A graduate of Southwestern University School of Law, Steve has been in practice for over 36 years, and has developed a substantial business clientele, primarily representing the interests of insurance carriers and their insureds in various areas including, employment related matters before the DFEH, EEOC and state and federal courts with respect to alleged wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination and wage and hour matters, legal malpractice, professional liability, elder abuse, premises liability, habitability matters, municipal law, construction defect, homeowners’ association claims, motor truck physical damage and cargo losses, insurance bad faith, product liability, and various personal injury and general liability matters. Steve has represented and defended employers, architects, general contractors, various subcontractors, homeowner associations, travel agents, lawyers, insurance agents, financial planners, accountants, realtors and other professionals during his career. He is an active member of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, and has substantial litigation, trial and coverage experience. 
A 1983 graduate of Loyola Law School, John has extensive litigation experience and has tried over sixty matters to conclusion. He has significant experience in the areas of trucking (motor truck cargo, physical damage and bodily injury claims), professional liability, legal malpractice, personal injury, habitability defense, premises liability, product liability, construction defect, insurance bad faith, general liability, subrogation and business litigation. John also provides coverage analysis of commercial general liability policies with respect to construction defect claims and actions as well as physical damage, bodily injury and motor truck cargo policies. He is also admitted to the Central, Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of California as well as to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Representative Cases
Stephen is a graduate of Claremont Men’s College and University of California at Davis School of Law. He has been a member of the California Bar since 1970 and also practiced law in North Carolina (1995 - 2000). His practice is centered on insurance defense, and he has tried to conclusion numerous cases involving claims of products liability, premises liability, habitability and professional liability against attorneys, realtors and insurance professionals. He has also represented and defended numerous homeowner associations and handled to conclusion many complex construction defect cases. As a certified mediator in North Carolina he facilitated the resolution of a broad range of disputes and continues to focus on the best interest of the client in determining whether to try a matter or to implement various forms of ADR. He is a member of the Litigation Section of the ABA.
Kevin is a 1986 Harvard graduate with a bachelors degree in economics, graduating with general academic honors. He received his J.D. in 1990 from Pepperdine University, receiving a Dean’s Merit Scholarship. Kevin is the co-author of articles on expert witness use and preparation (Massachusetts MCLE panel use materials) and newsletter materials (California). Kevin has more than twenty years of experience specializing in employment litigation, with substantial experience representing clients in all phases of litigation in wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, retaliation, and wage and hour claims and defending such matters before the CRD, EEOC, Labor Board, and in the state and federal courts. Kevin is also experienced in the fields of product liability, insurance defense, business litigation, and general civil defense.
Soltman & Wattles LLP is a law firm comprised of nine experienced and successful lawyers. The individual attorneys and support staff form a team of highly qualified legal professionals designed to serve the specialized needs of our clients.
The strength of the firm’s practice is in the representation of insurers as assigned defense, coverage and subrogation/indemnity counsel, and in defense of employers in all aspects of employment litigation and counselling. All of the attorneys in the firm have extensive experience in handling cases throughout California in both state and federal courts.
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