Allison has a varied civil litigation practice and a broad range of experience. She is the Vancouver Practice Group Leader for the Product Liability Group and the Health Law Group. She has served as counsel in numerous matters with particular emphasis on product liability, class actions, insurance defence, privacy, and health law.
Allison is experienced in the conduct of complex litigation at all stages including trial and in class action proceedings. Allison regularly defends major automotive manufacturers, disability insurance companies, healthcare providers, and the manufacturers of sports and recreational equipment, light equipment, heavy machinery, and household products.
She also advises our clients on privacy law matters which includes the preparation of privacy policies, guidance on practices, reviews of contractual arrangements with service providers in Canada and elsewhere, and responses to complaints, access requests, and breaches. She is one of two Privacy Officers for BLG.
Allison provides legal services through a Law Corporation.
Notable Cases
- Wright v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, British Columbia Supreme Court and British Columbia Court of Appeal, co-counsel for the defendants at trial and on appeal, in a claim for income-replacement benefits in excess of $1 million dollars.
- Arland Bruce v. Mark Steven Cohon and others, British Columbia Supreme Court, counsel for the defendant Krembil Neuroscience Centre (University Health Network) on a successful application to strike the claim for lack of jurisdiction. The plaintiff, a former professional football player, sought damages against the football clubs of the Canadian Football League and others, including Krembil Neuroscience Centre, alleging that the defendants knew or should have known of the danger of concussions and were negligent, breached a duty to warn, and made negligent misrepresentations to players and the public. The plaintiff agreed to discontinue the action as against Krembil Neuroscience Centre on the eve of his appeal. His appeal to the British Columbia Court of Appeal was dismissed, as was his application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
- Brandt v. Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. and others, British Columbia Supreme Court, co-counsel for the defendant Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. The plaintiff alleged serious brain injuries against multiple defendants, including Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. for alleged product defects. The plaintiff's claim against Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. was dismissed by consent.More v. Bauer Nike Hockey Inc., British Columbia Supreme Court, a member of the pre-trial defence team for the defendants Bauer Nike Hockey Inc. and Bauer Hockey Corp. in a claim brought alleging negligent design and manufacture of the hockey helmet worn by the plaintiff at the time he suffered a serious brain injury during a AAA Midget hockey game. Among other things, the plaintiff alleged the hockey helmet failed to protect him. Instrumental in all pre-trial procedural steps and, most significantly, marshalling expert evidence on issues of hockey helmet design and manufacture, and the nature and cause of the brain injury in issue. The action was dismissed at trial and the appeal to the British Columbia Court of Appeal was dismissed.
- Beazley v. Suzuki Motor Corporation and others and Spehar v. Suzuki Motor Corporation and others British Columbia Supreme Court, co-counsel for the defendants Suzuki Motor Corporation, General Motors Corporation, General Motors of Canada Limited, and CAMI-Automotive Inc. The plaintiffs alleged damages in excess of $7 million dollars with respect to serious brain injuries sustained by the plaintiff Spehar during a motor vehicle accident in 1994. The claims against the defendants alleged negligence design and manufacture of the motor vehicle involved. The plaintiffs' claims against were dismissed by consent after the first three weeks of trial.
- Chartrand v. General Motors Corporation, British Columbia Supreme Court, co-counsel for the defendants on the dismissal of an application for certification of a proposed class action.
- Home Equity Developments Inc. v. Crow and others, co-counsel at trial for the plaintiffs in a successful action for defamation which included awards of aggravated and punitive damages.
- Wright v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, British Columbia Supreme Court and British Columbia Court of Appeal, co-counsel for the defendants at trial and on appeal, in a claim for income-replacement benefits in excess of $1 million dollars.
- Arland Bruce v. Mark Steven Cohon and others, British Columbia Supreme Court, counsel for the defendant Krembil Neuroscience Centre (University Health Network) on a successful application to strike the claim for lack of jurisdiction. The plaintiff, a former professional football player, sought damages against the football clubs of the Canadian Football League and others, including Krembil Neuroscience Centre, alleging that the defendants knew or should have known of the danger of concussions and were negligent, breached a duty to warn, and made negligent misrepresentations to players and the public. The plaintiff agreed to discontinue the action as against Krembil Neuroscience Centre on the eve of his appeal. His appeal to the British Columbia Court of Appeal was dismissed, as was his application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
- Brandt v. Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. and others, British Columbia Supreme Court, co-counsel for the defendant Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. The plaintiff alleged serious brain injuries against multiple defendants, including Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. for alleged product defects. The plaintiff's claim against Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. was dismissed by consent.More v. Bauer Nike Hockey Inc., British Columbia Supreme Court, a member of the pre-trial defence team for the defendants Bauer Nike Hockey Inc. and Bauer Hockey Corp. in a claim brought alleging negligent design and manufacture of the hockey helmet worn by the plaintiff at the time he suffered a serious brain injury during a AAA Midget hockey game. Among other things, the plaintiff alleged the hockey helmet failed to protect him. Instrumental in all pre-trial procedural steps and, most significantly, marshalling expert evidence on issues of hockey helmet design and manufacture, and the nature and cause of the brain injury in issue. The action was dismissed at trial and the appeal to the British Columbia Court of Appeal was dismissed.
- Beazley v. Suzuki Motor Corporation and others and Spehar v. Suzuki Motor Corporation and others British Columbia Supreme Court, co-counsel for the defendants Suzuki Motor Corporation, General Motors Corporation, General Motors of Canada Limited, and CAMI-Automotive Inc. The plaintiffs alleged damages in excess of $7 million dollars with respect to serious brain injuries sustained by the plaintiff Spehar during a motor vehicle accident in 1994. The claims against the defendants alleged negligence design and manufacture of the motor vehicle involved. The plaintiffs' claims against were dismissed by consent after the first three weeks of trial.
- Chartrand v. General Motors Corporation, British Columbia Supreme Court, co-counsel for the defendants on the dismissal of an application for certification of a proposed class action.
- Home Equity Developments Inc. v. Crow and others, co-counsel at trial for the plaintiffs in a successful action for defamation which included awards of aggravated and punitive damages.
General Representative Work
- Extensive experience in the conduct of complex product liability litigation, including trial and arbitration experience and class actions.
- Adept advocate in personal injury, disability insurance, and medical negligence claims.
- Regularly advises Canadian and U.S. public and private sector organizations on personal information protection issues.
- Provides guidance across all sectors on insurance coverage disputes.
- Trusted advisor to health care institutions on risk management, regulatory obligations, and in defense of claims.
- Extensive experience in the conduct of complex product liability litigation, including trial and arbitration experience and class actions.
- Adept advocate in personal injury, disability insurance, and medical negligence claims.
- Regularly advises Canadian and U.S. public and private sector organizations on personal information protection issues.
- Provides guidance across all sectors on insurance coverage disputes.
- Trusted advisor to health care institutions on risk management, regulatory obligations, and in defense of claims.
