Cathy Rizzo

Cathy Rizzo is a skilled professional with almost 30 years of experience in trial advocacy in different levels of court, mediation and negotiating settlements. She is a creative problem-solver who has represented thousands of victims in personal injury cases since she joined Simpson, Thomas & Associates in 1996 (previously known as Simpson & Company). Many of Cathy’s cases have involved a range of severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic injuries, soft tissue injuries and psychological/ psychiatric injuries, resulting in millions of dollars recovered for her clients.

Cathy also has experience representing clients against insurance companies that have denied disability benefits, and employment law matters, including wrongful dismissal claims. She is also trained in the area of Wills and Estates and represents clients in these areas.

In handling cases, Cathy works closely with victims and families to ensure the client’s needs are looked after, including ensuring that the client receives the rehabilitation and disability benefits that he or she is entitled to, pending settlement or trial. Cathy is meticulous in her attention to detail, leaving no stone unturned to ensure the best possible results are achieved for her clients.

Cathy’s goal is to ensure the best representation for her clients from the case’s inception to its conclusion. Apart from her extensive legal experience, Cathy also leverages her effective written and communication skills and her solution-oriented approach to problems to fight for the best possible outcome for her clients, no matter the case’s complexity.

Memberships & Affiliations

• Law Society of British Columbia, Member
• Canadian Bar Association of British Columbia (‘CBABC”), Member,
• Senior Lawyers, Subsection of the CBABC, member
• Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia, Member
• Vancouver Bar Association, Member
• Alternate Dispute Resolution, Subsection of the CBABC, member
• Women Lawyers Forum, Subsection of CBABC, member
• The B.C. Brain Injury Association, Member
• Spinal Cord Injury of B.C., Member
• Disability Alliance, B.C., Member
• Fraser Valley Brain Institute, Member
• Neil Squire Society, Member

Community Involvement

• Italian Cultural Centre Society, Member
• Mentor, Women Lawyers Forum, CBA

Results

Brar v. Abbotsford City (also known as, the “Abbotsford Jaago Wedding case”):

As one of the lead lawyers in this case, Cathy represented victims and family members of what is described as one of the most complex and tragic accidents that British Columbia has seen. With the leadership of the firm’s senior and founding partners Bernie Simpson and Anthony Thomas, Simpson, Thomas & Associates was called to represent the majority of the Plaintiffs. In this tragedy, six people died and nineteen others resulted injured on the evening of Aug. 24, 2007 in the city of Abbotsford, as a pickup truck drove into a group of more than 30 people who were involved in a traditional Punjabi pre-wedding procession called “Jaago.” Despite the complex liability issue, Cathy and the team of lawyers at Simpson, Thomas & Associates were able to reach a mediated settlement (no trial) with multiple defendants resulting in millions recovered for victims and surviving family members.

Ha v Fritzke (November 12, 1997) Docket B954571(B.C.S.C.).

This case involved an elderly retired Plaintiff who sustained multiple injuries in a motor vehicle accident. Despite having no income loss, the Plaintiff was awarded in excess of half a million dollars at trial. (This trial judgment was upheld on appeal).

Kindra v. Singh (June 11, 2004) Docket M0116606 (B.C.S.C.).

This was a jury trial involving a teacher who sustained soft tissue injuries. Despite she was able to continue with her teaching career after an accident, the Plaintiff was awarded $109,000 inclusive of costs for her injuries.

Sandhu v ICBC et al. [2012] B.C.J. 1993 (B.C.S.C.).

This case was a summary trial involving an elderly female pedestrian and a difficult liability issue. The Plaintiff jaywalked across a four-lane busy arterial road in Surrey, when she was struck by driver, who, according to the evidence was traveling below the speed limit. In this case, the Defendant Driver’s insurer was refusing to pay any monies to the injured pedestrian and asked the Court to dismiss the pedestrian’s case.   Despite the Court finding that the pedestrian was required to yield to the right of way of the Defendant’s vehicle, given she was not crossing at a crosswalk, Cathy was successfully in obtaining a judgment in which the Court found the driver partially at fault for the accident, resulting in the Defendant’s insurer subsequently having to pay monies to the pedestrian.

Hobbies

Outside the courtroom, Cathy enjoys reading, keeping up with current affairs, experimenting with new recipes when cooking and baking, and balancing her sharp and precise lawyer skills with artistic activities such as playing the guitar, singing, and enjoying theatre and anything ballet.