a colleague brought your Lawyer Referral Policy to my attention. I would be happy to have my name listed under Criminal Defence on your Referral List.
Charles Granek
24-hr line: (416) 410-4500; office: (416) 369-0909
Comment -- Recommended by Tim Gleason.
Jeff House
(416) 926-9402
Comment --
Brian Iler
Iler Campbell; (416) 598-0103
Comment -- Charles Campbell's partner. This firm is generally known as being progressive.
Bob Kellerman
(416) 926-8034 x151
Comment -- Activist lawyer recommended by Tim Gleason and many others.
Brenda Nichols
(416) 703-6209
Comment -- Lawyer who defended Derek Birch
Dave North
Fedorson/Shoniker; (416) 967-0695 or (416) 463-6666
Comment -- Friend of Ron Kuipers who is willing to volunteer some time for ARC, articling in criminal defense.
Peter Rosenthal
(416) 924-2257
Comment -- Lawyer who defended Joao Rolo
Clayton Ruby
(416) 964-9664
Comment -- Well-known lawyer who often defends activists.
Simon Shields
(416) 366-7663
Comment -- Friend of Ken McKracken, defended Sandy Bell.
Other
Jeff Archbold
Walters Forensic Engineering; Tel. (416) 971-8900 x.222; Fax. (416) 971-6319
Comment -- Forensics engineer and serious cyclist who does accident reconstructions, including vehicle/cyclist collisions. Has offered to act as an expert witness for cyclists unfairly charged. An example of the type of testimony he has provided:
Andrea Bowker
Comment -- Past chair of Toronto Cycling Committee. Offered to help ARC incorporate.
Karen Decker
80 Carlton St.; (416) 413-1300 x233
Comment -- Recommended by Nancy Kendrew--she knows she rides a bike and might be interested.
A. R. (Bob) Salvador
(416) 587-0070; E-mail: asalvador@sprint.ca
Comment -- Paralegal at a law firm specializing in consumer issues--sent an email to ARC asking us to let him know if he can help.
Catherine Watson
160 John; (416) 340-1061
Comment -- Recommended by Nancy Kendrew--she knows she rides a bike and might be interested.
If there is no appropriate lawyer on this list, please contact ARC for other options.