Practice Areas

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*   Over 40 years experience  in Construction

*   Former General Building Contractor

*   Registered Professional Engineer, California 

*   Practicing Construction Law for over 25 years - numerous trials and arbitrations

*   Obtained "Top Ten Highest Jury Verdicts" in Arizona for clients in 2014 and 2018

*   Representation of both owners and contractors before the Registrar of Contractors (ROC)

Stephen's practice in construction law includes complaint resolution, Registrar of Contractors Actions, Mediations, Arbitrations, and Trials.  Stephen has also been involved in the legislative process  leading to recent changes in Arizona's Purchaser Dwelling Act which defines the means and methods for pursuing and resolving construction defect claims for residential construction.  His experience in constructing and/or designing over 500 projects makes him uniquely qualified in the area of Construction Law.

Litigation Experience:

• Representation ranging from individuals to Fortune 500 companies
• Amounts in dispute ranging from a few thousand dollars to $50,000,000
• Obtained "Top Ten" jury verdicts for Arizona in 2014 and 2018
• Former Maricopa Judge Pro Tempore
• Arbitrator on the American Arbitration Association (AAA) Large Complex Construction Panel

Trial experience is critical in resolving any dispute.  Knowing that your attorney is capable and experienced in the courtroom will often be a major factor in leading your adversary to resolve a dispute with terms favorable to you.  However, just as important is knowing how to avoid disputes.  Only an attorney that has litigated a bad contract truly knows how to draft a good one.

With over 30 years of trial and dispute resolution experience, we provide legal counsel to nurses in need of legal representation before the Arizona State Board of Nursing. 

Our legal assistant is an RN with over 20 years of experience working with healthcare regulatory agencies and instituting nursing care policy.

If your license has been threatened by a complaint, or if you are under investigation, facing revocation or suspension, or any other administrative action by the Arizona State Board of Nursing, or if you have been contacted by the Board, it is imperative that you have immediate legal representation to preserve your rights. Some issues require legal action within ten days to avoid severe penalties. 

Professional License Defense/Services include:

• Investigations and Interviews
• Appearances before licensing boards 
• Administrative Law Hearings 
• Petitions for Judicial Review
• Court Actions
• Diversion Programs
• Appeals
• Applications for Licensure

License Defense:

• Registered Nurses (RN)
• Certified Registered Nursing Anesthetists (CRNA)
• Nurse Practitioners (NP)
• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)
• Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA)
• Certified Medication Assistants (CMA)
• School Nurses

Mediation is a process where the parties get together and with the help of an experienced mediator agree on a resolution to  their dispute short of trial or binding arbitration.  Binding arbitration is similar to a trial except that the parties select an Arbitrator to  make the final decision instead of a jury.  Oftentimes the arbitrator is selected because of his experience in the field.

Mediation should always be attempted before proceeding to arbitration or trial.  Between 90 and 95% of all cases resolve before trial.  Having a good mediator and counsel experienced in mediation can often result in a more favorable and quicker resolution.

Stephen is experienced in both mediation and arbitration - both as counsel in the process and as the arbitrator or mediator:

• Panel Member American Arbitration Association (AAA) on the Commercial, Construction and Large Complex Construction Panels
• Has resolved hundreds of disputes through arbitration or mediation
• Has successfully mediated numerous simple and complex matters to resolution

Binding Arbitration clauses are becoming quite common.  Most, if not all, new home purchase contracts contain binding arbitration clauses.  Virtually all Patient/Physician treatment agreements contain binding arbitration clauses.  When you enter into such an agreement, you give up your right to a trial by jury or in a court of law.  Having someone on your side  fully experienced in arbitration practice can be critical to your case.