Education

Bar Admission

  • 1984 Admitted to the British Columbia Bar

Bruno De Vita, K.C. is a member of the firm’s litigation practice and the former Managing Partner of the firm. He practices in the area of civil litigation with an emphasis on insurance law, governmental liability, class action and personal injury litigation. His clients include major insurance companies, self-insured corporations, local governments, religious institutions and athletic associations.

Mr. De Vita’s practice involves the handling of complex insurance coverage cases, and the prosecution and defence of large property damage and business interruption claims. He regularly acts for underwriters on large property and liability coverage issues and has successfully defended insurers in disputes involving policy interpretation, bad faith, arson and fraud. He is also regularly involved in defending catastrophic injury claims. Bruno has also acted for professionals, including lawyers, real estate agents, insurance brokers and psychologists in both liability and disciplinary matters. He has acted as defence counsel in a number of civil cases dealing with allegations of sexual abuse and vicarious liability for sexual abuse.

In 2016, Mr. De Vita was appointed Deputy Chair of the Investigatory Chamber of the Independent FIFA Ethics Committee.

In 2015, Mr. De Vita was appointed as an arbitrator of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he is a member of the general panel and the football panel.

In 2014, Mr. De Vita was awarded “Insurance Lawyer of the Year” by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association.

On A Personal Note...

Bruno is married and has three wonderful daughters. He grew up in East Vancouver where he continues to play soccer every Saturday. His other passions include sports of all kinds, music, cooking and wine. Bruno is a regular contributor to The Advocate Wine Column.

Representative Experience

  • Acted as Canadian counsel in bi-national mass tort litigation regarding radiant heating and was involved in negotiation of a (US) $320 million dollar settlement Kelman v. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Goodyear Canada Inc. (Ontario); May v. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Goodyear Canada Inc.(British Columbia); LaHaie v. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Goodyear Canada Inc. (Alberta)
  • Acted as arbitrator in dispute between top division professional football clubs regarding alleged wrongful termination of a player contract
  • Represented insurers in a coverage dispute arising from a $12 million mine fire
  • Acted as defence counsel in a product liability case involving a claim of “unintended acceleration” in a motor vehicle
  • Represented local and national amateur hockey organizations in a claim of catastrophic brain injury occurring during the course of play
  • Represented an excess professional liability insurer in a multi-million dollar coverage arbitration arising from claims brought in Canada and the U.S. against a leading law firm
  • Acted as coverage counsel in securing insurance coverage for claims of historical sexual abuse dating back to 1939
  • Represents local governments in a wide variety of litigation including cases involving catastrophic injuries and fatalities
  • Acts as counsel to insurers in coverage matters involving allegations of bad faith, policy interpretation and disputes relating to the insurer’s duty to defend
  • Regularly acts for insurers in the prosecution and defence of subrogated actions
  • Acts as counsel to both local and national soccer associations
  • Has appeared as counsel on numerous occasions in both the trial and appellate courts of British Columbia

