Stephen M. Bressler

Stephen M. Bressler

Partner
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602.262.5376 office
602.734.3742 fax
201 East Washington Street
Suite 1200
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Overview

Steve Bressler is a partner in Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie’s litigation practice group. He concentrates in insurance coverage litigation and products liability litigation. He represents life, health and disability carriers statewide and regionally in a wide-range of matters, such as contract interpretation, bad faith, punitive damages, rescission, and regulatory controversies. He also represents pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers.

He is the Chair of the American Bar Association’s Tort and Insurance Practice Section’s Health and Disability Insurance Law Committee.

Mr. Bressler and others at the firm served as national counsel for E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co in over 1600 Teflon® products liability cases. For his work, he received the Gold Eagle Award from DuPont. The award is the highest honor given by DuPont and was only the second time in the company’s history that the award had been presented to outside counsel.

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He regularly appears in federal and state courts.

        9th Circuit: Loza v. American Heritage Life Ins. Co., 68 Fed.Appx. 530 (9th Cir. 2014); Seltzer v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 688 F.3d 966 (9th Cir. 2012); Seltzer v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 478 F. App'x 455 (9th Cir. 2012); Loza v. Am. Heritage Life Ins. Co., 434 F. App'x 687 (9th Cir. 2011); Allocco v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 425 F. App'x 559 (9th Cir. 2011); Mazet v. Halliburton Co. Long Term Disability Plan, 366 F. App'x 839 (9th Cir. 2010); Leavey v. Unum Provident Corp., 295 F. App'x 255 (9th Cir. 2008); Walter v. United Ben. Life Ins. Co., 2006 WL 549578 (9th Cir. Mar. 8, 2006); Dahlstrand v. Sec. Title Agency, Inc., 145 F. App'x 237 (9th Cir. 2005); Gravatt v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 101 F. App'x 194 (9th Cir. 2004); Martin v. United of Omaha Life Ins. Co., 91 F. App'x 547 (9th Cir. 2004).

        8th Circuit: Bernards v. United of Omaha Life Ins. Co., 987 F.2d 486 (8th Cir. 1993).

        Arizona District Court: Klungvedt v. Unum Group, 2013 WL 551473 (D. Ariz. 2013); Klungvedt v. Unum Group, 2012 WL 5363002 (D. Ariz. 2012); Tavilla v. Cephalon, Inc., 2012 WL 4466544 (D. Ariz. 2012); Tavilla v. Cephalon, Inc., 870 F. Supp. 2d 759 (D. Ariz. 2012), on reconsideration in part (May 30, 2012); Tavilla v. Cephalon Inc., 2012 WL 1190828 (D. Ariz. Apr. 10, 2012); Loza v. Am. Heritage Life Ins. Co., 2012 WL 1019033 (D. Ariz. Mar. 26, 2012) aff'd, 568 F. App'x 530 (9th Cir. 2014); Bolt v. Honeywell Int'l Inc., 814 F. Supp. 2d 913 (D. Ariz. 2011); Steinke v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 2010 WL 3038728 (D. Ariz. Aug. 3, 2010); Loza v. Am. Heritage Life Ins. Co., 2010 WL 716322 (D. Ariz. Feb. 25, 2010) rev'd, 434 F. App'x 687 (9th Cir. 2011); Allocco v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 2009 WL 3682576 (D. Ariz. Oct. 30, 2009) rev'd, 425 F. App'x 559 (9th Cir. 2011); Kravetz v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 2009 WL 1639736 (D. Ariz. June 11, 2009); Kelly v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., 2009 WL 996051 (D. Ariz. Apr. 14, 2009), aff’d denying Rule 60(b) motion, 2009 WL 1458218 (D. Ariz. May 26, 2009); Zendejas v. Shell Oil Co., 2008 WL 5214741 (D. Ariz. Dec. 11, 2008); Lyell v. Farmers Grp. Inc. Employees' Pension Plan, 2008 WL 5111113 (D. Ariz. Dec. 3, 2008); Beshears v. Provident Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 2007 WL 1438738 (D. Ariz. May 15, 2007); Heywood v. W. Reserve Life Assur. Co. of Ohio, 2007 WL 625926 (D. Ariz. Feb. 27, 2007); CRC Info. Sys., Inc. v. Quebecor World (USA), Inc., 2006 WL 3333075 (D. Ariz. Nov. 16, 2006); Leavey v. UNUM/Provident Corp., 2006 WL 1515999 (D. Ariz. May 26, 2006) aff'd sub nom. Leavey v. Unum Provident Corp., 295 F. App'x 255 (9th Cir. 2008); Gravatt v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 2005 WL 2789315 (D. Ariz. Oct. 25, 2005); Edin v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 188 F.R.D. 543 (D. Ariz. 1999); Jobe v. Sofamor, S.N.C., 1998 WL 1048208 (D. Ariz. Sept. 4, 1998); Gingeleskie v. Westin Hotel Co., 961 F. Supp. 1310 (D. Ariz. 1997) aff'd in part, rev'd in part, 145 F.3d 1337 (9th Cir. 1998); Anguiano v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Inc., 808 F. Supp. 719 (D. Ariz. 1992) aff'd sub nom. Anguiano v. E.I. Du Pont De Nemours & Co., Inc., 44 F.3d 806 (9th Cir. 1995); Lehman v. Mutual of Omaha Ins. Co., 806 F.Supp. 859 (D. Ariz. 1992).

