Bio
Whether in the context of single-plaintiff, multi-plaintiff, or mass-consolidated litigation, Stephen has extensive experience defending manufacturers against product liability claims, both in Louisiana and in jurisdictions across the country. He has handled matters involving consumer products, commercial products, prescription drugs, and medical devices from beginning to end.
In the mass-tort realm, Stephen has developed teams of experts in litigation-relevant scientific disciplines and then prepared team members for deposition and trial testimony. He has monitored both pre- and post-recall investigations into product complaints.
Stephen has worked with national trial teams to prepare electronic and demonstrative evidence for use at trial and in jury exercises, and he has supervised the efforts needed to fully prepare company witness for deposition and trial testimony in nationwide litigation.
Experience
Direct involvement with national coordinating and national trial teams in at least eight (8) different pieces of nationwide, mass-tort litigation involving medical devices or pharmaceuticals
Represented at least a dozen different major medical-device and pharmaceutical manufacturers throughout the state of Louisiana in numerous, high-exposure cases, including wrongful death actions
Briefing and arguing dispositive motions in dozens of cases on a variety of grounds, including prescription/statute of limitations, preemption, Daubert or Frye grounds, causation, lack of defect, and Iqbal/Twombly, among others
Numerous depositions of plaintiffs, physicians, lay witnesses, and expert witnesses in advance of motion practice and trial in both individual matters and bellwether matters for mass-consolidated proceedings
Jury trial experience and involvement in six different jury exercises in jurisdictions across the country
Preparing company witnesses and 30(b)(6) witnesses for depositions and trial testimony in the mass-tort setting
Attendance and participation at dozens of product or wreckage inspections, including aircraft wreckage, train wreckage, premises inspections, vehicular inspections, and explanted medical devices inspections
Management of company witness preparation for trial and deposition, as well as development of concise company story in multijurisdictional litigation
Preparing expert witnesses for depositions and trial testimony in cases pending in dozens of U.S. jurisdictions, as well as for testimony in international proceedings
Identifying, retaining, and coordinating teams of experts in litigation-relevant subjects as part of an overarching defense strategy in nationwide mass tort litigation
Successfully worked with experts and trial counsel in jurisdictions across the country to have plaintiff expert opinions excluded under both Frye and Daubert standards
Presentations to clients, trial teams, national teams, and international counsel on key scientific issues in various pieces of litigation
Honors & Affiliations
Honors & Recognitions
AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell rating
Louisiana Super Lawyer
Best Lawyers in America: Product Liability Litigation - Defendants; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Action - Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Litigation – Labor and Employment (2016-2022)
Tulane Moot Court Board
Best Oralist Team, Saul Lefkowitz National Appellate Moot Court Competition
Judicial Extern, Honorable Stanwood R. Duval, Jr., United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana
Professional Affiliations
- International Association of Defense Counsel, Publications Vice Chair of the Drug, Device, and Biotechnology Committee
- Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter Board Member, CLE Committee Co-Chair, Past Chair of Younger Lawyers Division
- Trial Attorneys of America, Board of Directors
- New Orleans Bar Association, Past Chair of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Committee
- Defense Research Institute: Drug & Medical Device Committee, Chair of the Complex Medicine/ Experts Substantive Law Group
News
Publications & Presentations
Publications
Practice Areas
Admissions
- Louisiana state courts
- United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana
Education
J.D., Tulane University Law School (2005)
B.S.E., Engineering Science and Philosophy, Tulane University (2002)
International Association of Defense Counsel's Trial Academy, Stanford Law School (2010)