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Steven D. Davidson is a commercial litigator with 35 years of experience across a wide range of federal, state and administrative proceedings, including insurance, health care, real estate, energy, transportation, and personal injury matters. He has tried more than 30 cases to verdict before juries, judges and arbitrators, and has obtained successful, efficient pretrial resolution of hundreds of disputes for clients across the country. Steve is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and served as Chair of the Firm’s Litigation section from 2013-2022. Currently, he serves as General Counsel for the Firm.

In 1986, Mr. Davidson was conferred a Juris Doctor, with high distinction, from the University of Nebraska College of Law. While in law school, he was selected as a member of the Nebraska Law Review and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. In 1983, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree, with distinction, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he was selected as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Davidson served as law clerk to the Honorable C. Arlen Beam of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in 1987, and as law clerk to Judge Beam in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska in 1986. Since 2008, Steve has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® and was named the 2016 Insurance Law, the 2020 and 2023 Bet-the-Company Litigation, and the 2021 and 2024 ERISA Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” for Omaha. He is also included in Benchmark, America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, Super Lawyers and Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

Education

  • University of Nebraska College of Law, J.D., with high distinction, 1986
  • University of Nebraska at Lincoln, B.A., with distinction, 1983

Professional & Civic Affiliations

  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Fellow, Nebraska State Bar Foundation
  • Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
  • Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys
  • Past President, Board of Directors, Catholic Charities of Omaha
  • Past President, Board of Directors, Family Housing Advisory Services, Inc.
  • Past President, Board of Directors, Omaha Theater Company for Young People

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Nebraska, 1987
  • Missouri, 1986
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 1986
  • United States Supreme Court, 1988

Selected Practice Highlights

  • Representing leading health, life and disability insurance carriers in coverage defense and bad faith matters
  • Defending national transportation companies and health care clients in serious personal injury matters
  • Successfully defending a Fortune 100 company in complex toxic tort actions
  • Obtaining reformation of a commercial lease, preserving rent obligation for property owner of more than $30 million
  • Obtaining more than a combined $50 million in property tax valuation reductions for commercial office and shopping center owners
  • Obtaining a $4.7 million jury verdict against a publicly-held defense contractor for the unpaid value of sophisticated storage and security services

Representative Reported Cases

  • Laredo Ridge Wind LLC v. Nebraska Public Power Dist., 11 F.4th 645 (8th Cir. 2021)
  • B. Thomas and Company v. Universal Warranty Corp., 3 F.4th 1032 (8th Cir. 2021)
  • Yeransian v. Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, LLP, 305 Neb. 693, 942 N.W.2d 226 (2020)
  • Nebraska Medical Center v. Department of Health, 28 Neb. App. 134, 941 N.W.2d 762 (2020)
  • Sepulveda-Rodriguez v. MetLife Group, Inc., 936 F.3d 723 (8th Cir. 2019)
  • Heritage Disposal & Storage, LLC v. VSE Corp., 2017 WL 361547 (E.D. Va. 2017)
  • Northeast Nebraska Public Power District v. Nebraska Public Power District, 24 Neb. App. 837, 900 N.W.2d 196 (2017)
  • Jansen v. Lincoln Financial Group, 135 F.Supp.3d 1036 (D.S.D. 2015)
  • Synergy4 Enterprises, Inc. v. Pinnacle Bank, 290 Neb. 241, 859 N.W.2d 552 (2015)
  • Boles v. Unum Life Ins. Co., 847 F.Supp.2d 1161 (D. Neb. 2012)
  • Marmo v. Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., 457 F.3d 748 (8th Cir. 2006)

Recent Speaking Engagements

  • “Is it Privileged or Not: Practical Considerations for In-House Counsel,”  NSBA Annual Meeting, La Vista, NE, October 2023

In the News


Profile

Steven D. Davidson is a commercial litigator with 35 years of experience across a wide range of federal, state and administrative proceedings, including insurance, health care, real estate, energy, transportation, and personal injury matters. He has tried more than 30 cases to verdict before juries, judges and arbitrators, and has obtained successful, efficient pretrial resolution of hundreds of disputes for clients across the country. Steve is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and served as Chair of the Firm’s Litigation section from 2013-2022. Currently, he serves as General Counsel for the Firm.

In 1986, Mr. Davidson was conferred a Juris Doctor, with high distinction, from the University of Nebraska College of Law. While in law school, he was selected as a member of the Nebraska Law Review and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. In 1983, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree, with distinction, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he was selected as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Davidson served as law clerk to the Honorable C. Arlen Beam of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in 1987, and as law clerk to Judge Beam in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska in 1986. Since 2008, Steve has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® and was named the 2016 Insurance Law, the 2020 and 2023 Bet-the-Company Litigation, and the 2021 and 2024 ERISA Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” for Omaha. He is also included in Benchmark, America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, Super Lawyers and Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

Professional & Civic Affiliations

  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Fellow, Nebraska State Bar Foundation
  • Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
  • Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys
  • Past President, Board of Directors, Catholic Charities of Omaha
  • Past President, Board of Directors, Family Housing Advisory Services, Inc.
  • Past President, Board of Directors, Omaha Theater Company for Young People

Selected Practice Highlights

  • Representing leading health, life and disability insurance carriers in coverage defense and bad faith matters
  • Defending national transportation companies and health care clients in serious personal injury matters
  • Successfully defending a Fortune 100 company in complex toxic tort actions
  • Obtaining reformation of a commercial lease, preserving rent obligation for property owner of more than $30 million
  • Obtaining more than a combined $50 million in property tax valuation reductions for commercial office and shopping center owners
  • Obtaining a $4.7 million jury verdict against a publicly-held defense contractor for the unpaid value of sophisticated storage and security services

Representative Reported Cases

  • Laredo Ridge Wind LLC v. Nebraska Public Power Dist., 11 F.4th 645 (8th Cir. 2021)
  • B. Thomas and Company v. Universal Warranty Corp., 3 F.4th 1032 (8th Cir. 2021)
  • Yeransian v. Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, LLP, 305 Neb. 693, 942 N.W.2d 226 (2020)
  • Nebraska Medical Center v. Department of Health, 28 Neb. App. 134, 941 N.W.2d 762 (2020)
  • Sepulveda-Rodriguez v. MetLife Group, Inc., 936 F.3d 723 (8th Cir. 2019)
  • Heritage Disposal & Storage, LLC v. VSE Corp., 2017 WL 361547 (E.D. Va. 2017)
  • Northeast Nebraska Public Power District v. Nebraska Public Power District, 24 Neb. App. 837, 900 N.W.2d 196 (2017)
  • Jansen v. Lincoln Financial Group, 135 F.Supp.3d 1036 (D.S.D. 2015)
  • Synergy4 Enterprises, Inc. v. Pinnacle Bank, 290 Neb. 241, 859 N.W.2d 552 (2015)
  • Boles v. Unum Life Ins. Co., 847 F.Supp.2d 1161 (D. Neb. 2012)
  • Marmo v. Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., 457 F.3d 748 (8th Cir. 2006)

Recent Speaking Engagements

  • “Is it Privileged or Not: Practical Considerations for In-House Counsel,”  NSBA Annual Meeting, La Vista, NE, October 2023


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