Newsletter of the Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch) August 1996 Vol. 8 • No.4
INSIDE President's Message ...... 2 Section Talk .................... 3 Retirement beckons for Branch Executive Director Robert Smethurst .......... 6 Victims rights suffer under no-fault insurance .......... 8 Escape to paradise ........ 9 Registry Q & A ............ 10 International law centre thrives in Vancouver .. 12 Use strategic planning to chart the future of your law firm .......................... 13 Legislative Update ........ IS Chief justice to leave top Supreme Court post ... 16 Cariboo Bar Association
hosts successful convention in historic gold rush town ................................ 20
CBA prepares to defend tort system against no-fault insurance challenge For the CBA, it is difficult to ascertain an President, BC Branch, Canadian Bar Association immediately appropriate position, given that no clear option for no-fault has been put forward . o many of our members who do not We also recognize that the problems and challenges facing both government and the practice in the area of personal injury law, the recent rise to prominence of Insurance Corporation of BC are immediate, the issue of no-fault insurance may significant and complex. We can only help to come as a surprise. In fact, the BC achieve the goal of an equitable automobile Branch of the Canadian Bar Association has scheme that can be offered as cheaply as possible to members of the been alert to the prospect of no-fault schemes for a public if we offer There more on this important number of years. The government and the issue on pages 8 & 9 and in Branch has two Corporation the enclosed report by the Trial assistance and solutcommittees in place which Lawyers Association. ions. have maintained a vigil Both plaintiff and on this issue. One is the Fair Auto Insurance Committee, Chaired by Don defence counsel in personal injury matters Yule of Vancouver; the other, our ICBC Liaison provide essential legal advice and, in the case of Committee, Chaired by Vince Orchard, also of plaintiffs' counsel, ensure access to justice to Vancouver. Of late, Don Yule, Branch Public many who would otherwise not have the will, Affairs Consultant Margot White and Ry Glover, nor the resources, to deal with a government Director of Communications for the Branch, have insurer. Having worked with Workers' been very busy working with the Trial Lawyers Compensation Board claimants and plaintiffs in Association ofBC, other CBA Provincial Branches motor vehicle accident claims, I have some and ICBC representatives, gathering information understanding of what access to justice means to and maintaining lines of communications. persons in those circumstances. It means having To date, the Branch has chosen to maintain a the ability to seek remedies in a way which low profile, leaving it to the Trial Lawyers expresses a person's individual suffering and Association of BC to mobilize the energies of our the often significant impact on their personal mutual members to address the subject in the family and working lives. One of the most public forum. Elsewhere in this issue, you will compelling arguments against the WCB or find an article by Jim Murphy, President of the absolute no-fault systems is that they deTrial Lawyers of BC. Also, background humanize the people they seek to benefit. The information from the Trial Lawyers regarding resulting bitterness and cynicism that follows is the merit of no-fault insurance has been enclosed profound. Any government, or Crown with this edition of BarTalk. This information is Corporation, that implements such a system provided to educate our members on the merits runs the risk of being the focus of that bitterness of the tort system and the experience of other and cynicism. It is the obligation of our Provincial jurisdictions where no-fault schemes are in place. By John Waddell
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