Publications

  • March 17, 2023, “Shot Blocked: Certification Denied for Proposed Class Action Aimed to Confront Hockey’s Culture of Hazing and Abuse, Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) National Newsletter, Winter 2023 Edition, Co-Author
  • March 30, 2022, “Insurance Coverage & Sexual Abuse Claims”, The Continuing Legal Education Society of B.C, Sexual Violence (Civil) Conference 2022, Speaker
  • September 2019, “B.C. Court of Appeal Provides Clarity on the Duty to Defend: West Van Holdings Ltd. v. Economical Mutual Insurance” Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) National Newsletter, Fall 2019 Edition, Author
  • March 2019, “The Tort of Harassment”, Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) National Newsletter, Spring 2019 Edition, Author
  • October 17, 2018, “FIFA Ethics Committee: Our Work and Our Challenges”, B.C. Risk and Insurance Managers Society, (B.C. Place Stadium), Speaker
  • November 2018, “Foreseeability or Mere Possibility?: Supreme Court of Canada Weighs in on the Difference (Rankin (Rankin’s Garage & Sales) v. J.J., 2018 SCC 19”, Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) National Newsletter, Fall 2018 Edition, Author
  • November 2017, “Is Your Cyber Coverage Providing Full Protection? The Brick Warehouse v. Chubb Insurance Co. of Canada”, Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) National Newsletter, Winter 2017 Edition, Author
  • September 2017, “The Power of the Waiver: Jamieson v. Whistler Mountain Resort Limited Partnership”, Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) 2017 Conference Publication, Author
  • May 2017, “Liability Waivers and the Limitation of Risk: A Refresher”, Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) National Newsletter, Spring 2017 EditionAuthor
  • February 2017, “Looking to the Future”, Canadian Underwriter, P. 34, Co-authored with Hollis Bromley
  • June 2016, “Post Accident Investigation and Remediation”, Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) National Newsletter, Author
  • May 6, 2016, “The Law of Injurious Affection”, Municipal Risk Managers Conference(Vancouver), Speaker
  • April 20, 2016, “Suing Parents for Negligent Supervision: The Family Exclusion”, The Joint Meeting of the British Columbia Risk and Insurance Managers Society and the Society of Fellows of the Insurance Institute (B.C.), Speaker
  • November 2015, “Drones: Flying Privacy Law Into the Future”, Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) National Newsletter, Fall Edition
  • November 20, 2015, Liability Insurance and the Additional Insured Endorsement, presented for the Canadian Bar Association, Municipal Law Section
  • September 2015, “Renewed Faith”, Canadian Underwriter, Co-Authored with H. Bromley
  • June 15, 2015, “Claims for Lost Earning Capacity: The Defence Perspective”, The Continuing Legal Education Society of B.C. and CLEBC Personal Injury Conference, Speaker
  • April 2015, “Honesty is the Best Policy: The Duty of Good Faith and Honesty in Contract”, Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) National Newsletter, Author
  • Winter 2014, “Intrusion Upon Seclusion and Cyber Liability”, Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) National Newsletter, Author
  • November 13, 2014, “The Insurance Coverage Lawsuit and Bad Faith Claims”, The Insurance Institute of Canada, B.C. Society of Fellows, (Vancouver, B.C.), Speaker
  • October 6, 2014, “Misrepresentation and Non-Disclosure: Avoiding Pitfalls”, Canadian Association of Mutual Insurance Companies 34th Annual Convention (Whistler, B.C.), Speaker
  • August/ September 2014, “The Mortgage Clause: Insurers and adjusters shouldn’t overlook the role of the standard mortgage clause in the property insurance policy”, Claims Canada, Co-authored with H. Bromley
  • Spring 2014, “An Overview of Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation”, Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) National Newsletter, Spring 2014 Edition, Co-authored w. R. Pakrul
  • Spring 2014, “An Overview of Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation”, RIMS National Newsletter, Co-authored with R. Pakrul
  • Fall 2013, “A Time for Sharing: The Allocation of Defence Costs Under a Liability Policy”, RIMS National Newsletter, Author
  • September 26, 2013 “Professionalism in the Law”, Canadian Defence Lawyers Conference (Vancouver), Speaker
  • December 2012, “The Power of the Waiver: Loychuk v. Cougar Mountain Adventures”, Canadian Universities Reciprocal Insurance Exchange Newsletter, Volume 23, Issue 3, Author
  • November 2, 2012, “The New B.C. Insurance Act”, Municipal Risk Managers Conference (Burnaby, B.C.), Speaker
  • September 7, 2012, “Additional Insureds: Developments and Controversies”, CLEBC Conference, Speaker
  • May 10, 2012, Canadian Defence Lawyers “Boot Camp”: Examinations for Discovery (Vancouver), Speaker
  • April 2012, “Court of Appeal Upholds Waiver of Liability”, RIMS National Newsletter, Spring 2012 Edition, Author
  • September 2011, “The Power of the Waiver: How Far Can it be Stretched”, RIMSNational Newsletter, Author
  • September 15, 2011, “Insurance Coverage Potpourri”, Canadian Defence Lawyers“The Best Defence” Conference (Vancouver), Co-presented with H. Bromley
  • June 2011, “What’s Left of the CGL? A Perspective on the Effect of Progressive Homes and Bulldog Bag”, CBA Insurance Law Section Annual General Meeting, Speaker
