Biography
Over the last 40 years, Stephen has successfully handled over 5,000 cases, recovering over $100 million in verdicts and settlements for his clients. Although Stephen has placed a special emphasis on maritime personal injury, he has used his trial skills to obtain successful judgments in a variety of civil cases, including successions, oil and gas, wrongful death, product liability, automobile accidents, premises liability, defamation and slip-and-falls.
He has lectured at seminars for the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association and has been recognized as a diplomat by the American Association for Justice in trial advocacy. Stephen is a member of the Louisiana Association for Justice, the American Association for Justice and the New Orleans Bar Association and is a past president of the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association. Stephen was recognized as a Leader in Law by New Orleans Magazine, AV rated by Martindale Hubbell , annually named one of the Top Lawyers in New Orleans and one of the top attorneys In America.
In addition to his law practice, Stephen served as Custodian of the Notarial Records for the Parish of Orleans and served as chairman of the Notarial Examination Committee for Orleans Parish. He served in those capacities from 1992-1996 and 2004-2009 and is the only custodian to be nonconsecutively appointed by two Louisiana governors. He was responsible for initiating digital scanning of original acts to make them available on the internet.
Stephen is active in civic affairs and has served as president of his neighborhood association, spearheaded fund-raising activities for religious and academic institutions and is a past president of the St. Rita Parish Council.
Education
- Tulane Law School, New Orleans, Louisiana
- J.D. - 1982
- Honors: cum laude
- Tulane University
- B.S. - 1979
- Major: Management
Representative Cases
- Latulippe v. Brawn, 253 So.3d 820 (La. App. 5 Cir 2018) automobile accident $534,000.00, 2018
- Vicedomini, et al v. Rodriguez, et al, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, No. 17-05010 automobile accident, $500,000.00, 2018
- Hartley, et al v. Bellows, et al, Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, No. 2014-307 medical malpractice $915,000.00, 2016
- Punch v. Chevron, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, No. 12-00388, 2012 WL 5289379, maritime $500,000.00, 2013
- Kimble, et al v. Smeed, et al, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, No. 9-00192 automobile accident) $760,000.00, 2011
- Diasparo v. USA, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, No. 09-3455 “L” $900,000.00 Judgment automobile accident, $870,000.00, 2010
- Talcott v. Wheeler, et al , 34th Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. Bernard, State of Louisiana, No. 112-133 automobile accident, $800,000.00, 2010
- Perry, et al v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company, 29th Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. Charles, No. 60-578 automobile accident, $600,000.00, 2006
- Leaverton v. Hagann, et al, Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, No. 2001-10212 premise liability, $650,000.00
- Rogers and Barnes v. DOTD, 813 So.2d 495 (La. App. 4 Cir.) automobile accident, $750,000.00
- Cacho v. Deep South Towing, et al 25th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Plaquemines, State of Louisiana, maritime, $750,000.00
- Edgerson, et al v. Megga Industries, Inc. United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, No. 18-cv-11804 “B” maritime, $1,777,000.00 Judgment, 2020
- Brazan v. Scottsdale Insurance Company 194 So. 2d 1274 (1st Cir. 2016), automobile accident, $1,100,000.00, 2017
- Tapp v. Gulf Stream Coach, Inc. United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, No. 08-1134 “N”, 2013 WL 12228969, products liability, $1,500,000.00 , 2015
- Hadley, et ux v. Williams, et al, 32nd Judicial District Court for the Parish of Terrebonne, State of Louisiana, motorcycle accident, $1,300,000.00.
- Renton v. Pujol, et al 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana, No. 686127, automobile accident, $1,100,000.00, 2012
- Ledet v. Smith Marine Towing, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, No. 10-1713, 2011 WL 1303918, maritime, $1,900,000.00, 2012
- Kamas v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, No. 2008-06651, automobile accident $1,100,000.00, 2011
- Rees v Longoria, et al, United Staes District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, No. 06-3959, automobile accident, $1,000,000.00.
- Punch v. Chevron, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, No. 12-00388, 2012 WL 5289379, maritime, 2013
- Brooks v. Moyniham, Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, no. 2013-8871 “C”, automobile accident, $1,000,000.00, 2017
- Rosier v. Guidance Mutual Insurance Company, 22nd Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. Tammany, Judgment, automobile accident, $1,800,000.00, 2015
- Moreira v. Deep South Towing, Inc, 25th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Plaquemines, State of Louisiana, 44-760, maritime, $1,500,000.00
- Johnson, et al v. Lee, et al 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana, No. 629122, automobile accident, Judgment for $4,500,000.00, 2010
- Wilkins v. XYZ Insurance Company, et al , Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, No. 16-11966 “J”, premise liability, $5,000,000.00, 2019
- Joseph v. Fluor Corparation, et al United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, 07-0516 c/w 07-628 and 07-1270, Sec L, products liability
Professional Associations
- Louisiana Association for Justice, Member
- American Association for Justice, Member
- New Orleans Bar Association, Member
- St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association, Past President
- Notarial Records for the Parish of Orleans, Custodian, 1992 to 1996
- Notarial Examination Committee for Orleans Parish, Chairman
- St. Rita Parish Council, Past President
- Notarial Records for the Parish of Orleans, Custodian, 2004 to 2009
Practice Areas
- Personal Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Products Liability
- Automobile Accidents
- Premise Liability
- Oil and Gas
Honors
- Stephen was recognized as a Leader in Law by New Orleans Magazine
- AV rated by Martindale Hubbell and named one of the Top Lawyers in New Orleans
- Recognized as a Diplomat by the American Association for Justice in Trial Advocacy
- Leader in Law, 2010-Present
- Top Lawyers, 2009-Present
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana, 1982
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit