Bruce Lemer
2010 Updates

• BRUCE W. LEMER, Class Action · Insurance · Commercial · Professional Negligence · Products Liability · Personal Injury · I.C.B.C. Claims Disputes · Metro Vancouver, BC Canada
  
  
• 2009 Settled Class Action against Merrill Lynch & Currency Exchange Fees

Bruce Lemer, Barrister & Solicitor:

|  Background  |  Class Actions & Product Liability  |  Personal Injury  |  Publications  |  Contact  |

BACKGROUND PROFILE

Mr. Lemer was called to the bar in 1982.

Mr. Lemer was plaintiff's co-counsel in Endean vs. Canadian Red Cross and others, a class action on behalf of individuals infected with hepatitis C through blood transfusions, which resulted in the largest class action settlement in Canadian history, at that time.

He was plaintiff co-counsel in a U.S. action by Canadian haemophiliacs against Armour Pharmaceutical Company for infection with HIV by blood products.  The case was profiled in a report by CNN TV, Bruce Lemer was interviewed by CNN investigative correspondent Art Harris on Dec. 2002 [ http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0212/31/cct.00.html scroll down long page]

He has extensive experience in complex litigation, having acted for numerous individuals in products liability and professional negligence claims against governments, blood products manufacturers and the Canadian Red Cross for infection with HIV and hepatitis C through blood transfusions and blood products.

He has successfully represented plaintiffs in negligence claims against stockbrokers and brokerage firms, physicians and highway maintenance bodies (for accidents caused by inadequate winter maintenance procedures).

He has appeared on numerous occasions in the British Columbia Supreme Court, the BC Court of Appeal, and courts in Alberta and Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Bruce Lemer in 2010 has been awarded the "BV" distinguished rating by LexusNexus / Martindale-Hubbell, peer review, for "Very High Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards".

BRUCE LEMER CLASS ACTIONS & PROPOSED CLASS ACTIONS

Class Action against Merrill Lynch Canada & BMO Nesbitt Burns: on Secret Profits on Currency Exchange Rates

The Merrill Lynch Currency Exchange Law Suit - settled in 2009.  "BC court approves suit against Merrill Lynch Canada 2006-12-28 19:20:00 VANCOUVER (CP) - A  B.C. Supreme Court judge has approved a class action lawsuit against Merrill Lynch Canada over claims the investment house made secret profits on foreign currency exchange rates charged for securities transactions."

"Investor ... alleges Merrill Lynch did not disclose to its clients in the 1990s that it was charging a spread ....... [on] trades involving mostly U.S.-denominated foreign securities destined for Canadian-dollar accounts." [cited from www.canoe.ca, references also in GlobeandMail.com December 2006 News Articles]

Proposed class action against Telus Communications

"... alleging it is deceiving its cellular customers about Telus Mobility's practice of charging air time for incoming calls even before their phones start ringing... in contravention of the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act and the Trade Practice Act..." [quote The Vancouver Sun, Wed. Mar. 09, 2005 - Business Section p.D5, article by Gillian Shaw]

Proposed class acton against United Furniture on Negligent Misrepresentation in Advertising

Holmes v United Furniture and others: for breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation in advertising

Settled:  Case on Inappropriate Actions in Pharmaceutical Drug Price Increase

DeMuinck  v.  BASF Inc. and others; against a drug manufacturer with respect to allegedly inappropriate actions taken to raise the price of a drug- settled in 2007.

PERSONAL INJURY & ICBC INJURY CLAIMS

Mr. Lemer has also successfully represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases involving paraplegia and quadriplegia, brain injuries, serious orthopedic injuries and death claims.

PUBLICATIONS AND ARTICLES

· He was the yearly update author of the chapter on I.C.B.C. (Insurance Corp. of BC) no-fault benefits in the Motor Vehicle Claims Manual ( a publication of the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, 1999-2003 )

· Strict Products Liability:  The problem of improperly designed products ( Osgoode Hall Law Journal, 1982 )

Dealing With Claimants and Insureds ( in Insurance Law, CLE, 1989 )

· Practice Points for a Personal Injury Discovery ( in Personal Injury Trials: Techniques and Tactics, CLE, 1989 )

· Pollution Coverage Under C.G.L. and Automobile Policies ( in Pollution and Contamination Insurance Claims, CLE, 1990 )

CONTACT BRUCE LEMER

Bruce W. Lemer,
Associate Counsel · Trial Lawyer
GRANT KOVACS NORELL
Barristers & Solicitors
400 - 900 Howe St.
Vancouver, BC  V6Z 2M4
Tel:  604-609-6699
Email:  blemer@gkn.ca

Lawyers-BC.com Reference Articles on BC Class Actions

• see introduction article on Class Action law in BC
• see Class Action FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions and Answers)
  • How to start a class action?
    
    
  • What are the requirements for certification to become a class action?
    
    
  • What are the requirements for a representative plaintiff?
    
    
  • What are the considerations for certification of a class action?
    
    
• see also - online copy of BC Class Actions Legislation-Act Class Proceeding Act RSBC 1996 from Copyright © 2003: Queen's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

• for Toronto, Ontario law firms known for their class action work see
  Toronto Directory of Lawyers
• for San Francisco, California law firms experienced in class action / product liability / medical-professional negligence see Hersh and Hersh and other firms in
  San Francisco Directory of Lawyers