Bruce Hutchison
- Email: bhutchison@genestmurray.ca
- Phone: 416-360-2864
- Assistant Email: ourrego@genestmurray.ca
- Assistant Phone: 416-360-2870
Bruce Hutchison (he/him)
Bruce Hutchison is principal partner with Genest Murray LLP. Bruce started with Genest Murray as a student in 1989 and has practiced there since his call in 1991. He acts on behalf of insurers in the defence of claims and actions involving school boards, lawyers and government institutions as well as general and commercial liability matters. He has motion, application, trial, (jury and non-jury), and appeal experience appearing at all levels of Court in Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada.
He has received training as a fact finder and mediator.
He is Past President of the Toronto Lawyers’ Association (2006-2007).
He is Past Chair of Library Co., a corporation, mandated to undertake the central management of the Ontario county courthouse library system (2010-2012).
He is editor of Risk Management in Canadian Education published by Lexis/Nexis.
He is a frequent speaker at programmes related to risk management, liability insurance and education law.
Education
- Law Society of Ontario-Call to the Bar 1991
- University of Ottawa, LL.B. 1989
- Université Laval, Québec, 1984-1986 – studies in French and History
- University of Toronto, B.A. 1983
Associations
- Advocates’ Society
- Toronto Lawyers Association
- Canadian Defence Lawyers
- Defense Research Institute
Papers and Presentations
- “The Role and Responsibilities of School Boards with the Rise of #MeToo and Sexual Harassment Awareness,” co-author and co-presenter at 2022 CAPSLE (Canadian Association of the Practical Study of Law in Education) Conference, Virtual
- “Innovative Sporting Activities: Motivation for Engagement or Fraught with Risks?” co-author and co-presenter, Webinar for OSBIE (Ontario School Boards’ Insurance Exchange), 2020
- “Stories in School Board Litigation: An overview of the factual issues and legal principles in negligence claims,” co-author and co-presenter at 2019 CAPSLE Conference, Vancouver
- “Civil Sexual Assault Claims in School Boards,” co-author and co-presenter at 2018 CAPSLE Conference, Halifax
- “Current and Emerging Issues in Civil Sexual Assault”, Panel Speaker, Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development, 2018
- “Expanding Horizons: Managing Risk and Containing Liability in the Teacher/Student Relationship”, co-author and co-presenter at 2017 CAPSLE Conference, Saskatoon
- “Practical and Legal Issues for School Boards in the use of Schools as Community Hubs,” co-author and co-presenter at 2016 CAPSLE Conference, Toronto
- “Emerging Trends in Claims against School Boards”, co-author and co-presenter at 2015 CAPSLE Conference, Kelowna
- “Damages: Restoring Equilibrium” co-author and co-presenter at 2014 CAPSLE Conference, Charlottetown
- “An Overview of Legal Principles and Risk Management Strategies in Actions Involving School Boards”, co-author and co-presenter at 2013 CAPSLE Conference, Winnipeg
- “The Standard of Care as a Balancing Mechanism for Finding Justice and Fairness in School Board Negligence Claims”, co-author and co-presenter at 2012 CAPSLE Conference, Ottawa
- “Negligence and Liability Concerns for Schools”, co-author and co-presenter, Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development, The Complete Guide to School Law for K-12 Educational Professionals, February 27 and 28, 2012
- “Influences on the Evolution of the Standard of Care of the Careful or Prudent Parent”, co-author and co-presenter 2011 CAPSLE Conference, St. John’s
- “Negligence and Liability Concerns for Schools”, co-author and co-presenter, Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development, The Complete Guide to School Law for K-12 Educational Professionals, February 28 and March 1, 2011
- “School Boards and Vicarious Liability”, co-author and co-presenter, 2010 CAPSLE Conference, Calgary
- “Negligence and Liability Concerns for Schools”, co-author and co-presenter, Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development, The Complete Guide to School Law for K-12 Educational Professionals, November 30 and December 1, 2009
- “Risk Management Strategies: A Bridge to Building a Safe Positive School Environment”, co-author and co-presenter 2009 CAPSLE Conference, Toronto
- OJEN (Ontario Justice Education Networks), Elementary School Mock Trial Program, January 2009
- “Evolution of the Careful or Prudent Parent Standard and Student Responsibility”, 2007 CAPSLE Conference, Vancouver
- “Negligence and Liability Concerns for Schools”, co-author and co-presenter, Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development, The Complete Guide to School Law for K-12 Educational Professionals, February 26, 2007
- “Privacy and the Scope of Documentary Disclosure in Proceedings involving School Boards”, 2006 CAPSLE Conference, Montreal
- “Avoiding Liability: School Excursions”, Education Law Institute (OISE-U of T), Lawworks Case Study Workshop, August 17 and 18, 2006
- “Simplified Procedure: Pre-Trial and Summary Trial”, Toronto Lawyers Association Nutshell Program, April 19, 2006
- “Avoiding Liability – Physical Education and Sports”, Education Law Institute (OISE-U of T), August 18 and 19, 2005
- “Resolving Insurance Coverage Disputes”, Insight Conference, Toronto, April 2, 1996
- “The Blurred Line Between School and Police Investigations”, Risk Management in Canadian Education, LexisNexis, 10 R.M.C.E.
- “School Security Risk Management Strategies in the Falconer Report”, 10 R.M.C.E.
- “Risk Management Strategies: A Bridge to Building a Safe Positive School Environment: Part 2”, co-author, 10 R.M.C.E.
- “Risk Management Strategies: A Bridge to Building a Safe Positive School Environment”, co-author, 9 R.M.C.E.
- “Overview of Risk Management Strategies for Supervision Arising from the Falconer Report”, 9 R.M.C.E.
- “Overview of Risk Management Strategies for Discipline Arising from the Falconer Report”, 9 R.M.C.E.
- “School Safety – The Falconer Report – Part I, 8 R.M.C.E
- “Balancing Confidentiality with Openness in Court Proceedings”, 8 R.M.C.E
- “Evolution of the Careful and Prudent Parent Standard and Student Responsibility”, 7 R.M.C.E.
- “Case Notes: Schmunk Estate v. Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education, [2004], A.J. No. 491 (Q.B.)(QL)”, 5 R.M.C.E.
- “The Changing Approach to the Interpretation of Limitation Periods: Reinterpretation Through Judicial Activism”, Insurance Law, Federated Press, Volume IV, No. 3, 2000