Steve Stephens, Shareholder/Director

Mr. Stephens practices in the areas of civil litigation and business and commercial law.

Steve Stephens has a wide range of experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in complex litigation involving commercial disputes, business torts, employment matters, oil and gas disputes, pollution and environmental claims, construction disputes, product defects, real estate issues, insurance matters, personal injury and medical malpractice claims. His caseload is so diverse that he describes himself as “a lifelong learner who relies upon the knowledge of clients and experts to teach juries about issues and concepts that are foreign to them and to me.”

In recent years Steve has successfully defended claims of insurance bad faith, oilfield environmental damage, construction product defects, engineering malpractice, deceptive pricing and putative class actions. He has also represented corporate and individual plaintiffs asserting claims of breach of contract, negligence, conversion, fraud, personal injury, wrongful death, product liability and medical malpractice resulting in 19 verdicts or settlements each above $1 million and totalling more than $35 million. He has represented a number of nationally prominent coaches and athletes in a variety of litigated matters, as well. “I was fortunate enough to join the Firm at a time when I could merely go down the hall to ask questions and learn from some of the greatest trial lawyers in Oklahoma. They taught me that the work of a successful trial lawyer is to combine the science of case preparation with the art of jury persuasion.”

Known as a creative and resourceful attorney, Steve uses innovative demonstrative exhibits, video clips, computerized imaging and visual aids to educate jurors at trial. “So much has changed about the practice of law since I began, but one of the greatest advancements is the ability to better educate jurors about the issues and the novelties of a case through the use of demonstrative aids. Like most jurors, I too am a visual learner and I work extremely hard to make sure that we prepare outstanding demonstrative aids to allow jurors to grasp concepts that otherwise would be utterly indecipherable to them.”

A lifelong Oklahoman, Steve believes that he relates particularly well to juries because he shares their values and beliefs. So it naturally follows that Steve and his wife, Terri, have always been very close with, and very involved in the lives of, their three children. The family spends its vacation time together snow skiing, snow boarding, scuba diving, wake boarding, boating and fishing. Steve laments that, “The older I get, the harder it is to keep up with them. But they help me keep a healthy work/lifestyle balance which in the final analysis is best for me and my clients.”

Practices

• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Class Actions
• Construction Industry
• Insurance
• Litigation and Trial Practice
• Personal Injury/Wrongful Death
• Product Liability
• Sports Law
• Water Law

Education

• University of Oklahoma (J.D., 1983)
• Oklahoma State University (B.S., 1980)
• Tulane University

Related News & Events

• Fellers Snider Attorneys Recognized In the 2010 Edition of Best Lawyers in America

Bar Admissions

• Admitted to bar, 1983, Oklahoma
• United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Representative Matters & Clients

All settlement amounts are confidential – only dollar amounts from actual trial verdicts listed

