PRACTICE PROFILE
Dianna Hwang is a member of the firm’s Insurance, Local Government and Wealth Preservation and Estate Litigation Practice Groups. Her practice is primarily litigation-based. She has successfully represented her clients’ interests at trial and negotiated settlements with favourable results for her clients. Her clients include individuals, financial institutions, municipalities and charities.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Has dealt with cases involving: Wills Variation Act, testamentary capacity, capacity to transfer property, undue influence, interpretation of wills and trusts, allegations of breaches of duties by trustees, trust variation applications, charitable trusts and committeeship applications
- Has dealt with various types of municipal claims involving: land use issues, occupiers liability, building inspector negligence, property damage, road design/signage, nuisance, abuse of power/public office and challenges to by-laws
- Has appeared before all levels of Court in British Columbia
- Successfully appealed a matter involving issues relating to probate and challenging the validity of a will (Chang Estate v. Chang)
- Successfully represented a trust company in its role as Committee of the Estate in a matter involving issues of mental capacity and undue influence relating to transfer of property (Re: Elsie Jones)
- Successfully defended municipalities in negligence actions (Lawrence v. City of Prince Rupert; Griffiths v. City of New Westminster; and Hardisty v. District of North Vancouver)
- Successfully defended a school district in a negligence action (Sandhu v. District No. 38 et al.)
RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCES
- Co-authored “British · Contributor, “An Executor’s Guide to Probate and Estate Administration” (2010) sponsored by the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, Greater Vancouver Round Table as part of its Leave a Legacy initiative
- Presenter, CLE BC - Civil Litigation Basics for Legal Support Staff (September 2007)
- Co-authored “British Columbia’s Ultimate Limitation Period” (2003-04) 5 Mun. L.R. Mgt. 6
- Co-authored “Misfeasance in Public Office: Adler International Investments Ltd. v. Central Okanagan (Regional District)” (2002-03) 4 Mun. L.R. Mgt. 33
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS
- Law Society of British Columbia, Member
- Canadian Bar Association, Member
- Wills and Trusts and Municipal subsections of the Canadian Bar Association, Member
