Connecting Law and the Public - The American Board of Trial Advocates

A graduate of the University of Florida, Steve Koeppel has almost 30 years of experience as a speaker, presenter, and civil trial attorney. Steve Koeppel has also served as a past president of the Southwest Florida chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and as a Master in their Masters in Trial mock trial seminars in Sarasota and Tampa.

Created to protect the civil jury system and further continuing legal education in the field, the American Board of Trial Advocates was founded in 1957. With dozens of chapters across the country, ABOTA hosts a number of events for different chapters and regions throughout the year, in addition to its annual national meeting. To support its members and educate the public, ABOTA also sponsors the American Board of Trial Advocates Foundation.

Dedicated to civics education, the ABOTA Foundation presents five resource programs, including the James Otis Lecture Series, Civility Matters, Justice by the People, and the Teachers Law School. Like the Foundation’s other programs, the Teachers Law School was designed with the public in mind, helping educators understand the impact and importance of civil law in society. Presented by experienced legal experts, it has covered a variety of topics, including juries, probable cause, and the amendment process, for middle and high school teachers.

Serving and Supporting the Community - The Lee County Bar Association

An experienced civil trial attorney, Steve Koeppel has practiced for almost three decades in and around Fort Myers, Florida. In addition to his work as an attorney, Steve Koeppel is also member of the Lee County Bar Association (LCBA), and has presented on ways to prepare an expert for cross examination.

With almost 800 members throughout Lee County, Florida, the LCBA was established in 1927 as the Fort Myers Bar Association. As part of the organization’s benefits, members are invited to join one of the practice sections or committees - in areas like tort litigation, criminal law, and appellate law, among others - to share and expand their knowledge and expertise. A nonprofit organization, the LCBA also emphasizes participation in community service projects and pro bono opportunities.

One of the Lee County Bar Association’s main community service projects is the annual charity golf tournament, which is sponsored in conjunction with the Young Lawyers Division. As part of a larger event, which also includes an auction and lunch, the tournament has raised thousands of dollars since its inception in 2010. Open to the public, the 2016 event will benefit the Guardian Ad Litem Foundation 20th Judicial Circuit.                            

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Class Action Lawsuits

Attorney Steven Koeppel is a shareholder and managing partner of the Fort Myers, Florida-based firm Yeslow & Koeppel PA. In this role, Steven Koeppel assists clients as a civil trial attorney and has experience with class action lawsuits. Specifically, Steven has defended the insurance industry in PIP premium cases and several builders in the Chinese drywall litigation.

A class action lawsuit refers to a claim made by a group of individuals who have experienced similar injuries brought about from the same action or product of an outside entity. When a class action lawsuit is filed on behalf of a large number of people, the case may name a lead plaintiff to represent the group in court.

On Wednesday, January 20th, 2016, the Supreme Court ruled on a case involving the ability of individuals to bring class action lawsuits. The ruling in Campbell-Ewald Co. v. Gomez established that a lawsuit does not automatically end if complainants do not accept an offer to settle out of court, even in the event that a company offers to pay the full amount of damages requested by the individual plaintiff. The settlement offer did not address the claims of the class of persons similarly situated.

The ruling was a significant victory for plaintffs in class action lawsuits. If the court had ruled in favor of companies, it would have made it more difficult for many class action lawsuits to be brought to court when the settlement demands of the individual class member are being met by the defendant.