Steven is Vice President of Lee Smart. He joined the firm in 1987 and has practiced insurance defense litigation for more than 30 years. His litigation practice emphasizes construction site claims including building and design defects, personal injury, death, economic loss, and property damage. He has also defended product liability, toxic tort, and environmental claims, including asbestos personal injury and property damage defense.
Steven’s experience includes these notable cases:
- Cummings v. Bender Chaffey – Defense of general contractor on EIFS claim brought by individual homeowners and prosecution of indemnity and breach of contract claims against subcontractors
- Donovan Brothers v. Showell – Representation of general contractor for construction defects and prosecution of indemnity claims against subcontractors
- Scott v. Pleko Products – Defense of EIFS manufacturer in product liability lawsuit arising by homeowner
- Moles v. Milgard Manufacturing – Defense of window manufacturer in case brought by homeowner for water intrusion in EIFS clad residential new construction
- Allstate v. A.D. Shapiro Architects, P.S. – represented architect in subrogation claim for design defects arising out of defects to commercial warehouse concrete floor
- Brown v. Associated Heating & Sheetmetal – Defense of HVAC subcontractor in double wrongful death case due to carbon monoxide poisoning arising from alleged improper venting of swimming pool heater
Seattle University School of Law, J.D. 1987
Washington State University, BA 1982
Washington State Bar
Oregon State Bar
U.S District Court, Eastern District of Washington
U.S District Court, Western District of Washington
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Washington State Bar Association
Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association
Defense Research Institute