Stephen is a member of Butler Snow’s Pharmaceutical, Device and Healthcare Litigation Group and focuses his practice on representing pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in both complex litigation and individual cases pending in state and federal courts. He is recognized by Best Lawyers in America® as one of its “Ones to Watch” for Commercial Litigation and Health Care Law and was a member of the Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum. Stephen has more than twenty years of service in the military and currently serves as a judge advocate in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, where he supports active duty forces on issues of civil law and military justice.
Overview
Stephen is a member of Butler Snow’s Pharmaceutical, Device and Healthcare Litigation Group and focuses his practice on representing pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in both complex litigation and individual cases pending in state and federal courts. He is recognized by Best Lawyers in America® as one of its “Ones to Watch” for Commercial Litigation and Health Care Law and was a member of the Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum. Stephen has more than twenty years of service in the military and currently serves as a judge advocate in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, where he supports active duty forces on issues of civil law and military justice.
Practice Areas
About
Stephen advises and defends manufacturers against product liability claims in state and federal courts. His practice focuses on complex medical device litigation, including Multi-District Litigations (MDL), state consolidation actions, mass torts, Attorneys General actions, and single plaintiff cases.
Stephen has extensive experience preparing, defending, and cross-examining case specific and general causation experts as well as preparing company witnesses and 30(b)(6) representatives for deposition and trial testimony. Stephen also has experience in commercial litigation, where he has represented a wide range of companies in contract disputes as well as insurance and employment actions.
Prior to joining Butler Snow, Stephen practiced as an in-house attorney at a national bank where he focused his practice on fiduciary litigation and risk management.
Stephen obtained his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law and his B.S. in Business Administration, cum laude, from Mississippi College. He is admitted to the State Bar of Mississippi.
Experience
- Represents Ethicon, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson in MDL as well as federal and state court litigation involving medical devices. He has identified and developed experts and prepared them for depositions and trial testimony. Stephen has also worked with company and 30(b)(6) witnesses in research and development as well as regulatory specialties, preparing them for depositions and trial.
- Provided on-site site trial support for experts and company witnesses for Ethicon Inc. and Johnson & Johnson in federal court pelvic mesh trials.
- Managed collection, preservation, and examination protocols and procedures for biological evidence and samples for cases in federal and state court cases.
- Served on expert witness teams for medical device and other mass tort product liability cases.
- Obtained dismissal on behalf of an aerial lift manufacturer in a wrongful death, products liability suit in the Circuit Court of Lauderdale County, Mississippi.
- Assisted in obtaining summary judgment on behalf of a restaurant in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi on a Title VII harassment and discrimination case.
- Successfully represented property developer on appeal following summary judgment in breach of contract action.
Distinctions
- BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America®
- Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, 2021-2025
- Ones to Watch, Health Care Law, 2021-2025
- Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum, Class of 2018
- Charles Clark American Inn of Court, 2012-2015
- Assistant Staff Judge Advocate (JAG), U.S. Air Force Reserves, Hurlburt Field, FL, 2016-Present
- Public Affairs Officer, Mississippi Air National Guard, 2006-2016
- Field Artillery, Mississippi Army National Guard, 2001-2006
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 2011
- U.S. District Courts
- Mississippi: Northern, Southern
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit
- Court of Appeals of the Armed Forces
Education
- University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2011
- Associate Articles Editor, Mississippi Law Journal
- Staff Editor, Journal of Space Law
- Mississippi College, B.S., Business Administration, cum laude, 2005
- Army ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate
Associations
- Mississippi Bar Association
- Military Assistance Committee, 2020-2021
- Mississippi Corporate Counsel Association, 2015-2018
- Board of Directors, 2017-2018
- Madison County Bar Association
- Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
- American Bar Association
- Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section
Papers, Presentations & Publications
- Podcast Guest, "Defense Counsel Journal Highlight: Turning the Tables: Non-Retained Experts for Defendants," IADC Speaks Podcast, February 7, 2022.
- Co-Author, "Turning the Tables: Non-Retained Experts for Defendants," IADC Defense Counsel Journal, Vol. 88, No. 4, October 20, 2021.
- Co-Author, “The Case for Non-Retained Expert Witnesses,” Pro Te: Solutio, Vol. 14, No. 1, February 2021.
- Speaker, “Hot Topics in Life Sciences Litigation,” 2019 MedMarc Annual Broker Meeting, Las Vegas, Nev., February 8, 2019.