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.
Since 2008, Steve has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® and was named Omaha’s “Lawyer of the Year” in 2016 for Insurance Law, in 2020 and 2023 for Bet-the-Company Litigation, and in 2021 and 2024 for ERISA Litigation. He is also included in Benchmark, America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, Super Lawyers and Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
Areas of Practice
Education
- University of Nebraska College of Law, J.D., with high distinction, 1986
- University of Nebraska at Lincoln, B.A., 1983
Bar & Court Admissions
- Nebraska, 1987
- Missouri, 1986
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 1986
- United States Supreme Court, 1988
Professional & Civic Affiliations
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- Nebraska State Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys
- Catholic Charities of Omaha Board of Directors, Past President
- Family Housing Advisory Services, Inc. Board of Directors, Past President
- Omaha Theater Company for Young People Board of Directors, Past President
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)
- 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)
- 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