Steve C. Dollinger

Steve C. Dollinger

Of Counsel

A 5th generation Texan, Steve has extensive litigation experience defending claims for personal injury, wrongful death, and other damages, including commercial and non-commercial auto accidents, premises liability, industrial accidents, subrogation, medical malpractice, product liability, employment, and general negligence. Having now entered his fourth decade of practice, Steve has defended clients throughout the Texas and has appeared pro hac vice in Mississippi, New Hampshire, and Georgia. He has also tried cases to verdict in, Bexar, Harris, Jefferson, Orange, and Tarrant counties.

Representative successes in the courtroom include a Fort Worth jury concluding Steve’s commercial client was not responsible for a multi-vehicle accident in which the local plaintiff’s attorney sought over $4 million in damages for his client which included a fracture pelvis and traumatic brain injury; and a Harris County jury finding no fault when a 75-year-old prospective customer fell near the entrance of a Mattress Firm store, resulting in multiple leg fractures which required surgical repair. The latter verdict was affirmed on appeal by the Houston Court of Appeals. (Ena Jones v. Mattress Firm, No. 14-17-00091-CV, 2018.)

Appellate

Did briefing up to writ of review to the Texas Supreme Court on a first-impression issue concerning enforceability of arbitration clause for alleged medical malpractice. (In re Kepka, 178 S.W. 3d 279 (Tex. App. – Houston, 2005; plaintiff agreed to honor agreement before the Court had decided whether to grant the petition.)

Healthcare Law

Defended Memorial Hermann Hospital System and its physicians in a variety of malpractice claims, including catastrophic childbirth injuries, permanent brain damage, and wrongful death for alleged failure to detect and prevent fatal heart attack.

Labor and Employment

Has previously represented businesses against Title VII and ADA violations.

Product Liability

Obtained summary judgment in wrongful death lawsuit claiming client’s traffic control device was defective; affirmed on appeal. (Hanna v. impact Recovery, 295 S.W.3d 380 (Tex. App.-Beaumont, 2009, writ denied)

Professional Liability 

Defended a well-known Houston-based plaintiff personal injury law firm against claims of failing to negotiate an appropriate settlement for its client.

Transportation and Trucking

Since 2018, approximately 50% of docket has included defense of commercial vehicle accidents.

Education

Dartmouth, B.A. in English & Government, 1990
Emory Law School, J.D., 1993

Admissions

State Bar of Texas

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas