Steve Schwartz has been with Brown & James since 1987 and has been a principal of the firm since 1993. He has tried numerous jury and non-jury cases to conclusion and regularly handles all types of litigation with a concentration in economic loss claims and insurance coverage matters.
Recognition of Steve’s legal skills are numerous, including recognition by Benchmark Litigation national and Missouri rankings in Insurance Law, Competition and Commercial Litigation and his Best Lawyers rankings in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Insurance, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, and Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants.
The following is a summary of Steve’s practice areas:
Business and Commercial Litigation
Steve handles all types of business-related disputes, including breach of contract, fraud, unjust enrichment, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), tortious interference with contract, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, breach of fiduciary duty, securities fraud and antitrust. These cases have ranged from small disputes between single parties, to large multi-party or multi-district litigation, involving dozens of claims and thousands or millions of documents.
Consumer Claims
Steve defends various claims filed by consumers and debtors, including claims filed under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
Directors and Officers Liability
Steve defends director and officer claims for public and private companies and non-profit companies in various cases, including patent cases, vendor disputes, construction disputes, disputes with competitors, and homeowner association claims.
Employment Liability
Steve regularly defends employers against allegations of discrimination, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violations, Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) violations, retaliation, wrongful termination, hostile work environment, and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations. Mr. Schwartz also represents companies in disputes with employees regarding non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.
Insurance Coverage
Steve’s substantial experience includes representing clients in complicated insurance coverage matters, involving all types of coverages, including professional liability, directors’ and officers’ liability, advertising injury, personal injury, and uninsured motorist coverage.
Intellectual Property, Technology and Cyber Liability
Steve regularly handles all types of intellectual property disputes, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and unfair competition. He has also handled several technology and computer-related disputes, including claims of software counterfeiting, software contract disputes, alleged trademark infringement on the Internet and cyber liability claims, including theft of credit card and other personal information.
Professional Liability
Steve has defended professionals of all types for almost 30 years. His clients include lawyers, accountants, payroll companies, insurance agents and brokers, real estate agents and brokers, real estate appraisers, and title companies. The defense of lawyers has involved cases relating to divorce, prenuptial agreements, business transactions, tax advice, bankruptcy, and estate planning, as well as many others. His defense of insurance agents has involved cases relating to the sale of property, casualty and liability insurance, as well as health and life insurance. Steve has obtained defense verdicts in several jury trials representing lawyers and other professionals.
Mediation and Arbitration
Steve is on the mediator and arbitrator panel for Miles Mediation & Arbitration. He is approved to serve in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri, St. Louis City Circuit Court, and St. Louis County Circuit Court.
Pro Bono Work
Steve volunteers representing “starving artists” for the St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts.
