James R. Howie
Founding Partner
416-361-3551
Jim’s practice is devoted to litigation, principally in the areas of personal injury litigation, insurance claims and medical malpractice, on behalf of victims.
Jim helps clients deal with disasters that have come into their lives. When it comes to making sure that they are properly compensated for their injuries and able to manage the quality of their lives moving forward, Jim takes a hard-nosed approach to his cases. He has tried these cases and appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court and the Ontario Court of Appeal, as well as various tribunals, including the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.
I chose, along with my founding partners, to create a law firm which would be dedicated to providing quality legal service to personal injury victims.
Jim has both chaired and lectured frequently for various personal injury programs put on by a number of legal professional associations, and has held leadership roles in several prominent lawyer and medical-legal organizations. He is a Past President of the Toronto Lawyers Association, a Past Director of The Advocates Society, and is a current Member of Council of the Medico‑Legal Society of Toronto. He has also presented and written for Canadian Defence Lawyers, Lexpert®, Insight and others, and has lectured frequently on auto insurance at Osgoode Hall Law School.
Jim has been recognized and qualified as an expert in personal injury law by the Ontario Superior Court. He has been, for many years, continually named to the list of “Best Lawyers in Canada,” “Lexpert® Directory of Legal Experts” and the National Post’s List of Best Lawyers in Canada. In November 2018 Jim was named the “Plaintiff Lawyer of the Year” by the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association.
Jim founded the St. Michael’s Hospital Head Injury Clinic annual Charity Golf Tournament, and has served numerous times as the tournament’s Chairman. Each year, it raises more than $100,000 to benefit the Clinic. He also served for two years on the non-profit Brain Injury Association of Toronto as a Director.
Jim was awarded the 2018 Plaintiff’s Lawyer of the Year Award by the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association.
Jim Howie is a trusted expert in dealing with Snowbird Accidents and a member of Cross Border Confidence – for a free consultation and to see if you’re eligible to be compensated for your injuries sustained during a motor vehicle accident while being a snowbird in the U.S. contact Jim at – 416-361-3551, jrhowie@hshlawyers.com.
Practice Focus
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Frequently Asked Question Videos
Professional Success
Representative Cases
Opoku, Sarpong v. Coseco Insurance Co., 49 O.R. (3d) 97 (C.A.) (Ontario Court of Appeal 2000)
Meandro and Pilot Insurance Company, FSCO Appeal P-004433 (1997)
Alfred and Allstate/State Farm, FSCO Appeal P96-00015 (1997)
Cole and Allstate Insurance Company of Canada, FSCO A96-000394 (1997)
Adabi Ghomi and Allstate Insurance Company of Canada and Wellington Insurance Company, FSCO Appeal P96-00065 (1997)
Settlements and Verdicts
Past results are not predictive of future results and each situation is unique and requires individual and independent legal advice
$11.5 Million – Teen suffered severe head injury, rendered a quadriplegic in crash
$10.32 Million – Teen severely injured in a car accident
$3.1 Million – Personal trainer suffered catastrophic injuries after being hit by car
$2 Million – 15-year-old suffered spinal cord injury jumping in swimming pool
$2 Million – Fast food owner/chef suffered brain injury after being struck by car
$1.55 Million – 20-year-old passenger sustained brain injury in car accident
Lawyer Referrals
Client Testimonials
Client Reunion Videos
A horrific car accident left Rory a quadriplegic with severe brain injuries. Unable to care for himself, his family wanted Rory to live at home. Jim engineered a settlement that achieved that with round-the-clock care. Their touching reunion (video).
After a bad motorcycle accident, Amy lost much of the mobility in her left leg. Jim fought to make it possible for her to avoid Canada’s cold winters and get her lifestyle back. Their touching reunion (video).
Thought Leadership
Articles
The Elephant on the Road: Truck Accidents and Personal Injury, HSH Blog, January 2018
American Truck Drivers Involved in Accidents in Ontario, HSH Blog, November 2017
HSH Partners Recommended By Their Peers in Lexpert, HSH Blog, May 2017
Some Severe Injuries Resulting From Car Accidents and The Importance of Accident Benefits, HSH Blog, April 2017
Car Accident Prevention Tips: Safety Features To Look For When Buying a New Car, HSH Blog, February 2017
Personal Injury on Municipal Property: Does The City Value Your Safety?, HSH Blog, January 2017
Cycling Accidents Without Insurance, Who Pays?, HSH Blog, December 2016
Cycling Hand Signals And Other Tips For Drivers, HSH Blog, November 2016
Car Accident Prevention Tips: Five Inspections To Keep Your Vehicle Road Ready, HSH Blog, November 2016
Cycling Safety Tips and Hand Signals For Cyclists, HSH Blog, November 21, 2016
Pedestrian Safety: Accidents and Fatalities – Walk The Line, HSH Blog, July 2016
Ten Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make in Your First Five Years of Law Practice, HSH Blog, April 2016
Medical Expert Evidence – What’s Old, What’s New, The Lawyers Weekly, Vol. 17, No. 33, 1998
Media Mentions
Allegations of Falling Concrete from West End Bridge (video): Jim speaks to City News about the dangers from older bridges after client is hit by falling concrete, City News, January 4, 2017.
