Steven M. Loewengart represents corporations on a wide variety of employment-related issues, including intentional torts, public policy torts, occupational disease, disability claims, wrongful discharge, OSHA citations and compliance, toxic torts, retaliation, grievances and unfair labor practice charges. He also leads Squire Sanders’ workers’ compensation practice and practices in the toxic tort/injury litigation area.

Steven has a general litigation background including asbestos, construction equipment, product liability, personal injury, wrongful death, trade secrets, insurance coverage and other matters in federal and state courts across the country. He has garnered numerous successful jury verdicts in cases ranging from warranty and contract law to workers’ compensation. He is also experienced in arbitration.

Steven was integrally involved in the drafting and testimony in support of Amended House Bill 103: Employment Intentional Tort and other labor-related legislation, and frequently serves as amicus counsel on employment cases having impact on management interests. He is a frequent speaker for the Columbus Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, Lorman Continuing Education Seminars, Council on Education in Management and other organizations on workers’ compensation and other employment issues. He has also written and co-written numerous articles for ABA publications, Business First, Corporate Counsel News, Ohio Chamber of Commerce publications and other journals on related subjects including managed medical care.

Steven is a member of the Litigation, Labor and Employment Law, and Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Sections of the American Bar Association; Ohio State Bar Association’s Litigation and Workers’ Compensation Committees; Columbus Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law, Workers’ Compensation Law and Professionalism Committees; and the Central Ohio Self Insurers Association. He has been named an Ohio Super Lawyer.

Representative Experience

• Defending occupational toxic exposures claims and suits around the country including claimed exposures to sulfuric acid, mold, asbestos, silica, magnesium, cadmium, benzene, formaldehyde, manganese, lead and other potentially toxic chemicals. Recently Steven tried a complex occupational disease/exposure suit in Tennessee relating to multiple disease processes and chemicals. This case involved medical testimony from top experts from around the country.
• Litigating successor liability issues arising from a corporate transaction in which the seller was cleared of any ongoing liability for the workers’ compensation claims and saving the client potentially millions of dollars in unanticipated liability.
• Counseling and defending clients on ergonomic-related issues and cumulative trauma disorders.
• Representing multiple clients in matters concerning the revocation of self-insurance status and rating disputes, saving potentially millions of dollars.
• Defending a major small business trade association in a high-profile challenge of power of the Industrial Commission. The case was an important decision for the business community and an affirmation of the Industrial Commission’s duty to limit temporary workers’ compensation benefits.
• Providing compliance advice on nearly every major compliance area including hazard communication, personal protective equipment, lock out/tag out, hazardous waste operations and myriad other safety and health regulations.
• Counseling clients in both federal OSHA and OSHA-approved state plans.
• Defending a number of complex OSHA citations including one of the few cases filed by OSHA under its egregious penalty policy.
• Defending OSHA citations from informal conference through board and federal court proceedings.
• Guiding the planning and implementation of safety initiatives in light of multiple accidents using protocols to protect confidentiality and legal privileges.
• Defending a major manufacturer in multiple serious personal injury suits in federal and state courts across the United States.
• Defending occupational disease and workers’ compensation claims (administratively and in court) and handling managed care workers’ compensation issues including devising and implementing a self-insured managed care procedural plan.
• Counseling employers on reducing workers’ compensation costs through innovative management of claims.
• Defending intentional tort and other penalty cases before state and federal court including trials in state court.
• Defending a major chemical manufacturer in a whistleblower case brought by the US Department of Labor.
• Counseling a major manufacturing corporation on a worldwide noncompetition and confidentiality enforcement project.
• Defending a national retailer in a rare Title VII public accommodations discrimination suit.
• Defending a national hospitality company in a pregnancy discrimination claim.
• Defending clients before departments of insurance on bankruptcy, guaranty fund and rating matters in multiple jurisdictions.
• Representing clients in arbitrations involving overtime, termination and classification issues, as well as insurance letter of credit and surcharge issues arising from bankruptcy and assignment proceedings.