Matthew’s practice is focused primarily in the area of civil litigation, with an emphasis on construction litigation and insurance litigation.
On the construction side, Matthew acts for owners, general contractors and subcontractors in relation to all aspects of construction disputes, including contractual disputes, builders’ liens, deficiency claims and delay claims.
As it relates to his insurance litigation practice, Matthew routinely acts on behalf of insured defendants and has experience prosecuting subrogated claims on behalf of insurers.
Matthew also carries on a practice in the area of expropriation law, both before the Land Value Appraisal Commission and on appeal before the Manitoba Court of Appeal.
Matthew obtained his Bachelor of Arts – Psychology from Lakehead University where he graduated with First Class Standing, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Manitoba – Robson Hall where he graduated as the Gold Medalist.
Representative Work
Trial Advocacy
Evanson v Fort La Bosse School Division et al., 2021 MBQB 216
Successfully defended a teenager sued in negligence for inadvertently opening a school door into a substitute teacher.
3559972 Manitoba Ltd. et al. v Pethrick et al., 2022 CarswellMan 61
Successfully defended a pelvic floor physiotherapist who had been sued for allegedly breaching a non-competition and non-solicitation clause in her employment agreement, arguing that the clauses were void and unenforceable.
Appellate Advocacy
The Workers Compensation Board v Ali, 2020 MBCA 122
Successfully obtained the dismissal of an action for delay in a decision that now the seminal authority on dismissals for delay pursuant to Rule 24.01 of the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Rules.
Isaacson et al v Credential Insurance Services Inc., 2020 CarswellMan 366
Successfully defended an appeal from a trial decision dismissing the Plaintiff’s claim for commissions relating to the renewal of insurance policies sold by the Plaintiff to clients.
Madison Holdings Ltd. v Winnipeg (City of), 2021 CarswellMan 606
Obtained a $500,000 reduction to an award on account of disturbance damages by the Land Value Appraisal Commission.
Contested Motions and Applications
Lovell v Ontario (Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry), 2022 ONSC 423
Successfully defended a motion to adduce fresh evidence in the context of an Application for Judicial Review of a decision of the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Lovell v Ontario (Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry), 2022 oNSC 4285
Successfully defended an Application for Judicial Review that attempted to set aside a decision of the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry for alleged breaches of procedural fairness and an alleged lack of substantive reasonableness.
6165347 Manitoba Inc. et al. v The City of Winnipeg et al., 2021 MBQB 165
Defended a motion to introduce an expert report into evidence on the basis that, among other things, the admission of the report would have constituted a fundamental unfairness given the delay in producing the report.
Recognitions
- University of Manitoba Gold Medal – J.D. Program (for highest overall standing in the Juris Doctor program)
- Honourable Alexander Morris Exhibition Prize (for highest overall standing in the Juris Doctor program)
- Neil James MacDonald Memorial Prize, Criminal Law (for highest standing in Criminal Law and Procedure)
- Jack Rice Memorial Prize (for highest standing in Administrative Law)
- D.A. Thompson Q.C. Prize (for highest standing in Property Law)
- D.A. Thompson Q.C. Prize (for highest standing in Tort Law)
- D.A. Thompson Q.C. Prize (for highest standing in Income Tax Law)
- D.A. Thompson Q.C. Prize (for highest mark in Trusts)
- Jane Evans Q.C. Prize (for highest combined standing in Property Law, Trusts, and Wills & Estates)
- Pitblado Scholar: 2015-2018
- Law Clerk – Manitoba Court of Appeal
Volunteer Activities
Past
- Junior Editor – Canadian Journal of Human Rights
- Legal Help Centre Volunteer – Pro Bono Students Canada
Present
- Director – Elmwood Community Resource Centre