Morse Shannon LLP | Personal Injury

	Morse\|Shannon LLP is one of Canada’s foremost leading specialty law firms of expert lawyers, practicing in personal injury and medical malpractice. The name Morse\|Shannon is synonymous with outstanding trial and appellate advocacy, never losing sight of the need for both excellent and cost effective advocacy on clients’ behalf. With Morse\|Shannon’s extensive resources, clients can be certain that our personal injury team will leave no stone unturned in their quest to achieve the best possible settlement. Their extensive expertise, dedication and compassion that they provide their clients, makes a difficult situation a little easier, and can result in a better quality of life, which is the most important result of all.
	Jerome Morse Jerome Morse conducts a trial and appellate advocacy practice in the field of civil litigation. His practice areas include personal injury and fatalities involving motor vehicle collisions, medical (health care) malpractice, product liability, public authority, aviation and occupier liability; casualty, property and disability insurance litigation; professional negligence (physicians/lawyers/ engineers/accountants); corporate commercial and commercial insurance (including directors and officers) litigation; banking litigation; and class actions.  Jerome is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL). ACTL’s qualification requirements approve membership as a Fellow only to trial lawyers “who are unquestionably and eminently qualified… outstanding and considered the best in a state [or province] … [who have] high ethical and moral standards and excellent character … and are actively engaged in trial work as their principal activity.”  In 1990, Jerome was certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a specialist in the area of civil litigation.   Jerome has been named one of Canada’s 500 Leading Lawyers by Lexpert®, which identifies Jerome as a frequently recommended practitioner in personal injury, medical negligence (plaintiffs) and product liability and a repeatedly recommended practitioner in commercial insurance litigation. The 2009 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada has identified Jerome in the specialties of personal injury litigation and product liability law. Jerome has conducted numerous trials throughout Ontario. He also has obtained privileges and has conducted litigation in Nova Scotia, Alberta and Quebec. Jerome has published numerous articles in the above-noted practice areas. He is a member of the Advocates’ Society, the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, the Metropolitan Toronto Lawyers Association and the Toronto Medical Legal Society. Jerome is the past Head of the Trial Advocacy Program for the LSUC Bar Admission Course in London, a past member of the Board of Canadian Paraplegic Association (Ont.) and a past Director of the Toronto Medical Legal Society. Jerome is a founding member of the Holland Reform Group and has lectured at many continuing legal education seminars and conferences in his practice areas for the LSUC, the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario), the Canadian Institute, Insight, the Middlesex Law Association, the Ottawa-Carleton Law Association, and the B.C. Trial Lawyers Association. Learn more: Jerome Morse Published Expertise Jerome Morse Published Expertise Medical Malpractice: A How to Guide, Ontario Bar Associations Toronto, ON - March 29, 2012 The Twelve-Minute Civil Litigator 2010, Toronto, ON - September 21, 2010 Tricks of the Trade 2009 - Practical Strategies for Winning Medical Battles, Advocacy Demonstration featuring Geoffrey D.E. Adair, Q.C. and Jerome Morse – January 16, 2009 Modern Litigation for the Ontario Bar Association, Ajax, ON – April 19, 2008 Damages Assessment: The Times They Are A Changing, Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, April 3, 2008 Shortening the Process II, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, Continuing Legal Education, Marco Island, April 2, 2008 Final Reports: What An Expert Needs to Know, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, Continuing Legal Education, Marco Island, April 1, 2008 Practical Strategies for Winning Jury Trials, Advocates’ Society, Toronto, January 18, 2008 A Trial from A-Z: Closing Argument, Advocates’ Society, Toronto, March 8, 2007 Twelve Minute Litigator Series, Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, November 23, 2007 Civil Litigation Skills Certificate Program, Advocates’ Society, Toronto, November 21, 2007 Setting up for Success: The OTLA Guide to Medical Negligence Practice, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, Toronto, September 15, 2006. Civil Litigation Piloting a Civil Action: From Take-Off to Landing, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, January 24, 2006. Chronic Pain and Mild Brain Injury Cases – How Far Can You Go and Avoid a Mistrial, The Advocates’ Society, Toronto, January 20, 2006. Jury Advocacy, The Advocates’ Society, Toronto, March 8, 2005. Auto Insurance Litigation – For the Plaintiff, The Canadian Institute, Toronto, December 11, 2003. A Practical In Depth Guide to the Assessment of Damages – The Plaintiff’s View, The Canadian Institute, Toronto, December 9, 2003. For the Claimant – Putting Together a Winning Case, Litigating Disability Insurance Claims, The Canadian Institute, Toronto, November 4, 2003. Insurance Litigation, 3rd Annual National Forum on Insurance Litigation, Toronto, June 16, 2003. How to Strengthen Your Case, Auto Insurance Claims Litigation, The Canadian Institute, Toronto, May 14, 2003. Roads, Highways and Sidewalks: Critical Legal Developments and What They Will Mean in Practice, Jerome R. Morse and Rhonda Catherwood, Provincial/Municipal Government Liability, The Canadian Institute, Toronto, February 20, 2003. Jury Closing, Demonstration, Tricks of the Trade, Practical Strategies for Conducting Jury Trials, The Advocates Society, Toronto, January 16, 2003. Misrepresentation, Non‑Disclosure or Fraud in Disability Insurance Cases, Litigating Disability Insurance Claims Conference, The Canadian Institute, Toronto, November 4 & 5, 2002.
