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Toronto class-action lawyer Margaret Waddell has opted to hang out her own shingle with the new firm, Waddell Phillips Professional Corporation,which will focus on cases with a strong human rights element, in addition to consumer protection, product liability and securities class actions.
“One of the types of litigation cases we are excited to take on is human rights, abuse matters — those actions that fundamentally involve fighting for the underdog and protecting peoples’ rights,” she says.
‘Heart of what access to justice means’
“Those cases will be an important part of who we are and what kind of matters we take. We feel they go to the heart of what access to justice means.”
Waddell joins partners John Phillips and Julia Tremain, and three associates to create the firm, which is located at 36 Toronto St. in the heart of Toronto.
Lawyer Patti Shedden will be counsel to Waddell Phillips, coming from a large downtown Toronto firm.
Waddell Phillips has three main focuses: class actions (a broad spectrum of cases, predominantly plaintiff-side proceedings involving abuse, securities fraud, medical device and consumer protection); commercial litigation; and family law, including matrimonial disputes and child protection matters that will be handled by Tremain.
Waddell highlights three significant matters she and Phillips are working on:
- the “day scholars” class action: Waddell Phillips is acting on behalf of aboriginal people from across Canada. The lawsuit alleges systematic abuse and loss of identity on behalf of students and bands;
- a class action on behalf of former students of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet involving intimate photographs taken by a teacher, some of which have been posted for sale on the internet. The claim is about breach of fiduciary duty and the tort, intrusion upon seclusion; and
- a class action against a medical device manufacturer involving a defective battery used in a cardiac defibrillator.
She is also acting as co-counsel on a variety of other class actions, and has more matters in the development stage.
