What We Do

Personal Injury Defence

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Defending against complex personal injury claims requires experience, a mind for strategy, and extensive knowledge of the law. Insurance providers looking to protect their interests and effectively defend their clients can benefit from the counsel of Eyford Partners’ highly skilled litigators.

Our lawyers provide insurance companies with knowledge-driven litigation and appellate services. Several of our senior partners have been practising in this area for more than two decades. While an early resolution is often preferable, our proven litigators are more than capable of taking a disputed claim to court. Unlike many other firms, we can also provide clients with skilled appellate services. This allows us to support our clients at every stage as necessary, from opening negotiations to the Court of Appeal.

Our strong reputation means that we are often sought out to defend against complex, multifaceted claims. We regularly assist clients in cases involving catastrophic injuries—such as spinal cord and traumatic brain injury—and ongoing medical issues, such as chronic pain, psychiatric disorders, or psychological issues.

We move efficiently to identify the core issues. Our collaborative process and dedicated research lawyer ensures that we approach each defence from a position of knowledge. This allows us to provide our clients with sound advice over the entire lifespan of the claim.

Calling in the Experts

To help our clients advance their defence, we can provide a pool of experts who are experienced at presenting evidence before the court. We consult with forensic engineers to obtain accurate, unbiased analysis of events. In vehicle collisions, we may look to an accident reconstruction engineer to provide clarity. If there is a question about whether an accident caused a specific injury, we know biomechanical experts who can provide answers.

Our experience allows us to foresee significant issues and to retain the appropriate experts. This allows us to develop an effective legal strategy, one that is rooted in an informed understanding of the injury-producing event.

We continually assess the case, revising our strategy as more information comes to light.

Defending Complex Claims

Our lawyers are known for their proficiency in defending against multifaceted claims. We have experience defending against uninsured and underinsured motorist protection (UMP) claims and representing clients in UMP arbitration proceedings. We also are experienced in cases involving loss of a family member and statutory rights arising from the Family Compensation Act. Claims brought by minors and involving a public guardian or trustee come with their own set of intricacies, which we are well-equipped to address.

Multi-party claims, involving several insurers, can be especially byzantine. We have the expertise to provide clear, effective counsel in these situations. We also know when to seek out other potentially liable parties.

Our lawyers are not just skilled practitioners. They also share their knowledge of personal injury defence as speakers and authors. Sandra Katalinic, for example, has served for more than a decade as a member of Editorial Board for the British Columbia Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Practice Manual, an extensively researched guidebook for BC lawyers that is widely used within the industry. Eyford Partners’ collaborative culture means that every client benefits from our lawyers’ collective pool of knowledge.

Associated
People
 
Lawyers

  • Kaelyn
    Fountain

    Associate

    Kaelyn
    Fountain

    Associate

  • Jared G.
    Cummings

    Associate

    Jared G.
    Cummings

    Associate

  • Kenneth
    Soe

    Associate

    Kenneth
    Soe

    Associate

  • Kemily
    Ho

    Associate

    Kemily
    Ho

    Associate

  • Frank
    Lin

    Associate

    Frank
    Lin

    Associate

  • Christopher A.
    Schuld

    Partner

    Christopher A.
    Schuld

    Partner

  • Ryan W.
    Parsons

    Partner

    Ryan W.
    Parsons

    Partner

  • Jason Z.
    Murray

    Partner

    Jason Z.
    Murray

    Partner

  • Sandra M.
    Katalinic

    Partner

    Sandra M.
    Katalinic

    Partner

  • Douglas R.
    Eyford KC

    Partner

    Douglas R.
    Eyford KC

    Partner

  • Sudhir K.
    Padmanabhan

    Partner

    Sudhir K.
    Padmanabhan

    Partner

  • Robert D.
    Shaw

    Partner

    Robert D.
    Shaw

    Partner

  • Matthew J.
    Straw

    Associate

    Matthew J.
    Straw

    Associate

  • Angus M.
    Gunn KC

    Partner

    Angus M.
    Gunn KC

    Partner

  • Steven F. G.
    Hoyer

    Associate

    Steven F. G.
    Hoyer

    Associate
 
Paralegals
  • + Bio

    Stacey Whiteside

    Paralegal | West Kelowna

    Legal Assistant | West Kelowna

    | West Kelowna


    TEL 778 754 0285
    FAX 778 754 0287
    swhiteside@eyfordpartners.com

    Education/Experience

    Stacey Whiteside is a paralegal in the firm’s Kelowna office. Stacey graduated from McMaster University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Humanities degree in History. She then obtained her Paralegal Diploma from Capilano University in 1998. Stacey has worked extensively in the area of personal injury litigation for both plaintiff and defence firms in the Okanagan. Stacey joined the firm in 2013.

    Biography

  • + Bio

    Paula Robson

    Paralegal | Vancouver

    Legal Assistant | Vancouver

    | Vancouver


    TEL 604 899 5219
    FAX 604 899 5216
    probson@eyfordpartners.com

    Education/Experience

    Paula Robson obtained her Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Capilano University in 2011. Before joining the firm, she worked as a paralegal/legal assistant at a large national law firm. Paula joined the firm in 2012.

    Biography

  • + Bio

    Jennifer Montgomery

    Paralegal | Vancouver

    Legal Assistant | Vancouver

    | Vancouver


    TEL 604 899 5244
    FAX 604 899 5216
    jmontgomery@eyfordpartners.com

    Education/Experience

    Jennifer Montgomery is a graduate of Capilano University with a Paralegal Diploma in 2007 and a Bachelor of Legal Studies in 2014. Before joining the firm, she worked in the commercial litigation and insurance and tort liability practice groups of a large national law firm. Jennifer joined the firm in 2010.

    Biography

  • + Bio

    Nichole Kirk

    Paralegal | Vancouver

    Legal Assistant | Vancouver

    | Vancouver


    TEL 604 899 5215
    FAX 604 899 5216
    nkirk@eyfordpartners.com

    Education/Experience

    Nichole Kirk obtained a Paralegal Diploma from Capilano University in 2011 and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Alberta in 2003. Nichole has worked in various areas of litigation prior to joining the firm in 2016.

    Biography

  • + Bio

    Maria Hammell

    Paralegal | Vancouver

    Legal Assistant | Vancouver

    | Vancouver


    TEL 604 899 5228
    FAX 604 899 5216
    mhammell@eyfordpartners.com
    Supporting
    Lawyers
    Sandra Katalinic

    Education/Experience

    Maria Hammell has more than 19 years of experience in civil litigation matters, primarily personal injury and insurance defence. She assists in all aspects of file management including drafting pleadings, analyzing medical and wage loss documents, instructing experts and communicating with clients. She works mostly on high complexity files with issues relating to brain injuries. Maria joined the firm in 2016 and works in the capacity of a legal administrative assistant and paralegal.

    Biography

  • + Bio

    Allison Bird

    Paralegal | Vancouver

    Legal Assistant | Vancouver

    | Vancouver


    TEL 604 899 5203
    FAX 604 899 5216
    abird@eyfordpartners.com

    Education/Experience

    Allison Bird graduated from Capilano University in 2000 with a Paralegal Diploma. Before that, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Victoria. Before joining the firm as a paralegal in 2014, Allison worked as a litigation paralegal in Vancouver and Victoria, most recently with the investigations department of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia.

    Biography