Associate
Michaela Merryfield completed her law degree at the University of Victoria in 2018, and was called to the BC Bar in 2019. Michaela has lived on Vancouver Island her entire life, spending her early years in Duncan before moving to Victoria in 2006.
Prior to her law degree, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Victoria with a major in Greek and Roman Studies. She participated in two study abroad opportunities during her undergraduate program – in 2013, she spent a semester studying in Glasgow, Scotland, and in the summer of 2014 she took part in a field school in Greece. During her time at the University of Victoria, Michaela worked and volunteered in student recruitment, which included working as a Campus Tour Guide for four years.
Michaela joined Acheson Sweeney Foley Sahota as a summer law student in 2017 and completed her articles at the firm in 2018/2019. Michaela’s work experience also includes a term at The Law Centre, where she gained experience representing clients in Criminal, Family, Civil and Human Rights matters. Since joining the firm, Michaela has gained experience in the courtroom litigating cases involving complex questions of liability, and has been fortunate to have received mentorship from Sean Sweeney and Rajinder Sahota.
Representative Work
In Greig v. Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company, 2019 BCSC 1758, Michaela and her co-counsel Rajinder Sahota and Patrick Dudding argued on behalf of a plaintiff who had his long-term disability benefits wrongfully terminated, leaving his family in financial ruin. The primary claim was that the defendant insurance company violated its duty of good faith toward the plaintiff by failing to acknowledge his obvious psychological injuries, mishandling his claim, and ignoring his reconsideration request for many months. Madam Justice Young was moved by these submissions and ruled that the insurer’s conduct was high-handed, arbitrary, and worthy of rebuke. She awarded the plaintiff $50,000 in aggravated damages and $200,000 in punitive damages – a historically high amount. The British Columbia Court of Appeal declined to consider the matter on appeal.
Flores v. Joynson – co-counsel in a motor vehicle accident claim resulting in chronic pain. The court awarded $528,000 in damages.
Education:
Bachelor of Law, University of Victoria, 2018
Bachelor of Arts (Greek & Roman Studies), University of Victoria, 2015
Year of Call & Jurisdictions:
2019 – British Columbia
Hobbies/Interests:
In her spare time, Michaela enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, and playing board games.
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