Christopher Rusnak, KC*

Counsel to British American Tobacco companies based in the United Kingdom in respect of claims advanced against them by each of the ten provincial governments. The governments are seeking recovery of billions of dollars health care costs expended on the treatment of tobacco related disease. The claims are unprecedented in scope as the enabling legislation renders inapplicable provisions of provincial limitation acts, allowing claims to be advanced that date back to the 1950s.

Counsel for parties involved in a proposed national class action advanced by the province of British Columbia on behalf of all provinces and the federal government. The legal proceedings are based on legislation modeled after the Tobacco cost recoupment legislation. The Canadian governments are seeking billions of dollars in health care and related costs expended to address opioid addiction and treatment.

Counsel for clients in class action proceedings relating to the manufacture and sale of alleged defective products.

Counsel to an international engineering firm in respect of claims arising from the failure of the Mount Polley Mine tailings storage facility. The failure has been described as the largest environmental disaster in the history of Canada.

Counsel to a national bank in significant arbitration proceedings arising within the context of bankruptcy proceedings. Through the receiver, the bank pursued claims against an international mining company for damages and monies owed to the bankrupt entity.

Counsel to a national geotechnical engineering firm in several actions arising from two large landslides. In total, more than 20 separate actions were commenced.

Counsel to a joint venture of three international engineering firms sued over their involvement in large-scale expansion of a wastewater treatment plant. The case related to alleged design and construction defects associated with the project’s wastewater digesters.

Counsel on behalf of clients providing advice on legal issues relating to climate change

Counsel on behalf of a port authority in proceedings relating to historic hydrocarbon contamination of a large industrial site. Approximately 20 parties were involved in six concurrent actions seeking recovery of environmental clean-up costs.

Counsel in a series of matters involving claims by dozens of plaintiffs who alleged damages suffered due to sexual assaults allegedly committed while they were students of a former schoolteacher criminally convicted of sexual assault offences and designated a dangerous offender.

Counsel to clients with respect to matters before WorkSafeBC, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC, the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon, the Architectural Institute of BC, the BC Environmental Appeal Board, the Institute of Chartered Accounts of BC, College of Registered Nurses of BC and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC.