Since joining Weir Bowen in 1991, Joe Miller has focused his practice on advising and representing plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases. He has a special interest in birth trauma cases and is a founding member of the Birth Injury Lawyers Alliance.
Joe has litigated numerous medical malpractice claims – more than any other plaintiff’s lawyer in Alberta. He has appeared before Alberta’s highest courts and was the plaintiff’s counsel in a birth injury case that resulted in the largest personal injury award granted by an Alberta court.
In keeping with his interest in birth issues and traumatic injury to children, Joe has represented clients in cases relating to children born with cerebral palsy due to asphyxia, brain injuries caused by neonatal hypoglycemia or excessive bilirubin, stroke, damages to the nerves that carry signals from the spine to the shoulder (damage that can be caused at birth by improper delivery methods), traumatic brain injuries resulting from forceps or vacuum deliveries, and injuries arising from intra-uterine growth restriction. He has conducted seminars and delivered a number of presentations on medical malpractice issues for both lawyers and physicians. He has also accepted invitations to speak on topics related to trial advocacy.
Joe’s professional ability and contributions have been recognized in three peer-reviewed directories. Since 2006, he has been listed in the Best Lawyers in Canada directory, which is compiled based on input from lawyers throughout the nation who are asked to rate other lawyers in regard to their expertise, and in 2010 the directory named him Edmonton’s Personal Injury Litigator of the Year. He is also recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, which lists him as a leading practitioner, and by Martindale Hubbard, which identifies him as a distinguished practitioner.
Joe was further recognized in 2010 when he was appointed a Queen’s Counsel by Alberta’s Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council. The announcement of that honour noted that the Q.C. designation recognizes outstanding expertise, work and contributions in a lawyer’s public life. In 2011, Joe received the Gary J. Biggs Champion of Justice Award from the Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association, and that same year was invited to join the Litigation Counsel of America, an honorary trial lawyer society whose membership is limited to less than one-half of one percent of lawyers.
A native Albertan, Joe is a graduate of the University of Alberta. His community involvement is largely shaped by his interest in both children and sports. The father of four boys, he has been active in coaching soccer and hockey, as well as volunteering with various minor hockey associations.
Education
- Bachelor of Laws (with first class standing), University of Alberta, 1980
Select Experience
- Has litigated numerous medical malpractice claims – more than any other plaintiff’s lawyer in Alberta
- Has conducted seminars and delivered a number of presentations on medical malpractice issues for both lawyers and physicians
- Was the plaintiff’s counsel for the largest personal injury award granted by an Alberta court
Professional Associations & Memberships
- Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association
- American Association for Justice
- The Advocates’ Society
- The Canadian Bar Association
- Litigation Counsel of America
- Western Canadian Medical Malpractice Plaintiff’s Lawyers Group
