One hundred percent of Stephen's practice is devoted to litigation. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Stephen has successfully tried a number of jury and bench trials. He regularly represents financial institutions and mortgage lenders in actions alleging violations of the Truth in Lending Act, Real Estate Settlement Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, and other federal statutes and regulations. Stephen's practice includes business litigation matters, class actions and complex commercial disputes. A large component of Stephen's practice also encompasses the representation of retailers, restaurants, and manufacturers in lawsuits asserting tort and product liability claims. In addition, Stephen regularly represents Alabama employers in workers' compensation and retaliatory discharge lawsuits. Stephen belongs to the Litigation and Business Sections of the American Bar Association and is a member of the Alabama State Bar and the Birmingham Bar Association, where he has previously served as a member of the Grievance Committee and other Committees. In addition, he is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (which is an invitation-only association for corporate and defense attorneys around the world), the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, and the Defense Research Institute, where he is a member of the Commercial Litigation Committee. Over the years, Stephen has spoken at a number of seminars on a variety of topics. In January 2010, Stephen spoke at the Consumer Finance Class Actions & Litigation forum in New York at the UN Plaza. At that forum, Stephen joined 18 in-house attorneys and a number of United States District Court judges and Bankruptcy Court judges in addressing a cross-section of consumer finance and litigation issues. In 2009, Stephen spoke at the 8th Annual Conference on Consumer Finance Class Actions and Litigation. Here is a sampling of matters recently handled by Stephen to a conclusion: · Secured summary judgment for a nationwide lender in a fraud action. · Secured dismissal of lawsuit brought by the City of Birmingham against various lenders alleging violation of the Fair Housing Act, as a result of allegedly engaging in "reverse redlining." · Secured summary judgment for nationwide restaurant in an action brought by multiple individuals claiming food-borne illness. · Secured dismissal of a TILA action brought against a lender seeking rescission, monetary damages and other relief. · Secured dismissal of wrongful death claim brought under Dram Shop Act against nationwide restaurant. · Secured summary judgment for Alabama manufacturer in action alleging retaliatory discharge. · Secured victory in an arbitration proceeding for a medical specialty group in an action brought by a former employee asserting retaliatory discharge. Memberships & Bar Associations American Bar Association Litigation Section Member, Torts, Insurance, Product Liability Section Alabama State Bar Birmingham Bar Association Member, Grievance Committee |