Practice Areas
Bar Admissions
North Carolina
Education
University of Wisconsin, J.D., with honors, 1985
University of Wisconsin, B.A., magna cum laude, 1982
Profile
Steve DeGeorge handles insurance, product liability, toxic tort and environmental disputes, and he counsels clients in transactions presenting these issues.
Steve represents policyholders, exclusively, in courts across the country. He is co-chair of the firm's Insurance Recovery Practice Group and co-author of "New Appleman North Carolina Insurance Litigation (2020 ed.)," the definitive treatise on North Carolina insurance litigation. Put simply, Steve enjoys helping clients secure the insurance rights they paid for. He also counsels businesses relative to their coverage needs and negotiates with insurers for the most favorable coverage terms available.
Steve has represented property owners and alleged "arrangers" at several EPA National Priority List sites. He represents a public chemical company in a series of interrelated state and federal lawsuits, including class actions and MDL litigation, arising from discharges of PFAS and other "emerging compounds."
Steve serves as U.S. coordinating counsel for product liability and toxic tort litigation brought against three international product manufacturers.
Honors & Awards
- Chambers USA, environment, 2022-24; insurance, 2024
- The Best Lawyers in America, commercial litigation, environmental, insurance, litigation - environmental, 2011-25
- North Carolina Super Lawyers, business litigation, 2012-15; insurance coverage, 2016-24
- Business North Carolina, Legal Elite, environmental, 2023
- North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society, 2021, 2023
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
Experience
Experience
Insurance Coverage
Represents United Policyholders, the nation's leading advocate for policyholder rights, as amicus, in Radiator Specialty Co. v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., N.C. Court of Appeals, Case No. 19-638. This case of first impression in North Carolina concerns whether a standard CGL policy, once triggered by injury or damage during the policy period, provides coverage for a policyholder's liability in full up to policy limits ("all sums"), rather than some lesser, prorated amount. This is a question of immense importance to policyholders facing long-tail bodily injury and property damage claims in which insurers attempt to limit their coverage obligations.
Represents policyholders in multiple state and federal court lawsuits seeking recovery of COVID-related losses. These cases present unsettled issues of insurance law and implicate hundreds of millions of dollars in potential insurance coverage, including Cato Corp. v. Zurich American Ins. Co., Mecklenburg County, NC Superior Court, Case No. 21-CVS-9525.
Represents public company to secure insurance coverage for premises liability claims arising from fatal shooting at our client’s retail store. Estate of Goodman v. Pilot Travel Centers LLC, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Superior Court, Case No. 23-CVS-14632.
Successfully sued insurer to recover public-company client’s attorneys’ fees incurred defending underlying catastrophic personal injury litigation in Texas. Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. v. United Fire Group, Inc., Wake County, North Carolina Superior Court, Case No. 24-CVS-000827-910.
Regularly represents policyholders in claims to recover losses caused by data breach, ransomware, fraudulent wire transfers and other cybersecurity incidents.
Represents policyholder in federal declaratory judgement case involving insurance coverage for losses arising from underlying securities class action litigation and shareholder derivative actions. Travelers Casualty and Surety Co. of America v. Jeld-Wen Holding Inc., et al., U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina, Case No. 3:21-cv-173.
Represents policyholder to secure insurance coverage for class action in Virginia Federal Court. Spendlove v. RapidCourt, LLC, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Case No. 3:18-cv-00856.
Successfully sued to recover losses resulting from underlying claim against client that provides clinical research services in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and clinical device industries. Federal Ins. Co. v. Premier Research Group, U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina, Case No. 1:19-cv-01051.
Pursued recovery of environmental cleanup costs incurred by client/policyholder. The Travelers Indemnity Co. v. CommScope Technologies LLC, Cook County, IL Circuit Court, Case No. 18-CH-16550.
Represents pharmaceutical manufacturer in insurance coverage lawsuit related to large number of underlying toxic tort claims. Broadview Investments, LLC v. Amerisure Ins. Co., et al., U.S. Dist. Court, Middle District of Georgia, Case No. 3:22-cv-00101.
Obtained favorable mediated resolutions of two related lawsuits seeking over $26 million in coverage under all-risk property policies sold to client, the owner of a luxury apartment complex, which included winning crucial choice of law ruling on behalf of client in the North Carolina Business Court. American Realty Advisors v. Lloyd's Underwriters, U.S. Dist. Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, Case No. 5:16-cv-940; SVF Weston Lakeside, LLC v. Lexington Ins. Co., North Carolina Business Court, Case No. 18-CVS-5171.
