Melissa Miller - Full Body

Melissa Miller

Partner

Melissa Miller - Headshot

416-847-1063


Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP – Personal Injury Law – LExpert Ranked Lawyer

Melissa Miller is an advocate for the most vulnerable members of our population, the elderly. Being certified in Elder Law, she concentrates on nursing home negligence, long-term care cases and elder abuse. Her practice is also committed to all areas of personal injury litigation, including product liability, hospital negligence, car accidents, slip and falls and long-term disability claims. Melissa is a trusted advisor who supports and guides clients through the legal issues that need to be resolved as they fight to recover. Melissa is an experienced trial advocate and is prepared to take her cases all the way.

I want to be part of a team that is dedicated to their clients, passionate about litigation and excels in their craft – that is why I am proud to be a part of the team at Howie, Sacks & Henry.

Melissa is a member of many professional associations and frequently authors articles for these associations and other organizations, including updates on the law, catastrophic impairment, and important issues that affect the rights of injured victims. Melissa was elected to the Board of Directors of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association in 2017.

Practice Focus

Thought Leadership

Articles

Assessing the Senior’s Claims, The Litigator, December 2019

15 Years and Counting: Jury Awards Income Replacement Benefits, HSH Blog, May 2019

Power in Numbers for Nursing Home Cases, HSH Blog, July 2018

Melissa Miller Speaks Out for Disabled Client Evicted from Nursing Home, HSH E-News, July 2018

Top 5 Things to Know When a Loved One is in a Nursing Home in Ontario, HSH Blog, July 2018

Top 5 Things to Consider When Looking for a Nursing Home in Ontario, HSH Blog, July 2018

Nursing Home Negligence and Elder Abuse: The Often Hidden Crime, HSH Blog, November 2017

Court of Appeal Clarifies 2015 Amendments to Insurance Act, Saving Insurers Big Money, HSH E-News, October 2017

Medicinal Marijuana and Traumatic Brain Injuries, HSH Blog, July 2017

Fatal Shooting and Stampede at BPM Festival in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, HSH E-News, February 2017

Pokémon GO: The New “Virtual” Reality of Personal Injury, HSH Blog, August 2016

Ten Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make in Your First Five Years of Law Practice, HSH Blog, April 2016

Pre-Judgment Interest is a Substantive Right, HSH Blog, November 2015

Bill 15 Interest Rate Interpreted, HSH E-News, April 15, 2015

Lay Witnesses Save the Day–At Trial, HSH E-News, August 2014

Accident Benefits Dispute Resolution System – Big Changes Ahead?, HSH E-News, March 2014

Insurer Ordered to Pay Full Indemnity Costs, HSH E-News, October 2013

Out With the Old and In With the New CPP Regime, HSH E-News, March 2013

Attendant Care and Economic Loss HSH E-News, August 2012

Speaking Engagements

“COVID-19 and the Older Population: Remedies Update”, Ontario Bar Association, May 2022

Long-Term Care Homes, Retirement Homes, Community Based Services and Homecare: Navigating the System, Understanding the Legal Rules, Osgoode Certificate in Elder Law, April 2022

Elder Law Day, Ontario Bar Association, June 2021

Nursing Home Liability In and After COVID‑19, Osgoode Annual Personal Injury Law & Practice Update, April 2021

Effective Advocacy for the Elderly, Osgoode Certificate in Elder Law, April 2021

Preparing For & Conducting A Virtual Trial – From Those Who’ve Done It, OBA Motor Vehicle Tort Litigation Update, April 2021

Long-Term Care and Elder Law, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, November 2020

Long-Term Care: Legal Concerns of Residents, Staff and Homes, OBA Webinar, May 2020

Nursing Home Negligence Workshop, September 2019

Guest Tort lecturer at Dalhousie Law School, March 2018

Top Ten Trial Tips, Women’s Caucus Networking Lunch, November 2017

Top 10 Tort Cases in Motor Vehicle Litigation, OBA, November 2016

Confidentiality and Privacy, OTLA Spring Conference, May 2015

Media Mentions

Alzheimer’s patient denied re-admission to her long-term care home– CTV News London, October 24, 2022

Antipsychotics given to nearly 1 in 4 care home residents without diagnosisCBC News The National, September 14, 2022

Ford Government Pushes Hospitals to Bill Patients Who Won’t Leave When Cleared for Long-Term Care – NEWSTALK 1010, August 25, 2022

Melissa Miller Speaks to CP24 About Current Conditions in Nursing HomesCP24 Tonight, February 1, 2022

People with disabilities hope snow clearing ruling means more accessible streetsCTV News Toronto, October 25, 2021

Melissa Miller on representing the elderly in court and beyond – Canadian Lawyer, October 12, 2021

Melissa Miller Interviewed by Global News About Long-Term Care Election Platforms – Global News, September 15, 2021

Liberals pledge $9-billion for long-term care, but is it enough to fix a broken system? – Global News Radio 640 AM, August 20, 2021

‘Why are they getting away with it?’: Ontario’s new long-term-care report met with pain, skepticism from those who lost loved ones during COVIDThe Star, April 28, 2021

