David John Pettinato

David “Dave” Pettinato represents policyholders in first- and third-party property insurance claims and subsequent Unfair Claims Handling Practice litigation (Bad Faith). His practice areas include large property losses, business interruption, insurance coverage, and international insurance disputes. If the insurance dispute is unable to be resolved amicably without litigation, he is an experienced policyholder advocate in both state and federal courts. He is experienced in complex insurance coverage disputes and claims in litigation, beginning his insurance career over 25+ years ago as insurance defense counsel.

Mr. Pettinato is an aggressive, thorough, persistent, and diligent attorney in his relentless pursuit of justice on behalf of his clients. He is licensed to practice in Florida, Georgia and Texas, which include, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida, and Southern District of Florida; U.S. Supreme Court; and the U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia. He litigates in other states as well associating himself with local counsel. Mr. Pettinato is the former chair for the Insurance Section of The American Association of Justice (AAJ) and multiple past chairs and vice chairs of the Bad Faith Litigation Group (BFLG) for the AAJ since 2000 to 2012.

In 2010, he was the recipient of the Wiedemann & Waysocki Award, which honors attorneys for their commitment to their profession and support for improving the civil justice system. In 2010, he was selected by his peers as one of the Florida Legal Elite (Florida Trend Magazine). In 2023, he was selected by his peers as one of the Best Lawyers in America, top 5.3% of all practicing lawyers in the U.S. for Insurance Law (The Best Lawyers in America®). Mr. Pettinato is also an “AV” rated attorney through Martindale-Hubbell®.

Mr. Pettinato regularly speaks before professional associations and groups such as the Windstorm Insurance Network, AAJ, Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, the First Party Claims Conference, the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, and Condominium Associations and Homeowners Associations, as well as other Public Insurance Adjusters / Insurance organizations. Additionally, Mr. Pettinato has made numerous media appearances to discuss first party insurance claims, Bad Faith and other related insurance issues.