Zarek Taylor Grossman Hanrahan LLP

Thomas J. Hanrahan

Tom was involved in the insurance industry as an adjuster, claims supervisor and claims manager for 12 years before attending Osgoode Hall Law School.

After completing his studies, Tom articled with the firm of Stanley M. Tick & Associates in Hamilton. The firm's practice was based at that time almost exclusively on the defence of insurance claims.

Upon completion of his articles, Tom joined the firm of Lyons, Goodman in the insurance defence department. As Tom's experience in the insurance industry was primarily in the property and general liability field, he has continued in that area during his legal career. This has involved the handling of fire losses both in the pursuit and defence of subrogated claims and working in conjunction with numerous S.I.U. units in regard to suspicious fire losses and fraudulent stock losses. Tom successfully defended a large arson loss.

Tom has also had the opportunity to be involved in the re-writing of a number of different insurance policies.

Tom has also developed a practice in the area of wrongful dismissal. Tom has had the opportunity to act on behalf of both employees and employers in regard to termination, wrongful dismissal, constructive dismissal and human rights violations in the workplace. Tom was successful at trial in recovering punitive damages on behalf of an employee who had been wrongfully dismissed making it one of the rare cases in Ontario where punitive damages were awarded. See Hossni v Peter Weston & Associates, (1994) O.J. No. 2299, Ont. Gen. Div.

Tom is a legal editor for the publication Legal Focus. Tom also teaches and has taught the Associateship and Fellowship courses of the Insurance Institute of Canada on the subjects of Evidence, Torts and Conflict of Law.

Notwithstanding Tom's extensive background on the property side of insurance, he too has conducted numerous hearings at the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.