Jeffrey Vita

Practice Areas

Jeffrey J. Vita is one of the founding members of SDV and has more than two decades of experience handling complex, multi-party insurance matters in jurisdictions across the U.S. Jeff is recognized as a seasoned litigator, having successfully tried numerous cases to resolution and obtaining significant recoveries for his clients at both the trial and appellate level. Most notably, he successfully argued to the Connecticut Supreme Court that construction defect claims constitute an occurrence under general liability policies, a decision that impacted the national debate on this issue.

In addition to his active litigation practice, Jeff also works with clients to craft creative risk transfer solutions. He counsels on insurance and risk management issues related to the construction, manufacturing, power and energy, transportation, healthcare and real estate industries, as well as in the municipal sector. Jeff has been retained as an expert witness in complex coverage actions, and has authored numerous articles and frequently lectures on insurance coverage issues such as additional insured, bad faith, priority and allocation of coverage, risk transfer and indemnity, builder’s risk, business interruption, professional liability and wrap-up insurance programs. He has been named to Best Lawyers© in America from 2006-2017, 2024-2025, and has been selected as a New England Super Lawyer from 2007-2024.

A member of both the firm’s Management and Executive Committees, Jeff has also served in leadership roles within the community as Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals in Hamden, Connecticut. He currently resides in Wallingford, Connecticut with his family.

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, Construction Subcommittee, Co-Chair

American College of Coverage Counsel, Fellow

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Connecticut

Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Massachusetts

Connecticut Bar Association - Bankruptcy Section, Business Law Section, Commercial Law Section, Insurance Law Section, Chairman 2005-2008, Litigation Section

New York State Bar Association

Publications

Top 10 Insurance Cases of 2024

Insuring Lease/Leaseback Projects

One’s Loss is Another’s “Claim”

Top 10 Insurance Cases of 2023

A Narrow Property Policy Interpretation Finds No Coverage for Encrypted Software as a Result of a Ransomware Attack

Top 10 Insurance Cases of 2022

Massachusetts High Court: Attorney’s Fee Award Under Consumer Protection Act Not Covered by General Liability Insurance Policy

5 Questions about New York’s Comprehensive Insurance Disclosure Act

Event Cancellation Dispute “Scheduled” for Federal Court Ruling

Top 10 Insurance Cases of 2021

Industry Sector Expertise

Expert Witness Experience:

Capstone Bldg. Corp. v. Am. Motorist Ins. Co.

Docket: 2:08-cv-00513-RDP

Court: N.D. Ala.

Date: 10/29/2008

Witness for: Capstone on defense and indemnity Costs incurred by Capstone

Marjam Supply Co. v. Levy & Droney

Docket: HHD: CV-11-6024374-S

Court: Conn. Super. Ct.

Date: 1/9/2014

Witness for: Marjam on insurance policy content and provisions; Standard of Care in law firm’s representation of Marjam in connection with the claim

Education

Awards