Ontario nursing homes badly prepared for COVID-19 pandemic, auditor general saysCTV News, April 28, 2021

Melissa Miller Discusses Campaign for Improved Conditions in Long-Term CareCTV News, February 28, 2021

Liberals pledge $9-billion for long-term care as affordability, social issues take centre stage in federal election campaignThe Globe and Mail, August 19, 2021

Legal experts call for major changes in promised update of long-term care legislation – QP Briefing, August 9, 2021

Global News InterviewGlobal News, November 2020

Pickering care home slammed in military report given green light to expand by province The Star, November 2020

Could Long-Term Care Home Managers Receive Criminal Charges? – HuffPost Canada, November 2020

Ontario proposes COVID-19 liability protection for those who made ‘good faith effort’ to follow law Law Times, October 2020

‘She was like an inmate:’ Georgina resident fighting to end ‘profit’ in long-term care homes – YorkRegion.com, September 2020

Family of man who died at River Glen Haven files lawsuit claiming home was negligentGeorgina Post, July 2020 

‘Broken system’: Lawyers fighting for reform in retirement homes and long-term care facilitiesCanadian Lawyer Magazine, June 2020

Her father died of COVID-19 at a long-term care home, now she’s part of a lawsuit looking for justiceOn Point with Alex Pierson, June 2020

Queen’s Park Considering Legislation to Provide Immunity to LTC Home Operators – Zoomer Radio, June 2020

‘Where is the justice?‘ Ontario looking at ‘good faith’ immunity from COVID-19 lawsuitsThe Globe and Mail, June 2020

Families Warned Doug Ford About Orchard Villa Care Home For Weeks Before Scathing Military Report – Huffington Post, June 2020

Coronavirus: Ontario families launch lawsuits in wake of grim long-term care findingsGlobal News, May 2020

Family files $1.5M lawsuit against Ontario’s worst-hit long-term care home for alleged neglect – CTV News, May 2020

Lawsuit Against Orhcard Villa Home – Zoomer Radio, May 2020

Another million-dollar lawsuit filed against Ontario’s worst-hit nursing home for alleged neglect – CTV News, May 2020

Ontario coroner investigates COVID deaths in care homes, but can’t confirm if inquests are needed, The Globe & Mail, May 2020

COVID-19 in nursing homes raises short and long-term legal issues for medical malpractice, Law Times, April 16, 2020.

Paralyzed man in Richmond Hill retirement home may be forced into long-term care, Melissa is quoted regarding her client being evicted from his home, April 24, 2019.

Judge dismisses request to help sheriff evict paralyzed man from Richmond Hill home, Melissa represents her client, a a homeless paraplegic, York Region, January 22, 2019.

Calgary families sue Revera-owned nursing homes, alleging negligence and poor care, Melissa describes common allegations of nursing home negligence, CBC News, January 21, 2019.

Families sue care homes, alleging neglect contributed to death of loved ones, Melissa exposes possible neglect in Ontario nursing homes, CBC, January 7, 2019

GoFundMe Started for Paralyzed Man Facing Eviction, Melissa updates reporters on the impending fate of her client, Toronto Star, June 28, 2018.

Man Facing Eviction from Retirement Home, Melissa explains the circumstances of disabled client facing eviction from Sunrise Senior facility, CTV News, June 27, 2018.

Neville-Lake Family Seeking $25- Million in Damages, Melissa explained why $25M might not be too high to claim from Muzzo family, CP 24, January 10, 2017

Muzzo Family Faces 25 Million Dollar Lawsuit (audio), Melissa comments on how damages are assessed, News Talk Radio 1010, January 10, 2017

Melissa Miller Gets to the Art of the Matter, Precedent Magazine, May 26, 2015

Personal, Industry and Community Activity

Education

Osgoode Elder Law Certificate, 2018

Called to the Ontario Bar, 2010

LLB, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, 2009

BA (Honours, With Distinction), Double Major: Philosophy and Political Science

University of Toronto, St. Michael’s College, 2006

Honours and Awards

Ontario Bar Association 2022 Award for Excellence in Elder Law

Lexpert Rising Stars 2021: Leading Lawyers Under 40

OTLA 2021 Distinguished Service Award

Canadian Law Awards 2021 Litigator of the Year Excellence Award

Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory – Consistently Recommended in Personal Injury Law

Best Lawyers in Canada, Personal Injury Category

Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) 2021 Distinguished Service Award

Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, 2014

Community Involvement

Plan Canada – I am a Girl, Child Sponsor

Certified Yoga Instructor

Professional Associations and Memberships

Ontario Trial Lawyers Association

  • Board of Directors (Current)
  • Past-Chair, New Lawyers Division
  • Past-Vice-Chair, New Lawyers Division

Ontario Bar Association

  • Elder Law Section COVID-19 Working Group

Canadian Bar Association

Medico-Legal Society

The Advocates’ Society

Women’s Law Association of Ontario

Young Women in the Law

Melissa Miller’s Team

Name Title
Chanice Dean
Assistant to Melissa Miller
416-572-3515

Chanice Dean 
Assistant to Melissa Miller
416-572-3515
cdean@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.

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