Jeffrey J. Vita
Partner
Biography
Jeffrey J. Vita is a Partner in the firm’s Connecticut office and a founding member of SDV in 1996. He is a nationally recognized insurance coverage litigator with more than three decades of experience handling complex, multi-party insurance disputes across the United States. Jeff has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict and argued appeals at both the state and federal levels, securing significant recoveries for his policyholder clients.
He is widely known for his role in shaping insurance coverage law, including a landmark argument before the Connecticut Supreme Court establishing that construction defect claims constitute an “occurrence” under general liability policies—an outcome that influenced courts nationwide on this issue.
In addition to his litigation practice, Jeff advises clients on sophisticated risk transfer strategies and insurance program design often working in conjunction with his clients’ risk management teams and their insurance brokers. His practice spans a wide range of industries, including construction, manufacturing, energy, transportation, healthcare, real estate development, and the municipal sector. He is also frequently retained as an expert witness in complex coverage disputes.
Jeff is a prolific author and sought-after speaker on insurance coverage issues, including additional insured coverage, bad faith, priority of coverage, business interruption, and wrap-up insurance programs. He has served as a past Chair of the Insurance Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association and past Co-Chair of the Construction Subcommittee of the American Bar Association’s Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee. Jeff is a Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel and is consistently recognized by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers® in America, and Super Lawyers for his practice area of Insurance Coverage.
Experience
Jeff represents policyholders in high-stakes insurance coverage litigation involving a broad spectrum of claims, including construction defects, professional liability, environmental losses, delay claims, and catastrophic property damage. He has litigated, mediated, and arbitrated both 1st and 3rd party claims involving general liability, builder’s risk, professional liability, EPLI, commercial property, cyber liability, pollution, directors & officers, inland marine, and representations and warranties insurance policies.
In addition to his litigation and advisory work, Jeff has served as an expert witness on insurance policy interpretation and standards of care impacting the construction, manufacturing, and crane industries. His practical, results-driven approach and deep understanding of insurance law make him a trusted advisor to clients navigating their most challenging coverage disputes.
Jeff was a past Adjunct Professor of a graduate-level course entitled Insurance Litigation at the University of Connecticut School of Law.
