Eleanor Olszewski practices in the area of commercial litigation, including construction and surety claims. Her practice also includes insurance defence work. She has defended school boards and bad faith claims against insurance carriers. She has represented medical practitioners in civil actions and professional disciplinary proceedings and acted on pharmaceutical and medical device claims. In these latter situations her pharmacy background has proven invaluable.
Eleanor has participated in a number of lengthy Queen's Bench trials in Alberta, as well as many hearings before administrative tribunals.
Representative Work
· Lead counsel at trial and on appeal in MacCabe v. Westlock School Division, a case involving a young girl who became a quadriplegic after an unsuccessful gymnastics manouevre.
· Counsel in significant case involving the failure of a racing and gaming facility.
· Appeal work involving professional disciplinary matters.
Leadership
· Law Society of Alberta, Professional Responsibility Committee - Member (since 2010)
· Defence Research Institute USA - Member
· Canadian Defence Lawyers - Member
· Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law in Education - Member
· Edmonton Opera Association - Director (2005-2010)
· NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) - Governor (1997-2003)
· Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alberta - Adjunct Clinical Professor, Pharmacy Ethics and Negligence Law (since 1995)
· Caritas Hospitals Bioethics Committee - Member (1993-2001)
Papers & Presentations
· "Negligence and the Pharmacist", RxCel (Continuing Education for Pharmacists - 2008, 2009).
· "Recruiting Foreign Students: Risks and Implications" - ASBIE Annual Conference (2009).
· "Negligence and Long Term Care Facilities - The Jenny Nelson Case", Owners / Operators / Administrators of Long Term Care Facilities (2008).
· "Disability and Bad Faith", Canadian Bar Association Law Conference (2007).
· "Hitting the Slippery Slopes - School Ski Trips", School Administrators and Teachers.
· "Negligence for Educators", Northern Lights School Division Leadership Academy (2007).
· "Negligence and School Off-Campus Excursions", North Central Alberta Teachers' Convention (2002).
· "School Violence in Alberta", Lorman Education Services (2001).
· "Duty of Care in Schools", Lorman Education Services (2000).
· School of Thought and Scholastic Grapevine publications on school liability and risk management - writer / editor (2000 to 2006).
· "Advanced Treatment Directives and Ethical Decision-Making", in Ethics in the New Age Vol. 2 (Edmonton: University of Alberta, 1999).
Awards & Distinctions
· Lexis-Nexis / Martindale-Hubbell - "BV Peer Review Rated"
· Appointed Queen's Counsel (2009)
· International Association of Defense Counsel - Nominated Member (since 2000)