Professional Background
Steve Vorbrodt practices primarily in the areas of professional liability, commercial litigation and insurance defence. However, he also regularly handles claims involving civil fraud.
Representation
Over the years, Mr. Vorbrodt has successfully represented both corporate and individual clients in a wide variety of matters including:
- Defence of professional liability claims against accountants and financial planners.
- Defence of engineers and engineering firms in construction-related claims.
- Advancing civil fraud and conspiracy claims on behalf of insurer.
- Working in conjunction with senior counsel in defence of directors and officers in a civil fraud and conspiracy claim under an E&O insurance policy.
- Defence of personal injury and property damage claims on behalf of liability insurers.
Mr. Vorbrodt has been involved in cases before all levels of court in British Columbia and regularly represents clients at mediations, settlement conferences and in chambers. In addition, he has made successful submissions to various administrative tribunals including the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal and the Human Rights Tribunal.
Judgments and Decisions
- Obtained judgment in a claim based on civil conspiracy relating to material misrepresentations in an application for insurance (ICBC v. Thaci and Haliti, 2010).
- Successfully defended claims for a declaration of insurance coverage on the basis of willfully false statements (Gotsutsov v. ICBC, 2009 BCPC 154 and Prasad v. ICBC, 2008 BCSC 1855).
- Successfully defended application by plaintiff to add new causes of action in a professional negligence action (Ewert v. Marshall, 2007 BCSC 1042).
- Obtained dismissal of discrimination claim against a professional from the Human Rights Tribunal (Gallagher v. Henry, 2006 BCHRT 318 and correction).
- Obtained dismissal of actions involving claims of professional negligence (Swityk v. Priest, 2006 BCPC 518 and 2006 BCPC 519 and Leung v. Godley, 2006 BCPC 436).
- Worked in conjunction with senior counsel in obtaining judgment for investment losses against a financial advisor and an investment firm (Hawkenson v. Rogers, 2005 BCSC 318).
- Obtained favorable damage awards in personal injury actions against corporate defendant (Hansen v. Overwaitea Foods, 2003 BCPC 466 and Schoenke v. Overwaitea Foods, 2003 BCPC 465).
Education and Admissions
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Western Ontario: 1993
- Exchange Program, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany: 1992
- Bachelor of Laws, University of British Columbia: 2003
- Called to the British Columbia Bar: 2004
External Publications
- Co-chair and contributing author: Commercial Litigation for Junior Lawyers and Legal Support Staff (CLE, 2012)
- Co-author of a variety of published articles on insurance issues and securities legislation.
Memberships & Associations
- Law Society of British Columbia
- Canadian Bar Association
- BC Bar Association (Insurance Law subsection)