Secured client's coverage rights relative to underlying catastrophic injury tort action in Texas state court. Carrillo v. Caliber Collision LLC, Nueces County, Texas District Court, Case No. 2019-CCV-61387-2.
Successfully sued insurer to obtain coverage for California toxic tort class action. ScentAir Technologies, LLC v. CNA Financial Corp, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Superior Court, Case No. 20-CVS-5726; 2019 NCBC 58.
Recovered defense costs incurred by client defending underlying construction lawsuit in Florida. Mitsui Sumitomo Ins. Co. v. Travelers Property and Casualty Co., U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina, Case No. 1:15-CV-00207.
Counseled client on a broad range of domestic and international insurance issues implicated by spinoff of $3 billion business.
Prosecuted coverage action against client's primary, umbrella and excess insurers, seeking coverage for product liability claims in four nationwide class actions in Florida and Arizona. New NGC, Inc. d/b/a National Gypsum Company v. ACE American Insurance Company, et al., U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Case No. 3:10-CV-22.
Represented international network infrastructure provider in insurance coverage dispute involving major cable television system in Ireland.
Toxic Tort, Product Liability and Environmental
Represents alleged "arrangers," "operators" and "transporters" in many CERCLA and state law environmental cost recovery lawsuits across the United States. These engagements have included National Priority List sites in several states.
Serves as national litigation coordinating counsel for defending product liability claims, including asbestos claims, against manufacturers of valves, building products and electric security systems.
Represents public chemical manufacturer in multifaceted legal proceedings involving alleged contamination of air, surface water and groundwater with PFAS and other "emerging compounds." Matter involves multiple federal class actions, MDL litigation and state court litigation against state regulatory agencies.
News & Events
News
- Aug. 15, 2024
- June 6, 2024
- June 5, 2024
- Jan. 8, 2024
- Aug. 17, 2023
- June 6, 2023
- Jan. 20, 2023
- Jan. 12, 2023
- Aug. 23, 2022
- June 2, 2022
- May 17, 2022
- Jan. 14, 2022
- Aug. 26, 2021
- Jan. 15, 2021
- Aug. 20, 2020
- Jan. 22, 2020
- Aug. 15, 2019
- Jan. 28, 2019
- Aug. 15, 2018
- Jan. 30, 2018
- Jan. 29, 2018
- Eight Named “Lawyer of the Year”Aug. 16, 2017
- Jan. 26, 2017
- Jan. 17, 2017
Events
Sheraton Charlotte Hotel
555 S. McDowell St., South Tower
Charlotte, NC 28204June 15, 2023Via webinar
Sept. 21, 2021Via webinar
April 21, 2021Via webinar
Jan. 29, 2021North Carolina Bar Center
8000 Weston Parkway
Cary, NC 27513Jan. 31, 2019Crowne Plaza Resort
1 Resort Drive
Asheville, NC 28806Oct. 18, 2018Holiday Inn Asheville-Biltmore East
1450 Tunnel Road
Asheville, NC 28805Nov. 17, 2017Port-au-Prince, Haiti
May 16, 2017
Insights
- June 6, 2024Law360
- April 11, 2024Robinson Bradshaw Publication
- June 27, 2022Robinson Bradshaw Publication
- 2018North Carolina Insurance Litigation, a LexisNexis Practice Guide
- Feb. 20, 2017Robinson Bradshaw Publication
- Nov. 1, 2016Claims
- Sept. 13, 2016Law360
- May 18, 2015Class Actions Brief Blog
- Jan. 5, 2015Robinson Bradshaw Publication
- April 19, 2013NCBA Construction Law
- Feb. 17, 2012Westlaw Journal - Insurance Coverage
- Sept. 13, 2011Robinson Bradshaw Publication
- March 30, 2011Robinson Bradshaw Publication
Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- Chemical Waste Litigation Reporter, Board of Advisors
- American Bar Association, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee; Toxic Torts and Environmental Litigation Committee
- North Carolina Bar Association, Insurance Law Section, Secretary, 2023-24; Treasurer, 2022-23; CLE Committee, Co-Chair
- Law360, IA General Liability Editorial Advisory Board, 2023
Community Affiliations
- Project Life Movement, Board of Directors, 2016-present
- Levine Children's Hospital, Board of Ambassadors, 2012-present
- Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, Board of Directors, 2004-12
- Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Visitors Advisory Committee, 2004-10
- Leadership Charlotte, Board of Directors, 1998-2004