Stephen Deatherage

Stephen has extensive law and motion practice experience and is adept at formulating legal briefing strategies that frame the legal issues before the trial court, maximize the possibility of a favorable outcome on those issues, and preserve them for possible appellate review. In short, Stephen has committed his practice to presenting winning motions at trial – and having those wins upheld on appeal.

Stephen’s current scope of representative law and motion experience includes:

• On appeal to the Ninth Circuit, wrote and argued the successful defense of a trial court summary judgment motion win (he also developed and wrote the motion), in a case in which an employer was sued for the intentional torts of its employee.

• On another appeal to the Ninth Circuit in an indemnity case, Stephen again successfully defended his winning summary judgment motion, which had the result of shifting millions in potential liability from his client to the other party.

• Writing summary judgment briefing on behalf of a regional convenience store chain that was the target of a hostile takeover attempt. Issues presented in the briefing required close analysis of the Oregon Control Share Act and the Oregon Security Law and resulted in a decisive win for the client and a favorable settlement.

• Defeating summary judgment motions filed by an investment fund manager and the accountants hired to monitor his investment activity. The case proceeded to trial, where – after defeating directed verdict motions filed by those defendants – the investor clients prevailed on their claims and were awarded their requested damages. After trial, Stephen prepared briefing that increased the settlement amount with the accountants by several million dollars.

• Writing the winning summary judgment briefing that forced a multi-national pharmaceutical corporation to pay for an innovative product designed by a local company.

• After trial of a $30 million claim for breach of an international aircraft lease, preparing briefing that saved the client millions of dollars in pre-judgment interest.

Stephen has also represented clients in more than 100 depositions and has guided clients as they responded to discovery requests in state and federal courts.

Within the law firm, Stephen is the recognized authority on writing tips and editorial style. Subscribe to Stephen’s blog, The Markowitz Herbold Scribe, which delves into the intricacies of legal writing and grammar—offering a comprehensive guide for legal professionals seeking precision and clarity in their written materials.

When Stephen isn’t practicing law, he spends much of his time volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). In 2009, Stephen visited Camp Baker, a BSA summer camp where he spent many of his summers as a Boy Scout in the 1980s. The visit led him to reconnect with the organization. Now he spends many of his weekends teaching what he learned in his youth to a new generation of young leaders.