Steve focuses his practice on environmental litigation, particularly disputes over liability for cleanup costs and the availability of insurance coverage for environmental liabilities. His clients include Fortune 500 companies, local businesses, municipalities, and nonprofit groups. Steve has tried dozens of cases to judges and juries in state and federal courts in Washington, Alaska, and California and writes and speaks often on environmental, agricultural, and food policy.
Professional:
-
Represent clients in disputes over liability for environmental cleanup costs and natural resources damages under federal and state Superfund laws.
-
Represent property owners in negotiations with regulatory agencies over responsibility for investigating and remediating contaminated property.
-
Represent clients in toxic tort and class action litigation arising from alleged environmental hazards.
-
Advise and provide expert testimony to parties and counsel in litigation over the scope of liability for remedial action costs and attorneys' fees.
-
Advise and represent insurance carriers and policyholders in disputes over coverage for environmental liabilities under CGL and specialty environmental insurance products.
-
Represent environmental professionals in disputes over alleged negligent performance of site investigation and remediation services.
-
Represent clients in disputes over compliance with federal and state environmental laws, including National Environmental Policy Act and State Environmental Policy Act.
-
Represent clients in disputes before the Washington Pollution Control Hearings Board and other administrative panels.
-
Counsel pro bono for environmental groups including the Sierra Club, National Audubon Society, Wilderness Watch, Pacific Rivers Council, Washington Environmental Council, Olympic Park Associates, and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, asserting claims promoting or protecting the public interest.
-
Adjunct Faculty, University of Washington Professional & Continuing Education, Environmental Law & Regulation Certificate Program, lecturing on endangered species protection, regulatory takings, ocean and marine policy, and management of coastal and offshore resources.
-
Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, Judge Advocate General's Corps (1990 - 1994). Successfully represented Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard servicemen against charges including government contract procurement fraud, conspiracy, and attempted murder. Received Navy Commendation Medal for exemplary service as defense counsel and Defense Department Head, Navy Legal Service Command Northwest.
-
Martindale-Hubbell A/V rating; named Rising Star ® (2005, 2006) and Super Lawyer ® (2007 - 2011) by Washington Law & Politics magazine.
Civic Activities:
Board of Trustees, PCC Natural Markets (2006 – present; Chair, 2008 – 2010)
Board of Directors, Washington Trails Association (2008 – present; Vice President, 2009 – present)
Board of Directors, Salish Sea Expeditions (2000 – 2005; President, 2001 – 2004)
Board of Trustees, Academy of Music Northwest (1997 – 2001)
Instructor, Youth Education Program, The Nature Conservancy (1993 – 1995)
Volunteer, Recreational Therapy Department, Seattle Children's Hospital (1991 - 1993)
Recent Publications and Presentations:
Author, "From Fish to Forest," Washington Trails Magazine (September/October 2010)
Co-author (with A. Shattles), “Underground Storage Tanks,” Washington Real Property Deskbook (4th Ed., Vol. 7, 2010)
Author, “Wilderness, Visited,” Washington Trails Magazine (November/December 2009)
Speaker, "Property Rights and Property Wrongs on the American Farm," National Lawyers Guild's Law of the Commons Seminar, Seattle, Washington (March 13, 2009)
Author, "Life in the Margins: A Case for Wilderness on the Farm," PCC Natural Markets Sound Consumer (February 2009)
Author, "Natural Resource Damages," Environmental Compliance Handbook (Association of Washington Business, 5th Ed., 2005)