Barbara J. Murray

Direct Line: 604 891-0355
Fax: 604 689-3777

Email: bmurray@dolden.com

Barbara J. Murray

Barbara Murray, a partner at Dolden Wallace Folick LLP, has practiced primarily in the area of insurance defence since being called to the bar in 1991. Barbara also has a special interest in sexual abuse claims, having obtained a Masters of Law in this subject area. Her practice is increasingly focused on directors' and officers', professional and employment practices liability, coverage issues and policy wordings. Barbara has appeared in all levels of court in British Columbia and in the Supreme Court of Canada.

Property and Casualty

Barbara acts for many commercial and personal line insurers, defending both first and third party claims. Barbara has defended cases involving bodily injury, including traumatic brain injury, fibromyalgia and other permanent disability claims. She has also defended property damage claims including loss by fire and related perils.

Litigation and Coverage

Barbara has provided coverage advice to various insurers who provide D&O coverage in Canada. She has also successfully defended directors and officers of a commercial strata complex in an oppression action.

Policy Wording for D&O

Over the past several years Barbara has become involved in policy wordings from Canadian D&O insurers. This includes the adaptation of American policy wordings for use in Canada.

Barbara acts for E&O insurers that provide coverage for insurance brokers. She has defended cases against insurance brokers involving allegations of placing inappropriate and/or inadequate coverage for business owners, homeowners and owners of marine craft.

Barbara acts for liability insurers of religious organizations in Canada defending institutions alleged to be either directly or vicariously liable for sexual misconduct by either employees or officers of those organizations. In addition to providing defences for religious organizations, Barbara has provided coverage advice arising from sexual abuse claims.
Barbara has provided coverage "monitoring" advice to an Employment Practices Liability insurer.

Barbara has defended several sub-contractors including roofing contractors and deck membrane installers in numerous multi-party actions involving claims for water ingress in condominium complexes.

Barbara has defended property and casualty insurers in claims entailing allegations of fraud and arson.

· A.W.-NM Ventures Ltd. v. Strata Plan LMS 2856 2004 (BCSC 666);

· K & R Landscaping & Snow Removal Ltd. v. Federation Insurance Company of Canada. (2003) 47 CCLI 3d 150 (B.C.S.C.)

Barbara has authored the following recent articles:

· Contract Governs Allocation of Cost Relating to "Mixed" Claims in CGL Policy: Hanis v. Teevan

· British Columbia Now Requires Disclosure of Insurance Policies

· The S.C.C. Rules that Damages for Mental Distress for Breach of Contract are recoverable in some circumstances

· A Practical Guide to Joint and Several Liability

· An Update of the British Columbia Civil Cases dealing with Claims for Damages for Sexual Abuse

· Risk Management Strategies for Preventing Sexual Abuse Claims

· Trends in Damage Awards in Sexual Abuse Cases, Claims for Lost Years and Loss of Housekeeping Capacity

· Is Faulty Workmanship an "Accident" or an "Occurrence"?

Barbara Murray has made presentations to church groups and the insurance industry on "Trends in Sexual Abuse Damage Awards" and on "Risk Management Strategies to Prevent Sexual Abuse Claims".