Roberts, Stephanie U.
Ms. Roberts’ primary area of practice is litigation, with an emphasis on
construction,
product liability, industrial accident and
toxic tort
litigation. She is very experienced handling
class actions, mass tort litigation, multi-district litigation and complex, document-intensive matters.
Representative Experience
- Construction and Design
- Serves as counsel to construction and remediation company in road, bridge and highway improvement matters involving departments of transportation
- Served as a member of national coordinating counsel and regional counsel teams handling class actions, multi-district litigation, appeals, commercial construction litigation, multi-family construction litigation, and residential construction litigation for EIFS manufacturers in state and federal courts
- Obtained dismissal in federal case on behalf of roof manufacturer in litigation involving alleged construction and design problems with a 400-acre roof project for a mall in Arkansas
- Served on a trial team to achieve defense verdict in a multi-week trial in favor of an architectural firm in a professional liability case related to the construction of a hotel
- Served on a trial team to achieve defense verdict on a counterclaim in week-long federal court trial on behalf of a manufacturing company related to a breach of contract over construction of steel storage facilities
- Accomplished pre-litigation settlement for a real estate developer/ contractor related to the successful completion and turnover of a condominium project to the homeowners’ association
- Defended a North Carolina home inspection company in litigation related to the construction and sale of a private home
- Toxic Torts and Personal Injury
- Defended an international industrial chemical distributor in a six-week bifurcated jury trial stemming from serious industrial accident involving hazardous chemicals
- Provided trial support in five-week jury trial in defense of a publicly traded company in litigation involving alleged pesticide damage to commercial crops
- Managed team handling asbestos litigation in federal MDL and in state court for a multinational manufacturing company
- Represented a multinational protective clothing and equipment manufacturer in a personal injury matter related to an industrial accident
- Defended two global pharmaceutical companies in litigation and document productions related to various prescription medications
- Commercial Litigation
- Serves as local counsel for heavy equipment and engine manufacturer in product liability litigation
- Defended a multinational insurance company in dispute over life insurance coverage, winning summary judgment on plaintiff’s claims of constructive fraud, unfair trade practices, breach of fiduciary duty
- Represented a major national insurance company in litigation over a commercial lease
Worked on briefing for an international office supply manufacturer in intellectual property right litigation
- Represented recreational vehicle company in litigation involving product-related claims
- Worked on appellate briefs for a large financial services company to defeat consumer-based class actions
- Defended a North Carolina-based company against allegations of security fraud and unfair trade practices
Education
- Emory University, B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, 1993
- University of Florida School of Law, J.D., 1996
Admissions
- North Carolina , Florida and South Carolina State Bars
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina
- United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
Affiliations
- Defense Research Institute, Member, 2007-present; Women in the Law Committee; Product Liability Committee
- North Carolina Bar Association: Construction Law Section Counsel, Diversity Task Force, Foundation Development Committee, former 4All Task Force Site Chair, YLD Fellow
- South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association, 2010-present
- Forsyth County Women Attorneys Association,former president
Publications and Presentations
- Co-Author, "NC Legal Updates for Construction Lenders," August 2011
- Co-Author, "Proposed N.C. Lien Legislation Could Affect Financial Institutions, January 2011
- Presenter, “Trying the Personal Injury Case.” National Business Institute, Greenville, South Carolina, September 2010
- Presenter, “Survey of Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Laws of U.S. States and D.C.” Center for International Legal Studies Conference, Kitzbuhel, Austria, March 2007
- Contributing author, Business Torts Desk Reference, NC Section, 2006
- Author, “Successful Defense of Construction-Based Class Actions,” Change Order, June 2006 edition (NCBA Construction Law Section Publication)
- Presenter, "Successful Defense of Construction-Based Class Actions," International Construction Law Forum, Steamboat Springs, CO, February 2003
Awards and Distinctions
- Women Extraordinaire of the Triad, 2011
- Martindale-Hubbell AV rating
- Cambridge Who's Who Professional of the Year, Legal Services Industry, 2010