Speaking & Teaching Engagements
Winning Clients with New Referral Rules, Ontario Bar Association, February 8, 2018
Changes to Statutory Accident Benefits, The Disability Channel, January 27, 2017
Updated Catastrophic Impairment Criteria, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, June 2, 2016
Accident Benefits Spring Symposium, Canadian Defense Lawyers, April 28, 2016
Understanding Case Law, Insurance Institute of Ontario, February 25, 2016
Diagnosing Traumatic Brain Injury, Osgoode Professional Development Continuing Legal Education Conference, April 2015
Building Your Network and Professional Reputation Amongst Your Peers, Ontario Bar Association, November 13, 2013
Top 10 Mistakes You Should Not Make in Your First Few Years of Practice, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, September 25, 2013
Why Does My Head Hurt? Acquired Brain Injury Litigation and Medicine, May 1, 2013
Qualification of Family Doctor (in Chief / Direct Examination) by Plaintiff Lawyer, Co-presenter, Canadian Defence Lawyers, March 30, 2012
Accessing Funding for Medical Rehabilitation, Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP Accident Benefits Seminar, March 29, 2012
How an Injury May be Deemed to be Catastrophic, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, September 27, 2011
Recent Trends in Personal Injury, Ontario Trial Lawyers Conference, May 26, 2011
Pet Peeves and Problem Areas, Professionally Speaking, Canadian Defence Lawyers 3rd Annual Accident Benefits Joint Plaintiff and Defence Seminar, April, 2011
It’s Raining CATS and Dogs, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, February 22, 2011
Insurance Law Update: Changes in Motor Vehicle Law after September 1, 2010, Toronto Lawyers Association Nutshell Program, December 7, 2010
Bring Us Your Problem Cases, Canadian Defence Lawyers, November 1, 2010
Accident Benefits: How to Win Your AB Case from Start to Finish, Canadian Defence Lawyers, April 15, 2010
Lecturer, Insurance Law to Law Students, Osgoode Hall Law School, 2004 – 2009
Personal, Industry and Community Activity
Education
Called to the Ontario Bar, 1980
LLB, Queen’s University, Faculty of Law, 1978
BA (Honours: Deans List) University of Western Ontario, 1975
Honours and Awards
2018 Plaintiff’s Lawyer of the Year Award, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
Certified as a Specialist in Civil Litigation, by The Law Society of Upper Canada
Qualified Expert on Personal Injury Law, Ontario Superior Court
Listed in The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as “Consistently Recommended” (1997-2015) and “Most Frequently Recommended” (2016) in Personal Injury Law.
National Post’s list of best personal injury lawyers in Canada every year since the list’s inception
Best Lawyers in Canada, Personal Injury Category, since 2007
Community Involvement
Brain Injury Society of Toronto, Board of Directors
The Advocates Society, Board of Directors
Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, Member of Council
Out of the Rough Golf Tournament in support of the St. Michael’s Head Injury Clinic, Chair, 2013 – 2018
Professional Associations and Memberships
Cross Border Confidence, Member
Advocates’ Society, Former Director, Current Member, 1985 – Present
Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, Council Member, 2000 – Present
American Association for Justice, Current Member, 1984 – Present
The Toronto Lawyer’s Association, (Past President, 2002), 2002 – Present
Brain Injury Association of Toronto, Former Director, 1992 – 1994
Ontario Bar Association
Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America (APITLA), Member
James R. Howie’s Team
| Name | Title | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Anna Gabrielli |
Assistant to James R. Howie |
416-361-7574 |
|
|
Donna Moscattini |
Law Clerk |
416-361-7584 |
|
|
Leslie Fielding |
Law Clerk, Assistant to Donna Moscattini |
416-361-7578 |
|
|
Chris Temple |
Law Clerk |
416-361-7581 |
|
|
Lisa Grodzinski |
Assistant to Chris Temple |
416-847-1062 |
|
|
Christie McKeown |
Law Clerk |
416-649-7658 |
|
|
Diana Peto |
Assistant to Christie McKeown |
416-644-2081 |
|
|
Lesley Tersigni |
Law Clerk |
647-796-0087 |
|
|
Esther Patrick |
Assistant to Lesley Tersigni |
416-646-3334 |
Anna Gabrielli
Assistant to James R. Howie
416-361-7574
agabrielli@hshlawyers.com
Donna Moscattini
Law Clerk
416-361-7584
dsmoscattini@hshlawyers.com
Leslie Fielding
Law Clerk, Assistant to Donna Moscattini
416-361-7578
lafielding@hshlawyers.com
Chris Temple
Law Clerk
416-361-7581
catemple@hshlawyers.com
Lisa Grodzinski
Assistant to Chris Temple
416-847-1062
lgrodzinski@hshlawyers.com
Christie McKeown
Law Clerk
416-649-7658
cdmckeown@hshlawyers.com
Diana Peto
Assistant to Christie McKeown
416-644-2081
dpeto@hshlawyers.com
Lesley Tersigni
Law Clerk
647-796-0087
ltersigni@hshlawyers.com
Esther Patrick
Assistant to Lesley Tersigni
416-646-3334
epatrick@hshlawyers.com
Among the best in Canada
Since 2011, our peers have consistently voted for us as one of Canada’s top personal injury firms in Canadian Lawyer magazine’s annual rankings of the top personal injury boutiques in Canada. With decades of experience helping accident victims and their families, our firm understands the laws that affect your right to compensation because we’ve helped shape those laws in favour of accident victims.
Among the best in Canada
Since 2011 Canadian Lawyer Magazine rated us one of the top personal injury law firms in Canada. Why? With close to 20 years helping accident victims and their families, our firm understands the laws that affect your rights to compensation because we’ve helped shape those laws in favour of accident victims.
Tell Us What Happened.
Our team of highly-trained lawyers are here to listen and help.
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We’re available 24/7 for a free consultation.