Steven B. Garner
Dedicated Personal Injury Attorney
Before joining the team, Steve B. Garner received his education from Baylor University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1983, graduating with high honors. He then went on to study law at the University of Arkansas School of Law, where he graduated first in his class in 1986.
Throughout his years of experience, Steve has become a member of the following associations, including:
- Academy of Trial Attorneys
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- American College of Trial Lawyers
- Inner Circle of Advocates
- National Association of Distinguished Counsel
- Trial Masters
Attorney Garner has been recognized by Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers Top 100 (2005-present), Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers Top 10 (2012-present), and Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyers Association (2014-present). Since joining the firm in 1986, Steve has prepared and tried personal injury, wrongful death and product liability suits on behalf of injured parties all over the country.
Award-Winning Representation On Your Side
Steve is listed in Best Lawyers in America® (2003–present) and was named Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Springfield, MO, 2011 and 2012 and 2015; Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Springfield, MO in 2016; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs, Springfield, MO in 2017; Insurance Law, Springfield, MO 2019-2021. Steve Garner has been a shareholder and officer of Strong-Garner-Bauer, P.C. since 1990.
Steven Garner is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, a prestigious, invitation-only group comprised of the top 100 plaintiff's attorneys in the United States. Attorneys in this organization are invited not only on the basis of their courtroom performance (though successful verdicts are a prerequisite for consideration), but also on a genuine passion for and participation in educational events within the legal community. As some of the best trial lawyers in the country, Circle of Advocates members not only have access to other high-performers from whom they can continue to learn, but also can contribute advice to others based on their own considerable experience.
Steve has served as President (2013-2014) and has been on the Board of Governors for over 20 years of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys; the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association Board of Directors, 1993-1996, President-Elect 2006, and President in 2007. In 1996, the Missouri Bar Association awarded Steve the Lon O. Hocker Award. It is an award that is given to three trial lawyers in Missouri under age 37 who have shown excellence in the courtroom.
In October of 1999, Missouri Lawyers Weekly ran a feature story on Steve as one of the state's best trial lawyers under 45 years of age. In 2007, Steve was voted the “Best Litigator” and the “Best Lawyer to Call if You Are in an Accident” in a state-wide poll conducted by Missouri Lawyers Weekly.
In 2008, the same poll was conducted and Steve was again selected as one of the “Best Litigators” in the state and the “Best Lawyer to Call if You Are in an Accident.” He has spoken and written on various aspects of trial advocacy, personal injury law and insurance bad faith.
Year Joined Organization:
- 1986
Areas of Practice
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Certification/Specialties
- Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy
Bar Admissions
- Missouri, 1986
- Arkansas, 2012
- U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, 1986
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1987
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Education
- Baylor University, Waco, Texas, 1983, B.A.
- Honors: High Honors
Legal Education
-
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Leflar Law Center, Fayetteville,
Arkansas, 1986 J.D.
- Honors: High Honors-1st in Class
Published Works
- "Defamation Law in Arkansas Since Dodrill v. Arkansas Democrat," Ark. L. Rev., 38:4, (1986)
- "How to Strip Your Opponent Naked and Make Them Beg To Pay You Money," Missouri Trial Attorney, Vol. 20, No. 2, (Summer 2002)
- Bad Faith: "Some Thoughts, Law, and Practical Considerations," Missouri Trial Attorney, Vol. 21, No. 4, (Winter 2003)
- Bad Faith: "Keep it Simple and Remember the Basics," Missouri Trial Attorney, Vol.25, No.1, (Spring 2007)
Representative Cases
- Vanskike v. Union Pacific R. Co., 725 F.2d 1146 8th Cir. 1984)
- Vaughn v. Michelin Tire Corp., 756 S.W.2d 548 (Mo.App. S.D. 1988)
- Johnson v. Pacific Intermountain Exp. Co., 662 S.W.2d 237 (Mo. 1983)
- Southern Missouri Bank v. Fogle, 738 S.W.2d 153 (Mo. App. S.D. 1987)
- Placzek v. Strong, 868 F.2d 1013 (8th Cir. 1989)
- Wells v. Bryant, 782 S.W.2d 721 (Mo. App. S.D. 1989)
- Georgescu v. K Mart Corp., 813 S.W.2d 298 ( 1991)
- Countryman v. Seymour R-11 School Dist., 823 S.W.2d 515 ( 1992)
- First National Bank of Fort Smith v. Kansas City Southern Rwy. Co., 865 S.W.2d 719 (Mo. App. W.D. 1993)
- Porter v. Erickson Transport Corp., 851 S.W.2d 725 (Mo. App. S.D. 1993)
- Robinson v. Empiregas Inc., of Hartville, 906 S.W.2d 829 (Mo. App. S.D. 1995)
- Welsh v. Burlington Northern, Inc., Employee Benefits Plan, 54 F.3d 1331 (8th Cir. 1995)
- Midland Risk Insurance Co. v. White, 959 F.Supp. 1092 (W.D. Ark. 1997)
- Rogers v. B.G. Transit Corp., 949 S.W.2d 151 (Mo. App. S.D. 1997)
- Benoit v. Missouri Hwy & Transportation Commission, 33 S.W.3d 663 ( 2000)
- State ex rel. Tracy v. Dandurand, 30 S.W.3d 831 (Mo. 2000)
- Bank of America v. Stevens, 83 S.W.3d 47 ( 2002)
- State ex rel. Ford Motor Co. v. Messina, 71 S.W.3d 602 (Mo. 2002)
- Auto-Owners Ins. Co. v. Tuggle, 289 F.Supp. 1061 (W.D. Ark. 2003)
- Daniel v. Indiana Mills & Mfg., Inc., 103 S.W.3d 302 (Mo. App. S.D. 2003)
- Schubert v. Trailmobile Trailer, L.L.C., 111 S.W.3d 897 (Mo. App. S.D. 2003)
- State of Missouri, ex. rel. Ford Motor Company v. Westbrooke, 151 S.W.3d 364 (Mo. banc 2004)
- Richey v. Catherine M. Philipp, et al., WD 68064, (Mo. App. W.D. 2008)
- West v. Sharp Bonding Agency, 827 S.W.3d 7 (Mo. App. 2010)
- Edwards v. Gerstein, 363 SW 3d 155 (Mo. App. W.D. 2012)
- State ex rel. Mckeage v. Cordonnier, 357 S.W.3d 597 (Mo. Banc 2012)
Honors and Awards
- Number One Graduate, University of Arkansas Law School: 1986
- Recipient, Oral Advocacy Award: 1986
- US News Best Lawyers: 2003 - Present
- Lon O. Hocker Award – Missouri Bar Foundation: 1996
- 2007 Voted “Best Litigator” in the State, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
- 2008 Voted “Best Lawyer To Call (in Missouri) If You Are In an Accident” and #2 “Best Litigator” in the State, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
- Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 & 2021
-
Super Lawyers, Missouri & Kansas: 2005 to Present
- Super Lawyers Top 10: 2012 - 2014, 2017 - 2021
- Super Lawyers Top 50: 2006
- Super Lawyers Top 100: 2006- 2021
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
- Board of Governors and elected to Executive Committee; President-Elect June 2012-2013; President June 2013-2014
- Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association
- Board of Directors and Current President
- Missouri Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- American Association for Justice
- International Academy of Trial Attorneys
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- American College of Trial Lawyers
- Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers
Fraternities/Sororities
- Phi Delta Theta
- Delta Theta Phi
- Gamma Beta Phi
- Phi Kappa Phi
