Biography

Steve, a 20-year trial lawyer, is a partner with Beck, Chaet, Bamberger & Polsky, S.C. and is the chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice. Steve is a seasoned attorney and a trusted business advisor focusing on complex, high-stakes litigation, with particular emphasis on financial services, product liability, breach of contract, and tort disputes, among other high profile commercial matters. Steve shapes winning litigation strategies with creativity, bringing innovative approaches to drive advantageous business solutions. In recent years, Steve has represented clients in the financial services, real estate, hospitality, manufacturing, energy, construction, and surety / fidelity industries, among others. Steve is a graduate of the Marquette University Law School (J.D.) and the University of Wisconsin (B.A.).

Representative Matters

  • Lead litigation counsel for large construction surety client facing over $15 Million of claims resulting from failed hotel project in Wisconsin.
  • Lead litigation defense counsel for large corporate client involving premises liability claim, resulting in full defense verdict after seven-day jury trial despite claims of $1.5 Million in damages.
  • Zero payment required by manufacturing client in multi-million dollar product liability defense matter, obtaining full indemnity from co-defendants and final releases from claimants after four years of litigation.
  • Litigation counsel for financial institution clients defending against class action consumer protection matters.
  • Lead litigation counsel for corporate manufacturing client involving termination of large tooling project and successfully defended against claims of unfair competition, intentional business torts, and breach of contract.
  • Successful Summary Judgment Motion resulting in dismissal of all claims brought against international solar energy manufacturing client from strict products liability action.
  • Successful motion practice dismissing all claims against manufacturing client for claims alleging violations of the Lanham Act, unfair competition, and false advertising.
  • Successfully defended against several mortgage repurchase lawsuits as much as $100 Million resulting from Great Recession against financial institution clients.
  • Multi-million dollar recovery for court appointed receiver client against supply chain partner of company placed in receivership for breach of contract.
  • Successful resolution of decade-long state court and federal litigation on behalf of financial services client against mortgage guaranty insurer.

Areas of Practice

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Complex & Critical Contract Disputes
  • Financial Services Litigation
  • Construction and Surety Litigation
  • Product Liability Litigation
  • Premises Liability Litigation
  • Class Action Defense Litigation
  • Consumer Defense Litigation
  • Qui-Tam & False Claims Act Litigation
  • Professional Liability Litigation
  • Insurance Disputes & Litigation
  • Real Estate Litigation
  • Breach of Fiduciary Duty Litigation
  • D & O Litigation
  • Unfair Competition, Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants Litigation
  • Bankruptcy & Restructuring Litigation
  • Arbitration
  • Alter Ego & Piercing the Corporate Veil
  • Business Judgment Rule Litigation
  • Debtor & Creditor Actions
  • Finance Disputes
  • Financial Restructuring Litigation
  • Secured Lender Litigation
  • Fraud & Defalcation Litigation
  • Fraud & Misrepresentation
  • Fraudulent Conveyance & Transfer Litigation

Admissions Details

  • State Bar of Wisconsin
  • United States District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • United States District Court Western District of Wisconsin

Education

  • Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2001, J.D.
  • University of Wisconsin, 1998, B.A

Reported Cases

  • Oney v. Assured Recovery LLC, No. 19-C-680, 2019 WL 3346754 (E.D. Wis. July 25, 2019)
  • Garland v. Marine Credit Union, No. 18-C-270, 2018 WL 5313769 (E.D. Wis. Oct. 26, 2018)
  • Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Old Republic Ins. Co., No. 17-CV-734-JPS-JPS, 2018 WL 4639280 (E.D. Wis. Sept. 27, 2018)
  • United States f/u/b/o Venture Elec. Contractors, Inc. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., No. 17-CV-1473-PP, 2018 WL 4120175 (E.D. Wis. Aug. 29, 2018)
  • Lauer v. NIC Indus., Inc., No. 17-CV-655-WMC, 2018 WL 2271169 (W.D. Wis. May 17, 2018)
  • In re RFC & ResCap Liquidating Tr. Litig., No. 13- CV-3509 PAM/HB
  • In re Yerges, 512 B.R. 916 (Bankr. W.D. Wis. 2014)
  • In re Yerges, No. 13-10813-7, 2014 WL 1803395 (Bankr. W.D. Wis. May 6, 2014)
  • H. Brooks & Co., LLC v. Red Onion, LLC, No. 12-CV-455-WMC, 2013 WL 4776503 (W.D. Wis. Sept. 5, 2013)
  • Blodgett v. Shelter Mortg. Co., LLC, No. CIV-10-2233-PHX-MHB, 2013 WL 495501 (D. Ariz. Feb. 8, 2013)
  • Hartwig Transit, Inc. v. RBS Citizens, N.A., No. 10 C 7448, 2011 WL 3651316 (N.D. Ill. Aug. 18, 2011)
  • BDI Liquidating Co., Inc. v. Quest Graphic, LLC, 2007, WL 2492740 (E.D. Wis. Aug. 29, 2006)
  • APP Liquidating Co. v. Packaging Credit Co., No. 05-C-846, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60195 (E.D. Wis. Aug. 24, 2006)
  • Ready Fixtures Company v. Stevens Cabinets, 488 F. Supp.2d 787 (W.D. Wis. 2007)
  • In re: Color Arts, Inc., 308 Wis. 2d 394 (Ct. App. 2008)
  • Eng. Manor Bed & Breakfast v. Great Lakes Companies, Inc., 2006 WI App 91, 292 Wis. 2d 762, 716 N.W.2d 531
  • Travelers Indem. Co. of Illinois v. Staff Right, Inc., 2006 WI App 59, 714 N.W.2d 219
  • Sulzer v. Diedrich, 2003, WI 90, 664 N.W.2d 641
  • Sulzer v. Diedrich, 2002, WI App. 278, 654 N.W. 2d 67

Honors & Awards

  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating for Highest Level of Professional Excellence and High Ethical Standing
  • Wisconsin Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015
    • Only 2.5 percent of Wisconsin attorneys are named Rising Stars.

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • State Bar of Wisconsin
  • American Bar Association
  • Milwaukee Bar Association
  • Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association

Milwaukee Office