	Michael Shannon With over 25 years experience, Michael Shannon’s dedication, compassion, determination and perseverance, have made him one of the most successful and highly regarded lawyers in personal injury litigation, respected by both his clients and peers. He has handled cases all over North America, conducted numerous jury trials and recovered in excess of $100 million dollars on behalf of his injured clients. Michael’s areas of practice include brain injuries, medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, spinal cord injuries, injuries sustained from slips and falls, aviation and occupier liability, and acting on behalf of people who have had their long term disability, travel insurance and life insurance claims wrongly denied. Unlike other personal injury lawyers at other law firms, Michael personally handles every case in his practice and ensures that each of his cases receives 100% of his attention. Michael is consistently recognized as a leading personal injury practitioner in Canada. Since its inauguration in 2006, Michael has annually appeared in the National Post’s listing of Best Lawyers in Canada, and is recognized by Lexpert® and The Best Lawyers in Canada as one of the leading practitioners in personal injury law. Michael is also certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a specialist in the area of civil litigation. Michael has published and lectured extensively in the personal injury area, chaired numerous personal injury conferences and belongs to several associations including the Board of Directors of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. As an active member of the community, Michael generously supports a number of charitable events and initiatives that work towards preventing accidents and injuries or help victims and their families deal with personal injuries. Over the years, Michael’s involvement has garnered him many acknowledgments and awards from numerous groups and associations including the Canadian Paraplegic Association and the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. Recently Michael was very honoured to celebrate the ribbon cutting ceremony that officially opened 2 rooms he generously donated to the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute in support of their Neuro Rehab Program. Education LL.B., Osgoode Hall, York University, 1985 B.A., McMaster University, 1982 Achievements The Best Lawyers in Canada 2006-2012 (Personal Injury Litigation) Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2004-2013 LawDay's Top 45 Leading Lawyers in Personal Injury Law Martindale-Hubbell, BV Distinguished™ rating Call to the Bar Ontario, 1987 Associations The Advocates' Society American Trial Lawyers Association Canadian Bar Association Ontario Bar Association Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (Director and Member of the Executive) Toronto Lawyers Association Learn More: Michael Shannon Published Expertise Michael Shannon Published Expertise With over 20 years of experience in personal injury litigation, Michael is regarded as a knowledgeable expert in the field. He writes and lectures frequently across Canada. Below is a sample listing of noteworthy published materials and presentations. Getting the Right Expert, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association Fall Conference 2009 Firm Expenses: How Do You Make Sure You Stay Afloat? The Business of Law - What You Need to Know from the Get Go, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, March 2010 Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Cases: Confronting the Special Medical and Legal Challenges, Litigating Motor Vehicle Accident Claims, January 2009 Medical Malpractice, Continuing Legal Education Conference, March 2008 Attendant Care – Claims and Damages Strategies; Traumatic Brain Injuries in Children – Addressing Medical and Legal Challenges, Litigating Catastrophic Disability and Damages Conference, September 2007 Strategic Issues Between Auto (Tort and No-Fault) and Long Term Disability Claims, Litigating Disability and Auto Insurance Claims Conference, April 2005 Mitigation of Damages, 3rd Annual Forum on Litigating Personal Injury Damages, February 2005 Unraveling the Complexities of Mental Disorder or Mild Brain Injury Cases, Canadian Institute’s Auto Insurance Claims Litigation Conference, June 2004 How to Litigate Damages, Canadian Institute’s 2nd National Forum on Litigating Damages, February 2004 Reforms to the Threshold and Deductibles: The Way Ahead for Tort Claims, Canadian Institute’s Auto Insurance Claims Litigation Conference, December 2004 Proving Future Losses, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) Fall