Shareholder
| Location: | Englewood, Colorado |
| Phone: | 720-875-9140 |
| Fax: | 720-875-9141 |
| Email: | Email Me |
Steve Paul joined the firm in February 1999 – October 2008 and again in September 2014. Prior to joining the firm, Steve worked for a nation-wide insurance company in their staff counsel program for 9 years defending insureds and performing quality and legal fee audits of in-house attorneys as well as privately retained attorneys.
His trial experience began as an administrative hearing officer for the former Colorado Department of Highways in 1987. In this capacity, Steve held hearings on the certification of businesses applying for the Minority Business Enterprise Program. From here, Steve went on to serve as a Deputy District Attorney in the Adams County District Attorney’s Office in Colorado from 1988 to 1990 where he tried misdemeanor and felony cases. He served as Lead Deputy District Attorney for the County Court before leaving this position, assisting in the supervision of the attorneys assigned to County Court.
As a civil litigator, Steve has tried cases involving premises liability, automobile accidents, insurance bad faith and single and multi-family construction defects cases. Through the years, he has tried over 77 cases to verdict.
Steve brings his trial and audit experience to his clients by assisting them in reaching their risk management, litigation and economic goals. His practice includes advising and litigating construction defects claims for developers, builder-vendors, engineers and subcontractors; auto and cycling accidents; premises liability; insurance bad faith; product liability; and contracts, including, but, not limited to, construction, liability waivers and releases, licensing and sponsorship agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and employment agreements. During the last five (5) years, Steve has served as the outside general counsel and advisor to SRM USA (Cycling’s Original PowerMeter). He is actively involved in the training of associates and paralegals in the firm.
The construction defects cases involved issues of standard of care for developers, builder-vendors, engineers and other trades; soils – settlement and expansive; shear walls; mold and related health issues; drainage and grading; building envelope; contracts and indemnity; design regarding civil plans; roofing; billing; and mechanic’s liens. Cases have involved single and multi-family homes/projects to jet fuel pump stations, retaining walls, commercial flooring, river projects for fish habitat, pipe bursts and boilers.
He is married and his wife is a Hospitalist in Colorado Springs. He is the father of four, and an avid cyclist riding in various pledge and charity rides for childhood cancer, breast cancer and Multiple Sclerosis. Steve regularly volunteers at Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity assisting in the construction of homes.
Areas of Practice
- Insurance Defense
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Business & Commercial Law
- Business Organizations
- Construction Law
- Employment Law – Employer
- Intellectual Property Law
- Personal Injury – Defense
- Products Liability Law
- Toxic Torts
- Insurance Bad Faith
Certified Legal Specialties
- BV – Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Bar Admissions
- Colorado, 1987
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado, 1988
- U.S. District Court District of Nebraska, 1992
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1992
Education
- Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, Nebraska
- J.D. – 1985
- Creighton University, Nebraska
- B.A. – 1981
- Major: Political Science
Published Works
- Search and Seizure II – United States v. Apker: The Eighth Circuit Adopts the Inevitable, Discovery Rule, 17 Creighton L. Rev. 4 (1983-84)
- An Overview of the Case and Current Trend, Fisher v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, ___ P. 3d ___ (2015), 2015WL2198515 , HKJP.com (2015); Co-Authored with A. Peter Gregory
- Appellate Court Expands the Implied Warranty of Habitability for Developers, Tad S. Rogers v. Forest City Stapleton, Inc. and FC Stapleton II, LLC, 2015COA167M, 2015 , HKJP.com (2016)
- Substantial Completion for A Subcontractor is When It Finishes Its Work on the Improvement , HKJP.com , 2017
- The Two (2) Year Statute of Limitations and Six (6) Year Statute of Repose No Longer Limit a Contractor’s Third-Party Claims , HKJP.com, 2017 and Pikes Peak Lawyer El Paso County Bar Association, April , 2017
Honors and Awards
- Colorado Defense Lawyers Association – Board of Directors – Southern Chapter , 2013 – 2015
- Fellow with the Litigaion Counsel of America, 2012 – Present
- Corporate Counsel Edition Super Lawyers, 2010
- Colorado Super Lawyers, 2009
- Law Review, Creighton Unisversity , 1983 – 1985
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Colorado Bar Association
- El Paso County Bar Association
- Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
- Defense Research Institute
- SRM Cycling Club
- USA Cycling Association
- Breakfast Ride
- Colorado Springs Cycling Club
- League of American Bicyclists
- Litigation Counsel of America
- Construction Lawyers Society of America, Fellow and on the Advisory Board, 2016 – Present
Past Employment Positions
- Dewhirst & Dolven, LLC, Special Counsel, 2008 – 2014
- Harris, Karstaedt, Jamison & Powers, P.C., Managing Shareholder, 1999 – 2008
- Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, In-House Staff Counsel and Auditor, 1990 – 1999
- Adams County District Attorney’s Office, Deputy District Attorney, 1988 – 1990
- Colorado Department of Highways, Administrative Hearing Officer for the Minority/Women Business Enterprise program, 1987 – 1988
Fraternities/Sororities
- Phi Kappa Psi
Harris, Karstaedt, Jamison & Powers, P.C.