Steven H. Doto
Steven H. Doto is a general civil litigator who concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation. He has extensive and diverse experience in all phases of complex litigation with special emphasis on employment, business, accountant malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty, construction, contracts (including government contracts), environmental and toxic tort law, family law, products liability and insurance coverage matters. Steve has additional expertise in managing legal affairs as special counsel/outside general counsel for various public and private entities, including those related to the development and operation of a $300M seaport in Paulsboro, New Jersey.
Prior Experience
Prior to joining Lauletta Birnbaum, Steve was a partner in the Litigation Department at Schnader Harrison Siegel & Lewis, LLP in the firm’s New Jersey office. He also served from 1998 to 2004 as Managing Partner of the Philadelphia office of a national litigation firm, Zevnik Horton Guibord & McGovern, which was later acquired by Morgan Lewis & Bockius.
Prior to that, Steve was an attorney with Berger & Montague, a national class action firm, where he worked on complex environmental, toxic tort, and securities class action cases all over the country.
Steve has appeared before numerous state and federal trials and appellate courts, and various administrative and regulatory agencies, including FINRA. He is also proficient in all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including high/low arbitration, AAA arbitration, common law arbitration, and mediation.
Representative Matters
- Represented a national, minority-owned construction management company in several breaches of contract cases involving contracts each in excess of $1M.
- Represented a corporate client who owns multi-national dental management and supply companies in all litigation, including employment and contract matters.
- Prevailed in the trial of complex, multi-party toxic tort litigation involving claims for personal injury and property damage resulting in multi-million dollar settlement.
- Successfully defended national builder in mold litigation resulting involuntary dismissal.
- Secured settlement in excess of $1.5M in favor of a foreign construction company in litigation against its bonding company and subcontractors.
- Successfully represented quasi-public agency in eminent domain case of first impression involving the proper valuation of contaminated property containing a closed landfill.
- Secured dismissal of a lawsuit seeking significant damages against a corporate client under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.
- Obtained the dismissal of a CEPA retaliation claim against a corporate client.
- Negotiated favorable settlement of a complex employment matter against the dental practice.
- Moved successfully for partial dismissal of a discrimination matter involving issues of public accommodation against national banking clients.
- Prevailed in a non-jury trial of a complex collection matter for a tobacco supplier resulting in the acquisition of property valued at over $1.5M for a client.
- Successfully mediated claim on behalf of commercial landlord resulting in $1.25M award to client.
- Successfully prosecuted claims and negotiated substantial settlements on behalf of individual and corporate clients who were damaged as a result of accountant malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty.
- Prevailed in FINRA claims against national brokerage firms and investment advisers on behalf of individual clients.
- Prevailed in consolidated toxic tort action containing multi-parties involving complex issues of corporate liability, causation, and exposure arising from the historical operation of a rocket fuel plant in California.
- Served as co-lead counsel in a complex, multi-party securities class action involving securities fraud, insider trading, and other securities issues.
Note: Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Education
- J.D., with honors, Rutgers University School of Law, Camden (1986)
- B.A., Franklin & Marshall College (1983)
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- California
- District of Columbia
Court Admissions
- United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Northern District of California
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third and Ninth Circuits
Civic and Charitable Activities
- Member, Burlington County Chamber of Commerce
- Member, Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey
- Board Member, Legal Counsel, Mt. Laurel Youth Basketball
- Youth Travel Basketball Coach, 2002-present
Honors and Awards
- Recipient, First Annual New Jersey State Criminal Justice Writing Competition
- Author: “The Conviction – Proneness of Death Qualified Juries”
Articles and Publications
- SNJ Business People Magazine: Six Things You May Need to Do for Your Business Website
- SNJ Business People Magazine: Divorce Without the Courtroom: Rolling out the Family Collaborative Law
- SNJ Business People Magazine: Divorce: Don’t Cut the House in Half