Ontario Trial Lawyers Association elects Dale Orlando as new President

BURLINGTON, ON, June 8 /CNW/ - Dale Orlando was elected President of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) on May 28, 2010 at the association's Annual General Meeting in Toronto. Mr. Orlando has served on the association's Board of Directors for seven years and two years on its Executive Committee.

Mr. Orlando is a partner with McLeish Orlando in Toronto. His practice is dedicated exclusively to personal injury and wrongful death cases, acting on behalf of injured people and their family members.

A prolific author, Mr. Orlando has published numerous articles about personal injury law. He is a contributing author to a Guide to Personal Injury Practice in Motor Vehicle Cases, a publication highly regarded by the legal community. Mr. Orlando has also acted as co-chair and lectured at numerous conferences held by OTLA and other professional associations.

As a member of OTLA's Five Year Review Committee, Mr. Orlando and his colleagues have devoted hundreds of hours to consultations with both government and the public regarding the review process of the auto insurance review in Ontario.

"As the changes to the new Statutory Accident Benefits Schedules (SABS) move ahead later this year, OTLA's Board of Directors remains highly involved in working to influence the process of implementation of various changes," said Mr. Orlando.

"We will enhance our public relations presence to educate the public about the unfairness of the Ontario Liberal Government cuts to auto insurance and the importance of purchasing optional first party coverage and adequate third party liability limits. We will also foster relationships with MPPs from all three parties to educate them about the countervailing perspective to that presented by the IBC on auto insurance, and on all other issues that impact the clients we serve."

Joining Mr. Orlando in leading OTLA is President Elect, Paul Harte, from Toronto and Vice-President, Andrew Murray, from London, Ontario.

About Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (www.otla.com)

Founded in 1991, the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) is an organization of almost 1,200 plaintiff lawyers, law clerks, articling students and law students. Its mission is to champion the cause of those who have suffered injury or injustice. OTLA members are actively involved in efforts to preserve and improve a civil justice system which is equally accessible to all and protects the rights of those who have suffered injury or losses as a result of the wrongdoing of others.

For further information: Linda Langston, Executive Director/CEO, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, [phone] or [email protected]