Michael (Mike) T.J. McGoey has enjoyed a diversified practice with the firm since he was called to the Bar in 1970. Mike has been a partner since 1975.

Mike is a civil litigation specialist with a wide-ranging insurance defence practice in the personal injury negligence field, which includes serious head and spinal injury cases, occupiers’ liability, product liability, disability insurance, ski area liability, defamation, malicious prosecution and sports and recreational injury. On behalf of plaintiffs, he investigates and prosecutes medical malpractice actions. He promotes settlements and resolution of his cases through ADR and is a fully trained and practicing mediator.

Over the years, Mike has appeared as counsel on numerous jury and non-jury trials involving serious injury and related claims, with appearances before the Superior Court Trial and Appellate Divisions, the Supreme Court of Canada, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act pre-trials, settlement conferences and mediations.

Mike’s most indelible memories of litigation and active learning are associated with the Kolesar case, as junior counsel for Wendell S. Wigle, Q.C. His very first assignment on joining Hughes Amys was the early Kolesar case, which involved much of his first nine years of practice and inspired his medical malpractice specialty. It involved a lengthy trial, the Ontario Court of Appeal and ultimate victory in the Supreme Court of Canada. Mike and Wendell defended Mr. Jeffries and argued liability and causality against a doctor, a hospital and several nurses. Reflecting on the trial, the Court of Appeal commented, inter alia:

“The burden of establishing liability against the other defendants was at least equally assumed by the very able senior counsel for Jeffries, assisted by his very able junior lawyer.”

Kolesar v. Jeffries et al, Stannix et al; Third Parties (1976), 12 O.R. (2d)142

Mike is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Advocates’ Society, the Medico-Legal Society of Toronto (past president), the Lawyers Club, the Thomas More Guild, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Association of Ski Defence Attorneys, the Metropolitan Lawyers Association (trustee 1993-1996), the Ontario Bar Association, the Canadian Bar Association and is a board member of S’port for Kids. He is certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in Civil Litigation.            

Mike is the proud father of six sons and has encouraged their interests in school, hockey, skiing, music and golf. Mike is a former equestrian who loves competition, downhill skiing and playing his guitar.