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Steven J. Harman

Steven J. Harman

Harman, Warren and Harris, PLLP
550 North 31st Street
Suite 250
Billings, MT 59101
Map

Phone: (406) 294-2000  |  Fax: (404) 294-2010
http://www.hwhlawyers.com

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Skilled Montana Trial Attorney

Legal Topic

Business Law

Preferred New Clients

Generally, the firm prefers to consider medical negligence, personal injury and insurance dispute cases.

Sub-Topics

Agribusiness

  • Agrochemicals
  • Crops
  • Equine
  • Farms & Ranches
  • Livestock

Antitrust & Trade Regulation

  • Antitrust Law
  • Deceptive Trade Practices
  • Unfair Competition

Business Litigation

Construction

  • Commercial Construction Contracts
  • Construction Defects
  • Construction Disputes
  • Dangerous Property

Insurance - Commercial

  • Casualty Insurance
  • Commercial Insurance
  • Directors' & Officers' Liability
  • Errors & Omissions
  • Fidelity, Guarantee, & Surety
  • Health Insurance
  • Insurance Malpractice
  • Life Insurance

Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Legal Topic

Personal Injury

Preferred New Clients

Generally, the firm prefers to consider medical negligence, personal injury and insurance dispute cases.

Sub-Topics

Accidents & Personal Injury

  • Petrochemical Accidents
  • Sports Injuries

Car Accident

  • Auto Accident

Dangerous Property

Financial Injuries

  • Frauds, Scams, Hoaxes
  • Pyramid Schemes

Intentional Injuries

  • Police Misconduct

Mass Accidents

  • Airplanes
  • Buildings
  • Mass Transit - Bus, Train, Subway
  • Ships & Boats

Medical Malpractice

  • Anesthesia Malpractice
  • Birth Injuries and Defects
  • Cosmetic Surgery
  • Dental Malpractice
  • Elder and Nursing Home Abuse
  • Emergency Room Errors
  • HMO Managed Case
  • Lasik Eye Surgery
  • Medication Malpractice
  • Nursing Home Negligence
  • Optometry Malpractice
  • Prescription/Drug Malpractice
  • Psychiatric Malpractice
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Surgical Errors
  • Wrong Diagnosis or Misdiagnosis

Motorcycle Accident

Personal Injury Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Product Liability

  • Design Defects
  • Manufacturing Defects

Professional Malpractice

  • Financial Malpractice
  • Legal Malpractice

Serious/Catastrophic Injuries

  • Amputation
  • Birth Injury
  • Burn Injury
  • Head/Brain Injury
  • Paralysis

Truck Accident

Wrongful Death

Bar Admissions

MT, Jun 1975
Bar Number: 1617

Other Court Admissions

• Montana State
• Federal Court
• 9th Circuit

Association Memberships

• Montana Trial Lawyers Association
• American College of Trial Lawyers
• Yellowstone County Bar Association
• American Board of Trial Advocates

Continuing Education

I am on the faculty of a week-long Advanced Trial Advocacy Program at the University of Montana Law School every spring. I am also a lecturer for various CLE courses, e.g., calculating damages and pursuing medical malpractice claims.

Papers and Publications

• Author, Montana Law Review, "An Insurer's Liability for the Tort of Bad Faith" (Winter 1981)
• Chairman, Montana Defense Trial Lawyers: "Release Deskbook" (1989)
• Author, Montana Ultimate Trial Notebook, chapter entitled: "Voir Dire: The Beginning" for the Montana Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocacy (1998)

Example Cases

$1.7 million verdict against a Montana doctor and medical facility for failure to diagnose and treat a heart valve problem that resulted in the death of a 43-year-old husband and father of four.

$1.3 million verdict against an insurance company for failure to pay claims related to a back injury sustained in automobile accident.

$7.2 million verdict on behalf of a franchisee of recreational vehicles for wrongful termination of franchise (one of the largest verdicts to come out of Yellowstone County).

Education 

School:

University of Montana

Degree:

Juris Doctorate

City:

Missoula

State:

MT

Year:

1975

Honors:

Graduated with honors

Focus and Accomplishments:

• Montana Law Review staff

 

School:

Montana State University

Degree:

Bachelor of Science

City:

Bozeman

State:

MT

Year:

1972

Focus and Accomplishments:

• Mathematics
• Basketball
• Academic scholarships

Number of Attorneys

3

State Licensed In

Montana

Firm Focus and History

The lawyers at Harman, Warren & Harris in Billings are some of the most seasoned and talent civil trial attorneys in Montana. We have a passion for justice that is evident in the skillful and creative advocacy we provide to severely injured and wronged clients. With more than a century's worth of collective trial experience, we provide help to people throughout Montana and northern Wyoming in the areas of personal injury, medical malpractice, insurance disputes and business disputes. We have extensive trial experience in courtrooms across Montana. While there are many lawyers who advertise for personal injury cases, few have the actual trial experience of this firm.

The firm was established in 2002 to advocate for the injured.

Previous Employment Summary

1975 - Clerk Judge Murry, Federal Court, Butte, Montana
1978-2002 - Partner, Brown Law Firm, Billings, Montana
2003-2005 - Partner, Buxbaum, Daue, Harman and Fitzpatrick, Billings, Montana
2005 to Present - Partner, Harman, Warren & Harris, PLLP

Activities and Awards

AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell

What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

I find many clients rely upon internet searches for information related to their legal rights. I always discuss those issues with the clients and explain the legal ramifications with them.

Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?

I often review documents prepared by my clients.

Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

I occasionally assist parties in drafting and filing pro se complaints and in filing applications for review with the Montana Medical Legal Panel.

Why did you decide to be a lawyer?

To protect people's rights.

What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?

For the first 25 years of my practice, I defended civil lawsuits. This defense experience is invaluable. I know what the other side is thinking. Before law school, I worked in construction, garbage hauling and in the oil patch. I volunteer to serve on the boards of various non-profit organizations dealing with child abuse and disabled children. All of these experiences combine to assist me in advocating for my clients.

Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?

Defending doctors and hospitals in medical negligence cases led me to change the focus of my practice to representing patients injured by malpractice.

What do you like best about your career?

Helping ordinary citizens obtain justice and often to provide closure.

Tell us about your law firm:

My paralegal Claudia has been with me for over 30 years. She and my secretary Christy develop wonderful relationships with clients. My partners Don Harris and Paul Warren, each with over 30 years of experience as trial lawyers, are invaluable. If a case goes to trial, we always have at least two of the firm's attorneys participating at trial.

What are your strengths and style?

I tend to over prepare. My reputation statewide is that I am a good, honest lawyer who gets along with other attorneys but I am not afraid to go to trial. I am respected by colleagues and judges throughout the state.

Personal Interests:

Fly fishing, hunting, traveling and golf.

Office Manager/Assistant

Greta Beringer

Fax

(404) 294-2010

Office Hours

Monday through Thursday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Emergency After Hours

No

Fixed-Price Services and Fees

I work almost exclusively on a contingency fee basis.

Hourly Rates

Varies.

Free Initial Consultation?

I always meet with clients for a free initial consultation. In addition, I review the case thoroughly before making a decision with regard to representation. I do not charge for this initial review. I often obtain records and consult with experts prior to taking a case. I do not charge the client for the costs associated with those reviews if I do not take the case.

Typical Retainer

I typically do not charge a retainer for contingency cases. Occasionally I take a case on an hourly basis and sometimes request a retainer based on the client's ability to pay.

Understanding Fees

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