• Obtained a $6,500,000 jury verdict (including punitive damages) for large municipal utility authority against developer/seller of defective computer software (settled on appeal).
• Obtained a $1,036,000 jury trial verdict for a Fortune 500 company against a local electrical contractor who negligently wired a high voltage power conditioner which caused substantial damage to computer hardware and which shut down the company’s computer system, resulting in lost revenue (upheld on appeal).
• Obtained a $981,000 trial verdict (including punitive damages) on behalf of two of the state’s largest contractors in an action against the manufacturers and suppliers of defective concrete materials (settled on appeal).
• Obtained a $2,500,000 trial verdict for former owner of a NASCAR race track in litigation arising out of the sale of the track to a new ownership group (reversed on appeal).
• Obtained a defense verdict against a multimillion dollar claim brought by a minority shareholder and also obtained a $500,000 jury verdict in favor of majority shareholder in a corporate dissolution lawsuit.
• Successful defense verdict on behalf of a manufacturer and retailer of roof coating materials against claims that its products were defective.
• Obtained a defense jury verdict for a nationally prominent software designer against claims of breach of contract and intentional computer sabotage.
• Successful agency hearing verdict on behalf of one of the world’s largest engineering firms against charges of professional neglect filed before the Oklahoma Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (matter involved one of the longest hearings held before that body in history).
• Successful defense of one of the world’s most renowned engineers in a qui tam action filed by local taxpayers on behalf of a local municipality for alleged deficiencies in the design of a wastewater treatment plant.
• Settlement obtained for insureds on an insurance claim relating to a fire that destroyed a large manufacturing facility.
• Settlement obtained on behalf of a large regional general contractor in litigation relating to unsubstantiated holdbacks for alleged deficiencies and quality of workmanship.
• Settlement obtained on behalf of minority shareholder in corporate dissolution lawsuit asserting claim of breach of fiduciary duty and improper valuation of company assets at time of sale.
• Settlement obtained for a self employed insured in litigation relating to a denial of disability benefits.
• Representation of a large multi-national energy service company in defense of a claim related to an accidental release of a large volume of fly ash.
• Defense of multiple oilfield transportation companies against claims related to alleged environmental damage caused by oilfield products.
• Act as local counsel for manufacturers of office machines in class action repetitive stress injury cases.
• Prosecution of claim on behalf of a commercial lumber milling company against manufacturers and designers of a large rotary crane that collapsed.
• Settlement obtained on behalf of oilfield operator who utilized defective tubing that separated down hole, causing loss of the well bore and destruction of producing horizons.
• Successful defense (via summary judgment) for large national car rental company in a class action seeking damages for multiple consumer claims arising out of fuel pricing options.
• Defense of insurance company in certified class action seeking damages for alleged bad faith in adjusting property damage claims.
• Defense of a former NBA Rookie of the Year in litigation relating to a dispute over an endorsement contract.
• Defense of a prominent NCAA wrestling coach (who was a two time Olympic and five time World Champion) in litigation involving eligibility of a former wrestler.
• Settlement obtained on behalf of a well known professional horse racing sports front office executive in litigation relating to contractual rights and ownership interests.
• Defense of a prominent NCAA football coach in litigation relating to a terminated assistant coach.
• Representation of an NHRA Top-Fuel drag racing team in multiple matters.
• Defense of a prominent NCAA college baseball coach (and former collegiate All American) in litigation arising out of a game altercation.
• Representation of multiple owners, breeders and trainers of race and show horses in litigation matter and other transactions.
• Settlement obtained on behalf of a legendary X-Games and action sports athlete relating to career ending injuries suffered in a serious vehicular accident.
• Settlement obtained in a wrongful death claim for survivors of a husband/father killed in a tractor explosion.
• Settlement obtained on behalf of surviving adult children whose mother died in a tragic house fire.
• Settlement obtained on behalf of parents whose son was killed in a pedestrian/dump truck accident.
• Settlement obtained on behalf of a woman who suffered disabling injuries to her shoulder and loss of an eye in a car/truck crash.
• Settlement obtained on behalf of a minor child who suffered extensive brain damage due to a misdiagnosis and improper discharge form the emergency room.
• Settlement obtained on behalf of a young mother of two who suffered brain damage due to a botched medical procedure.
• Settlement obtained on behalf of a minor child who suffered profound hearing loss due to inadequate medical care.

Professional Memberships

• American Bar Association
• Oklahoma Bar Association
• Oklahoma County Bar Association

Community Leadership & Activities

• Oklahoma State University Arts & Sciences College Alumni Board (Past Board Member and President)
• Putnam City Public Schools Foundation (Past Board Member and President)
• Christmas In April/Rebuilding Together (Past Board Member and Active Volunteer)
• Blue Stem Lake Homeowners Association (Past Board Member and President)
• Satellite Athletic Association (Board Member)

Awards & Honors

• Selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2009 and 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of Commercial Litigation Law
• Oklahoma Super Lawyers® 2006