  • Spring 2011, “Corporate Criminal Liability: Risk Management Meets Criminal Laws”, RIMS National Newsletter, Author
  • Fall 2010, “Containing the Cost of Class Action Litigation”, RIMS National Newsletter, National Conference Edition, Author
  • September 2010, “Welcome to My House: Homeowners’ Policy Liability and Coverage”, CLEBC, Insurance Law Conference, Co-presented with S. Sangha
  • June 2010, “The Decision is in the Bag: A Recent Win for Insurers on CGL Coverage”, Claims Canada, Co-authored with H. Bromley
  • May 19, 2010, “Discovery of Documents Under the New Rules of Court”, Risk and Insurance Managers Society, B.C. Chapter (Vancouver), Speaker
  • Spring 1010, “Supreme Court of Canada Rules on Duty of Care in Giant Mine Tragedy: Fullowka v. Pinkerton’s of Canada Ltd.”, RIMS National Newsletter, Spring Edition, Author
  • March 24, 2010, “Discovery of Electronic Documents”, for the Lorman Education Services Seminar on Civil Discovery (Vancouver, B.C.), Co-presented with G. Allen
  • April 2009, “Social Networking Websites – New Fertile Ground for Evidence”, RIMS National Newsletter; Author
  • February 2009, “Overcoming the Liability Challenges of Recreational Facilities”, TheCanadian Institute’s Provincial/Municipal Liability Conference (Toronto, Ontario), Speaker
  • September 2008, “Allocation of Defence Costs”, CLEBC, Insurance Law Conference, Co-presented with H. Bromley
  • April 2008, “The Electronic Trap: Discoverability of Electronically Stored Information in Litigation”, RIMS National Newsletter, Author
  • February 2008, “Reducing Exposure to Legal Risks Inherent in Publicly Owned Facilities, the Canadian Institute Provincial/Municipal Liability Conference (Toronto, Ontario), Co-presented with H. Bromley
  • October 2007, “Class Action Certification and Containment of Litigation Cost”, ARC Group Canada 2007 Seminar (Toronto, Ontario), Speaker
  • Fall 2007, “Post-Accident Changes – ‘Damned if you do; Damned if you don’t?’”, RIMS National Newsletter, Fall 2007, Author
  • March 28, 2007, “Personal Injury Damages: Some History and Recent Developments”, Insurance Institute of British Columbia, CIP Society, Speaker
  • February 15-16, 2007, “Latest Developments on Publicly Owned Facilities: Protecting Quality of Life and Guarding Against Liability”, The Canadian Institute – Provincial/Municipal Liability Conference (Toronto, Ontario), Speaker
  • February 2007, “Supreme Court of Canada Explains Foreseeability and Causation: Resurfice Corp. v. Hanke”, RIMS National Newsletter, Author
  • Fall 2006, “Liability Insurance – Understanding the Right and Duty to Defend”, published in Adjuster’s Quarterly, Author
  • October 31, 2006, “The Nuts and Bolts of Class Actions”, AHBL Lunch and Learn Seminar Series, Co-presented with E. Stock
  • September 2006, “New Developments in Social Host Liability: Childs v. Desormeaux” (2005-06) 7 Mun. L.R. Mgt., July 2006, Co-authored with G. Allen [also published in RIMS National Newsletter]
  • February 2006, “Effectively Managing Risks Inherent in Publicly Owned Facilities”, The Canadian Institute – Provincial/Municipal Liability Conference (Toronto, Ontario), Speaker
  • June 28, 2006, “Understanding the Duty and Right to Defend”, AHBL Lunch and Learn Seminar Series, Co-presented with J. Poole
  • November 2005, “Using Waivers to Minimize Risk”, (2005-06) 7 Mun. L.R. Mgt., Co-authored with R. Beatch
  • November 2005, “Design of public trail key to liability ruling”, Insurance West, Speaker
  • October 2005, “The Use of Waivers to Avoid Liability”, Municipal Law Sub-section, Canadian Bar Association, Speaker
  • September 25, 2005, “The Law of Waivers”, International Municipal Lawyers Association Conference, Savannah, Georgia, Presenter
  • April 2005, “Statutory Conditions: Guidelines and Practical Considerations”, AHBL Client Seminar Series, Speaker
  • February 2005, “Managing the Ongoing Challenges of Publicly Owned Facilities: An Update”, The Canadian Institute – Provincial/Municipal Liability Conference (Toronto, Ontario), Speaker
  • “Keeping the Faith: The Law of Bad Faith Post-Whiten”, AHBL Client Seminar Series, Speaker
  • February 2004, “Insurance Issues Facing Municipalities”, The Canadian Institute – Provincial/Municipal Liability Conference (Toronto, Ontario), Speaker
  • February 2004, “Public Facilities Liability – How to Play it Safe and Stay Out of Court”, The Canadian Institute – Provincial/Municipal Liability Conference (Toronto, Ontario), Speaker
  • March 2003, “Post-Accident Remediation” and “Vicarious Liability”, Risk and Insurance Management Society, British Columbia Chapter, Speaker
  • September 2003, “Post-Accident Remediation – The Great Catch 22”, The Canadian Institute – Provincial/Municipal Liability Conference (Toronto, Ontario), February 2003, (2002-2003) 4 Mun. L.R. Mgt. 81, Speaker
  • February 2003, “The Use of Waivers to Avoid Liability”, The Canadian Institute – Provincial/Municipal Liability Conference (Toronto, Ontario), Speaker
  • February 2003, “Vicarious Liability: The State of the Law after Curry and Griffiths”, The Canadian Institute – Western Canada Insurance Law Conference (Calgary, Alberta), Speaker
  • 2002, “Social Host Liability – The Aftermath of Hunt”, The Canadian Institute – Provincial/Municipal Liability Conference (Toronto, Ontario), Speaker

Professional & Community Affiliations

Bruno's
Focus

Industries