The Class Action Clinic at Windsor Law is the first clinic of its kind in North America. Our focus is on class members – people who are part of a large civil lawsuit launched on their behalf by representative plaintiffs and class counsel.
The Clinic is staffed by a team of law students, a staff lawyer, and a faculty director who provide a range of legal services, information, assistance with filing claims in settlement distribution processes, public education and outreach.
Because we serve class members across Canada, the Clinic provides its services online, by telephone and by video conference, as well as in person for those in the Windsor–Essex community.
Director
Jasminka Kalajdzic
Education
- B.A. (English Literature and Lettres Francaises), University of Ottawa, 1992, magna cum laude
- LL.B., University of Toronto, 1995
- LL.M., University of Toronto, 2009
Professor Jasminka Kalajdzic joined the University of Windsor Faculty of Law in 2009 after twelve years in private practice as a civil litigator. Her current research focuses on three areas: access to justice; class actions; and legal ethics.
Professor Kalajdzic regularly presents her research at academic conferences worldwide, bar conferences and judicial education seminars.
Professor Kalajdzic is the author of two books on class actions: The Law of Class Actions in Canada (Canada Law Book, 2014), a text co-authored with the Honourable Warren K. Winkler, Justice Paul Perell, and Alison Warner; and Class Actions in Canada: The Promise and Reality of Access to Justice (UBC Press, 2018). She has published numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles. She was the co-lead researcher for the Law Commission of Ontario’s Class Action Project, and co-authored its final report (July 2019).
See a full list of Professor Kalajdzic’s publications here.
Staff Lawyer
Andrew Eckart
Education
- B.A. (Economics and North American Studies), McGill, 2005
- LL.B., University of Windsor, 2010
- Mediating Disputes, Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, 2017
Andrew joined the Class Action Clinic as the staff lawyer shortly after it opened in 2020. Prior to that, he gained class action experience in private practice as a plaintiff side lawyer. His first introduction to this work was as a an articling student clerking at the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, where he assisted judges on many class action matters, including a multi-year common issues trial.
As the Clinic’s Staff Lawyer, Andrew supervises and mentors student caseworkers and routinely represents clients through claims processes, at settlement approval hearings, and providing important, non-partisan, independent legal advice.
In addition to his work at the Clinic, Andrew is a mediator of civil disputes and sits on the OBA’s Class Action Bench-Bar Liaison Committee.
Student Case Workers
Homa Aminnejad
Homa is a rising third-year law student at the University of Windsor. Her legal pursuits are guided by the teachings of the stoic philosopher, Seneca the Younger, who once said, “whenever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.” Outside of her role at the Class Action Clinic, Homa is an amateur-astronomer, cyclist, and history enthusiast.
Isabel Cox
Isabel is a third-year law student at the University of Windsor. Before law school, Isabel earned a Bachelor of Arts Honours in English Literature and Art History from Queen's University and a master's degree in English from Dalhousie University. This year, Isabel competed at the Wilson Moot. This experience sparked her commitment to pursuing a career in litigation with a focus on advocating for equity deserving groups. In her spare time, Isabel is cycling to find great bakeries and reading the latest from her favourite local poets.
Chole Korol
Chloe is a third-year law student at the University of Windsor. Before law school, she completed her BA in Global Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University and worked as a public servant. She spent the past summer working in police oversight with the Office of the Independent Police Review Director. Outside of school, Chloe is an avid runner, cyclist, and baker.
Shirin Mollayeva
Shirin is a 3L at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is fulfilling the Professional Placement component of the Integrated Practice Curriculum at the Clinic during the Fall 2023 term. She holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in biology from the University of Toronto and for several years worked in health sciences research. As a law student, she has gained experience in criminal and family law, class actions involving First Nation communities, and legal issues arising in the policing and corrections contexts. Outside of school and work, Shirin spends her time with family, exploring new places, and doing art.
Jessica Rocha
Jessica is a second-year law student at the University of Windsor. Prior to law school, she earned an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology. Jessica's involvement spans federal, provincial, and municipal elections, reflecting her commitment to civic engagement. Beyond her legal pursuits, she enjoys experimenting with new recipes and relishing riverside walks, often accompanied by a comforting cup of coffee.