        Arizona Supreme Court: Volz v. Coleman Co., Inc., 155 Ariz. 567, 748 P.2d 1191 (1987).

        Arizona Court of Appeals: W.A. Krueger Co. v. Indus. Comm'n of Arizona, 150 Ariz. 66, 722 P.2d 234 (1986); Myers ex rel. Myers v. Hoffman-La Roche, Inc., 217 Ariz. 5, 170 P.3d 254 (Ct. App. 2007), as amended (Oct. 5, 2007), review denied and ordered depublished sub nom. Myers v. Hoffman-La Roche Inc., 218 Ariz. 293, 183 P.3d 544 (2008); Radkowsky v. Provident Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 196 Ariz. 110, 993 P.2d 1074 (Ct. App. 1999), as amended (June 29, 1999); Smithey v. Hansberger, 189 Ariz. 103, 938 P.2d 498 (Ct. App. 1996); Collins v. E.I. Dupont de Nemours & Co., 1993 WL 521229 (Ariz. Ct. App. Oct. 26, 1993), review denied and opinion ordered not published (Oct. 4, 1994); Stewart v. Mut. of Omaha Ins. Co., 169 Ariz. 99, 817 P.2d 44 (Ct. App. 1991); Perry v. Indus. Comm'n of Arizona, 154 Ariz. 226, 741 P.2d 693 (Ct. App. 1987); Indus. Indem. Co. v. Indus. Comm'n of Arizona, 152 Ariz. 195, 731 P.2d 90 (Ct. App. 1986); Regnier v. Indus. Comm'n of Arizona, 146 Ariz. 535, 707 P.2d 333 (Ct. App. 1985); Am. Ins. Co. v. Indus. Comm'n of Arizona, 144 Ariz. 364, 697 P.2d 1114 (Ct. App. 1984); Noble v. Indus. Comm'n of Arizona, 140 Ariz. 571, 683 P.2d 1173 (Ct. App. 1984).

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Maricopa Bar Association, Member
  • Federal Bar Association, Member
  • Defense Research Institute DRI Drug and Medical Device Committee and Life Health and Disability Committee, Past Arizona representative to Technology Committee
  • American Bar Association Tort and Insurance Practice Section, Chair of Health and Disability Insurance Law Committee
  • Arizona Association of Health Care Lawyers
  • Products Liability Committee, past Co-Chair
  • Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, past Board Member

Related News

04/04/2017
DeWald, Freeman share John P. Frank Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award
59 attorneys earn recognition for providing more than 50 pro bono hours in 2016
08/15/2016
83 Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie attorneys named in ‘Best Lawyers'
11 partners also honored as ‘Lawyer of the Year' in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017
03/22/2016
Pro bono service awards presented by Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie
Annual awards honor memory of lawyer dedicated to equal justice and professionalism
8/26/2015
82 Lewis Roca Rothgerber Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers In America© 2016
Nine Partners Honored as ‘Lawyer of the Year'
4/10/2015
36 Lewis Roca Rothgerber Attorneys Named in 2015 Southwest Super Lawyers®
8/19/2014
84 Lewis Roca Rothgerber Attorneys Named in 2015 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
4/15/2014
42 Lewis Roca Rothgerber Attorneys Named in 2014 Southwest Super Lawyers

Other Publications

  • Co-Author, "Misrepresentation in the Life, Health, and Disability Insurance Application Process: A National Survey (Arizona chapter)," American Bar Association, 2015
  • Co-Author, "Arizona Enacts Limited Privilege for Insurance Self-Audits," Defense Research Institute, The Voice, Vo. 14, Issue 6, February 2015
  • Co-Author, " Arizona Enacts Limited Privilege For Insurance Self-Audits," Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie, 08/25/2014
  • Co-Author, "Compensation for Treating Physician Testimony: Sanchez v. Gama," Lewis Roca Rothgerber LLP Client Alert, 09/15/2013
  • Co-Author, "New Rules for E-Discovery," Defense Research Institute, Life, Health, Disability and ERISA Claims, March 2007
  • Co-Author, "The Status of State E-Discovery Rules," Defense Research Institute, The Voice, Vo. 6, Issue 5, February 2007
  • Co-Author, "Recovery for Sexual Impairment Under Workers' Compensation," Federation of Insurance Counsel Quarterly, Vol. 35, No. 2, November 2006
  • Co-Author, "Trying the Wrongful Death Case in Arizona, Strategies in Preparation and Valuation ," National Business Institute, 1996

Distinctions

  • The Best Lawyers in America - Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Phoenix - Insurance Law, Mass Tort Litigation, and Product Liability Litigation, 2016-2017
  • Southwest Super Lawyers - Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition - Insurance Coverage, 2010-2015
  • Martindale-Hubbell - "AV/Preeminent Attorney" Rating
  • AZ Business Magazine - Top Lawyers - Product Liability Law
  • Arizona’s Finest Lawyers

Other Info

Education

J.D., University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law
B.A., cum laude, Duke University

Bar Admissions

Arizona

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Arizona District Court