20 Years and Counting….

On February 12, 2022 I will celebrate a milestone.  Back in 2002, I remember the excitement as I, along with my graduating class from the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, were Called to Bar.  After 3 years of law school, professional development, articling then a few more months of studying and writing exams I had finally crossed the finish line.  It’s now been 20 years that I have been a lawyer.

I will tell you that it’s gone by fast.  I’ve got a favourite country song right now that contains the lyrics….”….’cause the truth about it is – It all goes by real quick….”.  I know I am not alone in this sentiment.

Now that I’ve told you it’s been 20 years, it should be no surprise that when I went to law school, very few students had laptops.  We wrote lecture notes by hand.  Heck, I didn’t even get a stick cell phone until I was articling in 2000.  We did very little email.  We faxed letters and waited for faxed replies.  We photocopied – a lot.  Law has always been paper based until very recently.

Changes in the Field of Personal Injury

The field of personal injury practice has changed over the last 20 years.    In my  opinion, this is the worst that it has been for injured accident victims in terms of compensation for their injuries and funding for recovery.  If you have been injured in a car accident there’s a deductible on pain and suffering.  Prior to 2015 it was $30,000.  Then is started to increase every year.  On January 1, 2022 it increased to $41,503.50. It’s scheduled to continue to increase every January 1^st.  This deductible is a savings to the insurance company on each and every motor vehicle accident case in the province on damages for pain and suffering (with very few exceptions).  Said another way, if you’re injured, your first $41,503.50 worth the pain in suffering isn’t worth anything. This is very unfair and disheartening to people who push through the pain to live their “new” lives after an accident.

Statutory Accident Benefits

I’ve also seen Statutory Accident Benefits eroded.  These are the benefits that you get when you buy auto insurance.  These benefits used to be much more generous to help people recover after an accident.  This is where you would receive income replacement and medical rehabilitation benefits.  Some benefits have been taken away altogether and some have been greatly reduced.  Again, very unfair when all people want to do after an accident is recover and get back to their normal lives.  Someone just last week told me that they would take back their crappy van and prior life to avoid being rear ended.  This sentiment rings true for almost all the people I work with after their accidents.  I actually can’t think of one single person over 20 years that was happy they had been in an accident. 

It’s a tough time in history to be injured in an accident. Now, more than ever clients need strong representation and effective advocacy.  Fighting against the insurance companies is something we do every day for all of our clients. Helping people recover and move forward that continue to fuel my passion for personal injury and disability work.  I can honestly say that I still love what I do.  Ruth does too.

Odyssey Award

Over my 20 years, I have been grateful to receive a few awards.  In 2011, I won an Odyssey Award.  This award recognizes University of Windsor alumi who are in the early stages of their career path, having distinguished themselves through successes in career endeavours, notable achievement in their local community or the University of Windsor, or through significant or innovative achievement in their professional or personal life. I am a proud graduate of Windsor Law and continue to keep up to date on what is happening at the law school.  I can’t wait to see the new renovated building!

Volunteer Award – Ontario Brain Injury Association

In 2014, I received a Volunteer Award from the Ontario Brain Injury Association for outstanding support of individuals living with the effects of brain injury.  I spent 4 years on the Board of Directors and really got to know first hand about the amazing services, support and advocacy happening on a provincial scale.  I continue to keep in touch with OBIA to this day and really recommend that if you or someone you know has a brain injury you look into what they can offer.  www.obia.com

Outstanding Individual – Windsor-Essex Accessibility Awards

In 2015, I was awarded Outstanding Individual by the Windsor-Essex Accessibility Awards for making an impact on improving the inclusion and awareness of accessibility issues for all people in our community.  For the last 12 years and continuing I have been on the Board of Directors of the Beyond Disability Rehabilitation Network.  www.beyonddisability.ca

Ontario Service Award

In 2018, I received an Ontario Service Award for 10 years of service with the Brain Injury Association of Windsor & Essex County.  This is a charity near and dear to my heart.  I have met so many wonderful people and have so many great experiences from working with this organization who help so many in our own community.  www.biawe.com

Charles J. Clark Award

Also in 2018, I was awarded the Charles J. Clark Award by the Essex Law Association. This award is given annually by the Essex Law Association to a member who best exemplifies the qualities of professional integrity and community service which were the hallmarks of the practice and life of Charles J. Clark.  This award is special because it’s recognition from local colleagues of my contributions to our community.

What’s Ahead?

So what’s ahead? So many of you continue to refer your family and friends to me and for that I am truly grateful.  I plan to continue in this line of work for many, many years working hard to represent my clients and treating them like family.

Also, as I lifelong volunteer in our community, I am absolutely certain that I will continue to volunteer into the future. There is no shortage of worthy causes in our community that make it a better place to work, live and thrive.

Cheers to 20 years and counting!