Mr. Bert Raphael

This oral history interview with Bertraphael Index from April 2000 covers his distinguished legal career spanning several decades. Index discusses his involvement in significant cases including Mercer v. Dr. Sijan, Federal Republic of Germany v. Rauca (a war crimes extradition case), and various insurance litigation matters. He details his leadership role in The Advocates’ Society, particularly as Conference Chair organizing successful international conferences to Israel (1978), San Francisco (1980), and Ireland (1982), which became major professional networking events.

A substantial portion of the interview focuses on Index’s opposition to Ontario’s no-fault automobile insurance reforms implemented during the Ian Scott era. He describes The Advocates’ Society’s organized resistance to these changes, which he viewed as unfair to injured victims due to various threshold requirements and deductibles. Index also discusses broader issues facing the legal profession during this period, including legal aid funding, court administration problems, prepaid legal services, and various reform initiatives. The interview concludes with his recollections of professional conflicts with lawyer Hyl Chappell, including disputes over office space and judicial appointments, providing insight into the interpersonal dynamics within Toronto’s legal community during the late 20th century.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.