Conference, October 2003 Assessing the Risk of Relapse: How "Real" Is It? 4th Annual Litigating Disability Insurance Claims Forum, November 2002 Initial Steps and Requirements for Commencing Auto Insurance Litigation, Auto Insurance Claims Litigation Conference, October 2002 Innovative, Tactical and Practical Strategies to Make the Case for Punitive Damages, Canadian Institute's Advanced Forum on Litigating Damages, September 2002 Maintaining Privilege in Insurance Cases: A Critical Update, The Canadian Institute's 2nd Annual Insurance Litigation Conference, June 2002 Preparing for Litigation: Legal Perspective of the Plaintiff, Insight Conference "Promoting Patient Safety and Dealing with Medical Misconduct and Malpractice, March 2002 Brain Injuries and Psychological Disabilities: Key Considerations for Trial, The Canadian Institute Conference on Auto Insurance Claims, September 2001 How Plaintiffs Can Exploit Homeowner's Insurance Policies, The Ontario Trial Lawyers Association Conference on Occupier's Liability, June 2001 New Legal Developments and Practical Strategies for Successful Management and Resolution of Coverage Disputes, The Advanced Course on Insurance Litigation, May 2001 Informed Consent & Proving Battery, The Banff Medical Malpractice Retreat, February 2001
	Robert G. Plate Bob Plate has 17 years experience as a trial lawyer, with a wide variety of trial experience including as a local Agent for the Attorney General of Canada, counsel for several multi-national insurers regarding property and casualty claims and representing plaintiffs involved in serious injury claims. He has argued cases before the Provincial, Superior and Appeal Courts of Ontario often taking on complex and contentious legal disputes. In addition, Bob has successfully represented parties at the Financial Services Commission of Ontario regarding Accident-Benefit claims, at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal, and the Canada Pension Plan Review Tribunal. Bob now exclusively represents victims who have been injured or suffered damages as a consequence of the negligence or deliberate acts of others. He has successfully concluded hundreds of personal injury cases and medical malpractice cases and has considerable experience handling catastrophic and major loss claims including brain, spinal cord, chronic pain and psychological impairments. He has dedicated his practice to ensuring compensation and treatment for individuals injured in Ontario. Bob has lectured to community groups, health care professionals and through the Law Society of Upper Canada on a wide variety of medical and legal issues. In addition, Bob is often consulted by other lawyers to provide his expertise and experience regarding personal injury claims. Associations Law Society of Upper Canada Ontario Trial Lawyers Association Canadian Bar Association Insurance Law Subsection, CBA Civil Litigation Subsection, CBA Learn More: Robert Plate Notable Cases Robert Plate Notable Cases July 2013 - Client Z-Medical negligence claim Successfully resolved case against orthopaedic surgeon for misdiagnosis of compartment syndrome causing permanent injury to client’s leg/foot. Matter resolved at pretrial for six-figure settlement, the disclosure of which is confidential pursuant to release. May 2013 Successfully resolved case with insurer over the issue of catastrophic impairment and entitlement to non-earner and medical and rehabilitation damages. Insurer had offered nominal amount prior to retainer. Matter settled for $325,000.00 in benefits. December 2012 - Mohsina v. Ornstein On November 26, 2012, Justice B. A. Allen released her reasons for judgment allowing the plaintiffs' medical negligence action. Lori Stoltz and Robert Plate represented the plaintiffs, Mohsina Sayada and Amin Muhammad, at the trial of this action arising from gynecological surgery performed by the defendant, Dr. Melanie Ornstein. The plaintiffs succeeded on the basis that Dr. Ornstein had committed a battery upon Ms.Sayada by clipping her left fallopian tube during the surgery without consent. They were awarded $350,000 in damages and legal costs of $202,297 following a 7-day trial. [2012] O.J. No. 6274 (Ont. S.C.J) November 2012 - Campbell v. Snook et al Successfully argued at Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal [2012] Decision No. 87/12 that Plaintiff courier was independent contractor thus preserving his right to sue third party. Insurer for defendant in motor vehicle accident had brought application to the Workplace Safety Insurance Appeal Tribunal that Plaintiff was employee and thus prevented from advancing claim. Matter resolved thereafter at mediation for $780,000.00