Debra Stevens Email & Phone Number

Legal representation of clients in personal injury and construction cases including representing a major hotel chain in complex multi-million-dollar traumatic brain injury premises liability case in Denver District Court. Responsibilities included responding and propounding discovery, preparing and analyzing CRCP 26(a)(1) disclosures, preparing, responding and arguing all motions, taking and defending expert and lay depositions, retaining and preparing experts and 30(b)(6) witnesses for depositions and trial, trial preparation, communicating with all levels of management within hotel, drafting a variety of correspondence including status reports and preparing mediation briefs, and mediation. Prepared answers, third party complaints, responses to discovery requests for construction defect and mechanic lien cases, analyzed statute of limitation as it applied to a multi-family housing project built over a period of seven years and prepared status report to client. Review documents for privilege and relevance and prepared privilege logs. Represent banks in bankruptcy court regarding relief from stays. Represent creditors in collection actions. First party bad faith litigation for major insurance company through a contract with Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie.

Scottsdale, Arizona, Us

Practice currently is focused on trials and litigation pertaining to commercial and personal insurance lines, representing the defense for general liability, construction litigation, products liability, premises liability, auto, transportation and trucking, contribution, professional liability, including architects, engineers and attorneys, environmental law, contracts, insurance coverage, and civil litigation from inception to conclusion. Currently advising local and national claims offices regarding pre-litigation and litigation claims. Practice includes all aspects of discovery, motion practice, negotiation, arbitration, mediation, jury and court trials and resolution of litigated and non-litigated matters.  Successfully defended General Contractor at trial. A fire occurred allegedly because of a defective remodel of a fireplace chimney during a complete remodel of a custom home causing extensive damage. The Plaintiff sought a verdict of just under $900,000 for the costs of the repair and relocation. The jury returned a verdict of $150,000. In an engineering malpractice case, Judge granted a motion in limine reducing the damages claim from $5.4 million to $3.1 million allowing us to settle the case in the very low six figures a week before trial.

Hired by AV-rated, 45-attorney regional law firm specializing in general liability defense to represent developers, contractors/subcontractors, architects, suppliers, hotels, and small businesses in complex construction, products liability, and premises liability litigation. Administered cases from inception through resolution including mediation, arbitration, and trial. Prosecuted cross-defendants and third-party plaintiffs. Took and defended depositions. Drafted law and motion pleadings encompassing summary judgment motions, motions for determination of question of law, discovery motions, and motions in limine. Orchestrated trial preparation activities, attended site inspections and destructive testing, and communicated with clients, opposing counsel, co-counsel, and claims professionals. Authored tender letters to subcontractors and insurance carriers and generated status, pre-arbitration, and pre-trial reports.• Obtained dismissal with prejudice in exchange for waiver of costs in slip and fall case with medical expenses of ~$75K.• Orchestrated motion for determination of question of law on sound transmission issues on the grounds that the CO Construction Defect Action Reform Act, CRS sec. 13-20-801 et seq. (“CDARA”), bars any negligence claims which do not result in any actual property damage or loss of use or any actual or probable personal injury.

Irvine, California, Us

Managed caseload of complex construction litigation involving general contractors and developers. Prosecuted subcontractors, prepared cross-complaints and third-party complaints, took and defended depositions, and attended mediations. Reviewed documents for relevance/privilege in preparation for disclosure. Drafted law and motion pleadings, prepared for trial, and attended site inspections and destructive testing.

Managed satellite office and represented businesses and individuals in general liability defense matters; handled diverse caseload encompassing automobile accidents including uninsured/underinsured motorists, premises and product liability, construction defects, toxic tort, and subrogation up to resolution, including meditation, arbitration, and trial.

Doctor Of Law (Jd)

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Technical Journalism