Meet Stephen Weber

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Relevant Experience:

Over 47 years of experience in construction and design and over 28 years of experience as a trial lawyer. Over 10 years of experience as a mediator and arbitrator. Rated as an AV Preeminent attorney by Martindale-Hubbell. Member of The Academy of DIstinguished Neutrals. Licensed civil engineer specializing in structural design and former general building contractor with significant experience in construction, construction design, structural engineering and construction litigation. Has been the engineer of record and/or general contractor on over 500 projects ranging from high end custom homes to commercial/industrial buildings. Also has extensive experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil litigation matters including numerous trials and arbitrations. Clients have included building owners, homeowners, homeowners’ associations, municipalities, landlords, tenants, business owners, consumers, developers, engineers, subcontractors and general contractors. Has represented owners, developers, subcontractors or engineers in cases including single family residential, condominiums, high rise construction, commercial, churches, public buildings and infra-structure. Has also represented major insurance carriers in both first-party and third-party property damage and liability claims, including numerous appraisals and arbitrations following the Northridge, California earthquake. Experienced as counsel, mediator, and arbitrator in contract disputes related to business operation, dissolution, and construction. Trial/arbitration verdicts and awards have ranged from “defense” verdicts in defense of claims to obtaining Plaintiff verdicts of over 10 million dollars. Has twice been recognized for obtaining "top ten" jury verdicts of the year in Arizona.

Extensive experience in arbitrations and mediations involving construction defect claims, insurance loss claims and earthquake claims. Arbitrator in numerous cases involving construction and/or real estate matters with amounts in controversy ranging from less than $100,000 to several million dollars. Has served as both a single arbitrator and on three arbitrator panels. As a mediator, has successfully resolved disputes covering a wide variety of matters ranging from less than $25,000 to several million dollars. Served as a judge pro tempore in Maricopa County handling alternative dispute resolution matters including mandatory settlement conferences and short trials. Previously served as an arbitrator in automotive lemon law claims in California for the Better Business Bureau. Experienced in insurance appraisals, both as counsel and as the neutral umpire.

Bar Admissions:

Admitted to the Bar: Hawaii (2017), New Mexico (2017), Arizona (2004), California (1996); U.S. District Court: Central District of California (1996), District of Arizona (2008), District of New Mexico (2017); U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (2010); U.S. Supreme Court (2011).

Registered Professional Engineer, California (1985);

General Building Contractor, B-1, California (1983 – 1991, expired).

Associations:

Maricopa County Bar Association

Arizona State Bar

California State Bar

New Mexico State Bar

Hawaii State Bar

International Code Council

Community Association Institute.

Speaking Engagements: (Partial List)

• Perrin Conferences 5th Annual National Construction Defect Conference, featured panelist: "National Review of Construction Defect Law," "November 13-15, 2019, The Ritz Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, FL;
• West Coast Casualty’s 26th Annual Construction Defect Seminar, featured panelist: “When your Smart Home Isn't So Smart: The Perils of Automated and Smart Properties” May 9-10, 2019, Disneyland Hotel and Convention Center, Anaheim, California;
• Perrin Conferences 4th Annual National Construction Defect Conference, featured panelist: "Mediation," November 14-16, 2018, The Ritz Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, FL;
• Perrin Conferences 3rd Annual National Construction Defect Conference, featured panelist: "The Professionals' (Architect & Engineer) Part In Construction Defect Claims," November 15-17, 2017, The Ritz Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, FL;
• State Bar of Arizona Annual Convention, featured panelist: "Arizona's Revised Purchaser Dwelling Act," June 16, 2017, Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, Tucson, AZ.
• Perrin Conferences 2nd Annual National Construction Defect Conference, featured panelist: "Additional Insured and Indemnification," and featured panelist: "Right to Repair Acts Across the United States," November 16 - 18, 2016, The Ritz Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, FL;
• West Coast Casualty’s 23rd Annual Construction Defect Seminar, featured panelist: “If It Ain't Broke, It Doesn't Pay to Sue: Why Product Claims in CD Cases are Not Easy Money,” May 11 – 13, 2016, Disneyland Hotel and Convention Center, Anaheim, California;
• MC Consultant's Arizona Construction Defect Litigation Seminar, featured panelist: "An In-Depth Discussion About the New Right-to-Repair Statute," April 23, 2015, Embassy Suites Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona
• MC Consultant’s 20th Annual Construction Defect & Insurance Conference, featured panelist: “Arizona/Nevada–Coverage and Current Trends,” Sept. 17-19, 2014, Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, California;
• West Coast Casualty’s 21st Annual Construction Defect Seminar, featured panelist: “Arbitration Issues and Construction,” May 15 – 16, 2014, Disneyland Hotel and Convention Center, Anaheim, California; 
• West Coast Casualty’s 20th Annual Construction Defect Seminar, featured panelist: “Getting Back to the Basics and the Reason Why the WCC Seminar was Begun in the First Place,” May 15 – 17, 2013, Disneyland Hotel and Convention Center, Anaheim, California;
• West Coast Casualty’s 19th Annual Construction Defect Seminar, featured panelist: “The Voyage of the Yellow Brass Submarine or NewDefects.com – A look at Emerging Defect Trends,” May 17-18, 2012, Disneyland Hotel and Convention Center, Anaheim, California;
• Numerous speaking engagements on insurance coverage for construction liability claims to various insurance claims handling groups.

Prior Speaking Engagements include The State Bar Convention for AZ, various Industry related presentations on subjects including Insurance Claims Handling, Indemnity Law and Provisions, Insurance Appraisal in Fire Losses, as well as recurring engagements for Perrin National Conferences and West Coast Casualty Seminars.

Publications:

• Is the Builder Liable for Defects Which Have Not (Yet) Caused Damage? – The Dividing Line between Contract and Tort Liability, Multifamily Executive, Volume 4, Issue 2, February 1999;
• Selecting a General Contractor – How to Protect Yourself Against Shoddy Work, Multifamily Executive, Volume 4, Issue 4, April 1999;
• House Rules – Is the Extent of a Contractor’s Liability for Economic Loss Due to Code Violations Changing? Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal, March 6, 1998;
• Let Us Appraise – Appraisal Procedure Has Advantages Over Litigation, Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal, 1998;
• Construction Law Update, Editor, A quarterly publication summarizing developments in construction law provided to Insurance Company Clients of Berger, Kahn, Shafton, Moss, Figler, Simon and Gladstone (now, Berger, Kahn), 1997 – 2001;
• Sexual Harassment Lawsuits: Does the Commercial General Liability Insurance Policy Protect the Employer? Western State University Law Review, Vol. 22, Number 2, Spring 1995.

Publications include articles in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, The San Francisco Daily Journal, Multifamily Executive Magazine, Design/Build Business, and the Law Review Article "Sexual Harassment Lawsuits:  Does the Commercial General Liability Insurance Policy Protect the Employer?"