Steven D. Archer
Experience
- Practice focuses on complex tort litigation, including personal injury, mass tort, product liability, automobile, construction, oil field, professional malpractice, aviation, asbestos, drug and other toxic substances exposure cases.
- Has experience in both the prosecution and the defense of major tort litigation.
Selected Results*
Represented four band members and five crew members of a rock and roll band injured in a tour bus v. tractor-trailer accident in Spain. The case resulted in negotiated global settlements in excess of $5,800,000.00.
Representing a plaintiff and acting as a member of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee for the joint prosecution of all personal injury and wrongful death claims arising as a result of an out-of-control motor vehicle's intrusion into the Santa Monica Farmers' Market on July 16, 2003 which resulted in 10 dead and over 65 injured pedestrians. The litigation involves over 40 consolidated lawsuits involving 70+ named plaintiffs with claims against 5 defendants.
Lead counsel representing the families of 41 victims killed as a result of the mid-air break-up and crash of China Airlines Flight CI 611 over the Straits of Taiwan on May 25, 2002. Over 125 cases have been filed and are consolidated in the United States District Court in Los Angeles.
Lead counsel representing plaintiffs in a nationwide class action against Honda Motor Co., Ltd. involving design defects in the front balancer shaft oil seal in the F-22 engines which are in an estimated 3 million Honda Accord and Prelude vehicles manufactured between 1990 and 1997. This case is currently pending in the California Court of Appeals.
Co-tried what is believed to be the first Shiley Heart Valve personal injury/product liability case to verdict in 1980 before the Hon. Harry Pregerson in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Litigated, settled or tried asbestos personal injury lawsuits arising out of the job-related exposures of individuals to asbestos-containing materials in various occupations such as shipyard, welding, construction, refinery and neon sign manufacturing.
Member of the litigation team representing the Los Angeles Unified School District in its asbestos property damage litigation.
Member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the I-5 Dust Storm Litigation involving 99 plaintiffs and 143 defendants that arose out of a series of multi-vehicle accidents involving over 100 cars and trucks occurring during a severe dust storm outside of Fresno, California in November 1991. These cases resulted in global settlements in excess of $17,000,000.
Trial counsel in a seven-week multi-plaintiff Sick Building Syndrome case which resulted in a verdict of $4,200,000.
Represented a plaintiff in a wrongful death lawsuit brought against a sporting goods store for the negligent sale of a pump-action riot shotgun to a mentally incompetent adult which was used in a murder approximately 20 minutes after its purchase. This case resulted in a settlement of $1,100,000 one week prior to the scheduled trial date. The facts of this case and the publicity surrounding this settlement, along with Mr. Archer’s subsequent testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Oversight Subcommittee contributed to the subsequent passage of certain amendments to the federal Brady Bill and to California gun control legislation which extended the required waiting period for the purchase of handguns to rifles, shotguns and other "long" weapons.
Lead plaintiffs’ counsel in the Seacliff Oil Field Litigation resulting from the death of three workers and permanent injuries to three other workers when a gas leak occurred during the downhole perforation of the casing pipe at the C 10-A well in Seacliff, California. The trial of this action lasted five months and resulted in plaintiffs' verdicts in excess of $7,400,000.
Represented a singer/songwriter in an auto vs. pedestrian accident resulting in a negotiated $1,350,000 settlement.
Co-lead plaintiffs' counsel in a false arrest, false imprisonment and violation of civil rights lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department which resulted in a verdict in excess of $13,000,000 (plus Statutory attorneys fees in excess of $3,000,000).
Obtained a $7,400,000 judgment in the United States District Court on behalf of four persons injured in a plane crash in the jungles of Costa Rica.
Recognition
- Recipient of the "2008 Humanitarian Award," from the ACLU Foundation of Southern California (2008)**
- Named a "Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics (2006, 2007, 2008)**
Memberships
- American Association for Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America)
- Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
- Consumer Attorneys of California
- Consumer Attorneys of California Pending Legislation Sub-Committee
- Los Angeles County Bar Association (Client Relations Program, former Vice-Chairperson)
- Los Angeles County Bar Association (Dispute Resolution Services Committee of the Legislative Monitoring Sub-Committee, past member)
- Los Angeles County Bar Association (Lawyer Referral and Information Services)
- Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
- California Bar Association
- Los Angeles Conservancy, Board of Directors
The Los Angeles Conservancy is a volunteer organization dedicated to the recognition and preservation of the architectural history of Los Angeles. - Los Angeles Juvenile Court, Dependency Court, Tort Committee member. This committee is responsible for recommending and implementing a system whereby juveniles who are wards of the court are provided with Pro Bono legal services including review and potential prosecution of claims arising out of any and all mandated Section 317(e) reports of injuries sustained while wards of the court.
- Past member of the Hollywood Sub-Committee for the Committee to Preserve Open Reservoirs (CPOR) in the ongoing CPOR-Department of Water and Power Mediation concerning the City of Los Angeles's implementation of and compliance with the Federal Surface Water Treatment Act requirements and standards.
Civic Associations
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. Pro Bono Adoption Team, Member
Los Angeles Conservancy, Board of Directors, Member
Los Angeles Conservancy Development Committee, Member
Los Angeles Conservancy Legal Committee, Past Member
Mt. Olympus Property Owners' Association (MOHOA), Board of Directors
Bar Admissions
- California
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (1974), J.D., Dean's Honor List
- University of California at Los Angeles (1970), B.A., American History, Dean's List
Selected Speeches
-
Discovery: Planning, Strategy and Dealing with Abusive Discovery Tactics
State Bar of California Continuing Education of the Bar, Los Angeles, California
(Scheduled for July 25, 2008)
-
The Art of Advocacy - Tailoring the Message: Storytelling and Framing (Moderator)
American Association for Justice, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
(Scheduled for July 14, 2008)
-
Mock Mediation: Strategies for Successful Mediation of the Toxic Tort Case
ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, Phoenix, Arizona
(April 12, 2008)
- An active speaker who has presented papers at various meetings of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, San Diego County Bar Association Litigation Section, British Columbia Trial Lawyers Association, CAALA, and the National Business Institute, Inc.
|