Ron Cummings is a Canadian retired litigator who was a major figure in Canadian law. He argued two of three cases before the Supreme Court of Canada that would eventually be considered a case law trilogy of personal injury cases for Canada.[1] He also negotiated or litigated some of the largest personal injury awards in Canadian history.
Early life and education
Cummings grew up[when?] in the Boyle Street district on the east side of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada.[2] He was raised with his father selling iron and steel products and his mother a bookkeeper for lumber companies.[3] The house he lived in was small and he was forced to share a bedroom with his grandfather.[3] Cummings attended the University of Alberta and worked odd jobs to pay his way through law school.[1]
Career
After graduating from law school in 1960, Cummings began working for a large Edmonton law firm.[3] He worked there for a year prior to moving to a smaller firm and eventually joining his partner firm.[3] Cummings joined the law firm of Cummings Andrews Mackay in 1962.[1] During his time with the firm he turned it from a solicitor office into a litigation firm, handling cases throughout the entire country and earning him the nickname "King of Torts."[1][3] Cummings also took a stance during his career to not represent insurance companies,[4] instead only representing people who have been disabled by acts of negligence.[2]
Early in his career Cummings also specialized in divorce.[3] He argued a case before the Supreme Court of Canada where the judge awarded his client lump sum alimony based on equity in the other party's residence.[3] It was the first decision of its kind and one that is now studied in law schools throughout Canada.[3]
In 1978, Cummings argued two cases of a trilogy before the Supreme Court of Canada that set precedent for personal injury awards in Canada. He argued Andrews v. Grand & Toy Alberta Ltd.[5] and Thornton v. Prince George School Board with the third being Arnold v Teno.[6] Both cases involved large awards which were challenged by the defense. The result of the rulings was the raising of non-monetary damages that could be awarded in such cases.[3] It also reversed 100 years of case law that determined awards based on a lump sum as opposed to itemized awards for pain and suffering and loss of future earnings.[4]
In the 1980-90s, Cummings litigated personal injury cases that became some of the largest structured settlement cases in Canada.[2] Two such cases were the largest in the history of Alberta Court, with awards of $5 million and $2.9 million.[7] Cummings tried a case in 1998 that resulted in the first ruling to use a pay-equity model.[8] The judge awarded $4 million to the plaintiff calculated based on "the same salary level as a man had she not been injured."[9][10]
^ abcdeChalmers, Ron (29 April 1992). "Litigation lawyer builds career". The Edmonton Journal.
^ abcdefghiGrescoe, Paul (May 1978). "Thanks to a lawyer named Ron Cummings, million-dollar accident judgments are now a possibility". Canadian Business.
