Profile

Maria Scarfo is a partner in Blaney McMurtry LLP. She is a member of the firm's Insurance Litigation Group.

Maria specializes in the defence of insurance claims. She developed an interest in Crown Liability in law school while working as a research assistant for Professor Peter Hogg. Maria brought that interest to Blaney McMurtry LLP and over the years has spent the majority of her practice dealing with crown liability and related issues. From dealing with this work, Maria became involved in handling claims for a variety of large, private sector entities. She has an interest in the defence of large institutions (governments and others) and finding the best ways to deal with actions aimed at these large institutions. For instance, there are special challenges relating to larger clients from finding the most knowledgeable representative, to processing huge volumes of documents from different offices, reviewing policies, protecting confidentiality and managing concerns about image and public perception.

Maria has handled a variety of claims and causes of action which include personal injury, breach of Charter rights, sexual abuse, malicious prosecution, wrongful arrest, discrimination, corrections, policing, occupiers, motor vehicle, environmental contamination, mental health, patients’ rights, elderly care, regulatory breaches, illegal acts of employees, road authorities, breach of confidentiality, conspiracy, vicarious liability, libel and slander, negligent investigation and abuse of process.

Maria graduated with distinction from the University of Toronto with a B.A. in Political Science and English. She obtained her LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1987 and, immediately upon being called to the Bar in 1989, joined Blaney McMurtry LLP.