Laurel Stevenson

Ms. Stevenson is Of Counsel in the torts and business litigation departments. She has practiced in Missouri since 1997 where she has defended cases in more than ten counties and successfully obtained judgments on behalf of  commercial clients in contract matters. Prior to practicing in Missouri, she was in-house counsel for AEGON Corporation and Capital Indemnity Corporation where she was responsible for handling coverage matters and managing litigation in several states involving ERISA, dram shop actions, bad faith, professional liability and coverage. She also worked in the Wisconsin State Legislature, making presentations to the Business and Torts Subcommittees and served as the primary author of a publication for attorneys regarding case and legislative developments. After starting her practice in Missouri, Ms. Stevenson became the managing partner of a civil defense litigation firm. She has obtained two of the top defense verdicts in a given year in Missouri, including a case of first impression where the plaintiff sought more than $30 million in damages. She has successfully defended more than 60 jury trials and numerous bench trials. She secured directed verdicts in a first party case involving more than $1 million in claimed damages, in a personal injury case where she represented an adjoining landowner, and in a railroad case where a long-time employee alleged permanent injuries.

Ms. Stevenson has handled complex claims and litigation involving toxic torts in the areas of lead, carbon monoxide, hexavalent chromium and aflotoxins/mycotoxins. She has secured summary judgments in several products liability, premises and coverage cases. 

Her work has included products liability, coverage opinions and declaratory judgment actions, defamation, FELA, unfair claims practices, employment related practices, personal injury, wrongful death, trucking and automobile liability, premises liability and breach of contract. She has resolved hundreds of cases through mediation, arbitration and informal settlement negotiations.

Ms. Stevenson is a frequent lecturer and speaker on witness preparation, claims and litigation analysis and risk management. She is also available as a mediator and arbitrator.

Court Memberships

• Iowa
• Missouri
• U.S. Supreme Court
• Wisconsin

Honors

• Member, Journal of Dispute Resolution
• Young Careerist, Cedar Rapids Business and Professional Women's Association, 1989
• Recognized by Outstanding Young Women of America, 1988
• Chairman’s Award, Drury University Communications Department
• Ad Club Award, Drury University
• President’s Committee, Drury University

Professional Affiliations

• Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, Trial Practice Committee Chair 2012 
• American Bar Association, Litigation Section
• Transportation Lawyers Association 
• Springfield Claims Association
• Defense Research Institute
• National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
• Past President, Drury University Alumni Association
• Judge, Drury University Mock Trial Competition, 2006
• Advisor, Drury Students in Free Enterprise Business Incubator Project, 2004-2005

Publications

• Author, Ozark Farm & Neighbor, Farm Finance - Reduce Liability, March 2010
• Author, Analyzing an Assault or Battery Exclusion, Wisconsin Lawyer, May 1997
• Author, ADR in Hospital Staff Privilege Disputes, Journal of Dispute Resolution, June 1989
• Editor and Reviewer for Missouri Continuing Education publication for Insurance Law and Evidence

Presentations

• Speaker, Social Media and Data Requests, ANPAC MIST/SIU/LITIGATION Annual Meeting, June 2011
• Instructor, Insurance Days 2010 - Insurance Fraud
• Speaker, Electronic Filing, Catastrophic Claims and E&O Issues, Nixa Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, October 2008
• Instructor, Bad Faith Litigation and Common Ethical Issues, NBI, February 2008
• Speaker, Electronic Discovery, Springfield Claims Association, January 2008
• Instructor, Litigation Management for Paralegals, October 2007
• Instructor, Witness Preparation, ANPAC MIST Training, June 2007
• Instructor, Insurance Days 2007 - Comparative Fault and UM/UIM
• Instructor, Insurance Days 2006 - Premises Liability and Joint and Several Liability