Prior Legal Experience
Attorney, U.S. International Trade Commission, Office of Unfair Import Investigations (1984-1987)
Representative Reported Cases
State ex rel. ArchCity Defenders, Inc. v. Whyte, 705 S.W.3d 116 (Mo. App. 2025)
Comtois v. First Call-Alcohol/Drug Prevention & Recovery, 699 S.W.3d 785 (Mo. App. 2024)
Jones v. Tek SOLV, 2024 WL 3771731 (E.D. Mo August 13, 2024)
Wagner Agency v. Johnson & Johnson, Inc., 2024 WL 2048872 (E.D. Mo May 8, 2024)
Tribus, LLC v. Walli, 2024 WL 1344817 (E.D. Mo March 29, 2024)
Bell v. Employment Connection, 2024 WL 1253820 (E.D. Mo March 25, 2024)
Valle v. Shack Restaurant Group, LLC, 681 S.W.3d 265 (Mo. App. 2023)
Knockerball MidMo, LLC v. McGowan & Company, Inc., 667 S.W.3d 640 (Mo. App. 2023)
Hunsaker v. QWP Holdings, LLC, 2023 WL 5970781 (W.D. Mo. August 15, 2023)
Healing Chair, Inc. v. Logan Logan & Watson, 2023 WL 183829 (E.D. Mo. January 13, 2023)
Janis v. Emmaus Homes, Inc., 2022 WL 17403154 (E.D. Mo. December 02, 2022)
Cochrell v. Bentwood Healthcare, LLC, 2022 WL 1773046 (E.D. Mo. June 01, 2022)
Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC v. Parkes, 588 F.Supp.3d 1178 (D. Kan. 2022)
Valued Pharmacy Services of Midwest, LLC v. Avera Health Plans, Inc., 2022 WL 444087 (E.D. Mo. February 14, 2022)
Ward v. Florissant Valley Sheltered Workshop, 2021 WL 928017 (E.D. Mo. March 11, 2021)
Kellogg v. Watts Guerra, LLP, 2020 WL 1028211 (D. Kan. March 03, 2020)
Ericson v. Rosenblum Goldenhersh, P.C., 608 S.W.3d 650 (Mo. App. 2020)
Emerald Crossing, LLC v. AHM Holdings, 520 S.W.3d 520 (Mo. App. E.D. 2017)
Oetting v. Norton, 795 F.3d 886 (8th Cir. 2015)
Darwin Chambers Co., LLC v. Bennington College Corp., 2015 WL 1475009 (E.D. Mo. 2015)
Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corp. v. LSI-Lowery Systems, Inc., 775 F.3d 1072 (8th Cir. 2015)
Aceva Technologies, Inc. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 429 S.W.3d 355 (Ark. App. 2013)
Sterling Inv. Group, LLC v. Brentwood Forest Condominium Ass’n, 402 S.W.3d 95 (Mo. App. 2013)
Cook’s Fabrication & Welding, Inc. v. Mid-Continent Cas. Co., 364 S.W.3d 639 (Mo. Ct. App. 2012)
Eagle Star Group, Inc. v. Marcus, 334 S.W.3d 548 (Mo. Ct. App. 2010)
Barry-Wehmiller Companies, Inc. v. Marschke, 2009 WL 3698009 (E.D. Mo. Nov. 2, 2009)
In re: Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc., 2008 WL 899336 (Bkrtcy.D.Ariz. 2008)
Rafaeli v. Shalowitz, 231 S.W.3d 232 (Mo. App. 2007)
Woods v. Wills, 225 F. App’x 420 (8th Cir. 2007)
United Petroleum Service, Inc. v. Piatchek, 218 S.W.3d 477 (Mo.App. 2007)
Tonkovich v . Crown Life Ins. Co., 165 S.W.3d 210 (Mo. App. 2005)
Rhone v. Horton, 2004 WL 1554821 (Mo. App. 2004)
Schultz v. Ziercher & Hocker, P.C., 131 S.W.3d 369 (Mo. App. 2004)
Universal Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Lou Fusz Automotive Network, Inc., 300 F.Supp.2d 888 (E.D. Mo. 2004)
Arthur Insurance Associates, Inc. v. General Accident Ins. Co., 114 S.W.3d 446 (Mo. App. 2003)
Solutech, Inc. v. Solutech Consulting Services, Inc., 153 F.Supp.2d 1082 (E.D. Mo. 2000)
Kruse Concepts, Inc. v. Shelter Mutual Ins., 16 S.W.3d 734 (Mo. App. 2000)
Blackstock v. Kohn, 994 S.W.2d 947 (Mo. banc 1998)
Borgard v. Integrated National Life Insurance Co., 954 S.W.2d 532 (Mo.App. 1997)
Citizens Ins. Co. of America v. Leiendecker, 962 S.W.2d 446 (Mo.App. 1998)
JTC Petroleum v. Piasa Motor Fuels, Inc., et al., 190 F.3d 775 (7th Cir. 1999)
McDonough v. National Home Ins. Co., 108 F.3d 174 (8th Cir. 1997)
Moog World Trade Corp. v. Bancomer, S.A., 90 F.3d 1382 (8th Cir. 1996)
Weinberg v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Illinois, 913 S.W.2d 59 (Mo.App. 1995)
Rose v. Summers, Compton, Wells & Hamburg, P.C., 887 S.W.2d 683 (Mo.App. 1994)
Fleischer v. Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc., 870 S.W.2d 832 (Mo.App. 1993)
State, ex rel Barnes v. Gerhard, 834 S.W.2d 902 (Mo.App. 1992)
Nuspl v. Missouri Medical Ins. Co., 842 S.W.2d 920 (Mo.App. 1992)