Stephen serves as Chief Strategy Partner and General Counsel of the firm. Prior to that, Stephen has served as the firm’s Hiring Partner.
A majority of Stephen’s practice is devoted to defending malpractice claims against long term care providers and claims against insurers, third party administrators, and employers for breach of contract, bad faith, fraud, and the tort of outrage. Stephen also devotes a significant portion of his practice to representing healthcare providers in a variety of regulatory matters. Since 2012, Stephen has represented several attorneys and law firms in legal malpractice lawsuits and investigations before the Alabama State Bar Association. Stephen has recently assisted healthcare providers in investigating and litigating Qui Tam (false claims) and Stark Law matters.
Professional Recognition
- Member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America® for Health Care Litigation and Legal Malpractice – Defendants
- Named a Super Lawyer for the State of Alabama by Mid-South Super Lawyers® magazine
- An AV Preeminent rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings
- Served on the faculty at the 2013, 2015 - 2019, and 2021 Alabama Defense Lawyers’ Association Deposition Boot Camp
- Serves as the President-Elect of the Alabama Defense Lawyers’ Association
Community Involvement
- Canterbury United Methodist Church, Adult and Child Sunday School Teacher
- CCA, Board Member
- Youth basketball and baseball coach
Highlights
- Secured a defense verdict in a medical malpractice wrongful death suit following a five-day jury trial, involving allegations of improper administration of Tissue Plasminogen Activator (“TPA”) to a stroke patient by the defendant Emergency Room nurse and hospital.
- Obtained a defense award, after a three-day Arbitration, on behalf of a nursing home in a personal injury and wrongful death case arising from resident falling from a wheelchair.
- Obtained a favorable ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court, affirming summary judgment on tort of outrage claim against third party administrator arising from administration of workers’ compensation claim.
- Secured a favorable ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court affirming a Rule 12 dismissal for our client on Tort of Outrage and Wrongful Discharge in Violation of Public Policy claims.
- Secured a dismissal of nursing home personal injury malpractice case.
- Summary Judgment for a nursing facility in a wrongful death medical malpractice Arbitration.
- Rule 12 dismissal for employer in wrongful termination and tort of outrage claims.
Presentations and Publications
- Defending Abuse of an Aged Individual Claims, the Alabama Nursing Home Association Annual Meeting, Orange Beach, AL (April 24, 2018).
- Professionalism to the Court, Your Client, and to Opposing Counsel, moderator of a panel discussion presented on to new admittees to the Alabama State Bar at the University of Alabama School of Law, Tuscaloosa, AL (January 26, 2018).
- Overview of Alabama Legal Services Liability Act and Avoiding Suits for Legal Malpractice, Birmingham Bar Association, Birmingham, AL (December 5, 2017).
- Alabama State Bar Mandatory Professionalism CLE for New Admittees, University of Alabama School of Law, Tuscaloosa, AL (January 22, 2016).
- Ethics: Avoiding a Suit for Legal Malpractice, Marshall County Bar Association, Guntersville, AL (April 25, 2014).
- Trends in Nursing Home Litigation – Avoiding the Multi-Million Dollar Mistake, Senior Care Pharmacy Conference, Birmingham, AL (April 10, 2014).
- Are You As Guilty As The Criminal? Liability For Criminal Acts Of Third Parties And Employees, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Quarterly Publication, FDCC Quarterly (Fall 2013).
- Moderator, Voir Dire and Jury Selection, American Bar Association Symposium Teleconference (Fall 2010).
- Are Marketing Tactics of Pharmaceutical/Device Manufacturers Helping to Erode the Learned Intermediary Doctrine?, Defense Research Institute’s The Voice (July 2010).
News & Insights
- 30 Starnes Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2024
- SDF’s Stephen Still Accepted into the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
- Starnes Attorneys MacKenzie & Still Secure Defense Verdict in 5-Day Wrongful Death Trial
- 16 Starnes Attorneys Listed in the 2022 Edition of Mid-South Super Lawyers
- Bates, Still & Claud Obtain Defense Award for a Nursing Home in Arbitration
- SDF’s Stephen Still Appointed President of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
- Favorable Alabama Supreme Court Ruling for Newton, Butler & Still
- Starnes Attorneys Umbach, Newton & Still Secure Favorable Ruling from Alabama Supreme Court
- TWENTY-TWO ATTORNEYS NAMED TO THE 2021 EDITION OF MID-SOUTH SUPER LAWYERS
- SDF Attorneys Receive Various Appointments
- Twenty-Six Attorneys Named to the 2020 Edition of Mid-South Super Lawyers
- PPP Amendments Loosen Restrictions, Provide Additional Relief to Businesses
- With Benefits Come Responsibility: Businesses Should Expect Sharp Scrutiny for Covid-19 Relief
- DOJ’s National Nursing Home Initiative Targets “Grossly Substandard Care”
- Don’t Step into the PPP Loan Minefield Without a Map
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Business Interruption, Property Damage, and Other Insurance Coverage Issues
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Update for Long-term Care Facilities and Assisted Living: Update on Monitoring Requirements
- COVID-19 Nursing Home Guidance – Compliance Recommendations
- Reed Bates & Stephen Still Secure Favorable Ruling for a Nursing Home in Arbitration
- THIRTY-ONE SDF ATTORNEYS NAMED TO THE 2019 EDITION OF MID-SOUTH SUPER LAWYERS