Garret Cooligan

This comprehensive oral history captures the career of Garret Cooligan, QC, an Ottawa lawyer who practiced from 1954 to 2011. Born on a Quebec farm in 1928, Cooligan attended St. Patrick’s College in Ottawa before graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1954. He articled with MacCraken, Fleming, Beahen & Hall, eventually becoming a partner in what evolved into several iterations of law firms, including Beahen & Cooligan (1956) and later Cooligan, Ryan, McNeely & Montague (1974).

Cooligan specialized primarily in civil litigation, particularly insurance defense work and personal injury cases. His practice involved representing major insurance companies including Phoenix of London, Economical, and Fireman’s Fund. Notable cases included Keizer v. Hanna, which reached the Supreme Court of Canada and established important precedents regarding income tax deductions in wrongful death damages. He also handled significant matters involving Crown liability, professional negligence, and motor vehicle accidents.

Beyond his law practice, Cooligan served as a Deputy Judge in the Small Claims Court for over 40 years (1969-2011), was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1971, and contributed extensively to legal education through workshops on structured settlements and insurance law. He was a founding member of both the Medical-Legal Society of Ottawa/Carleton and the Thomas More Lawyers Guild of Ottawa, demonstrating his commitment to professional development and community service within the legal profession.

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