Stephen M. Halbeisen

Chair, Subrogation & Recovery, South Central Region

Office Dallas

Phone (214) 462-3005 Fax (866) 433-3990

Email shalbeisen@cozen.com

Overview

Experience

Publications

Events

Steve Halbeisen is a member of the firm's Dallas office, where he is chair of the Subrogation & Recovery Department's South Central region. Steve has successfully litigated a wide variety of property damage disputes involving fires and explosions, product failures, petrochemical plant damages, flood damages, structural failures, material failures, heavy equipment losses, tower collapses, fine arts losses and construction defect losses, among others. Steve has tried cases to verdict in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas.

Steve earned his undergraduate degree from St. Joseph's University in 1987 and his law degree from the University of Miami in 1990.

Confidential settlement for property insurers arising out of a $50 million warehouse fire in Houston

Confidential settlement for petrochemical company and its insurers arising out of the sudden shutdown of petrochemical plant in Point Comfort, Texas

Confidential settlement for insurer of art collection damaged as a result of construction defects

Obtained and collected mid six-figure jury verdict for insurer of residential property in Houston damaged by fire caused by a standby generator system

Seven figure recovery for insurer of regional hospital in Kansas that sustained hail damage as a result of defects in single-ply PVC roof membrane

Confidential settlement for insurers of Cape Girardeau, Missouri chemical plant arising out of defects in automatic fire sprinkler system

Confidential settlement for insurer of residential property damaged by negligence of security alarm company

Multimillion settlement for owner of Austin, Texas residence damaged as a result of construction defects

Confidential settlement for insurer of Dallas residence destroyed by fire caused by defect in recessed can light fixture

Confidential settlement for insurer of Fort Worth residence damaged by fire caused by application of polyurethane spray foam insulation

$930,000 jury verdict, representing a 100% recovery for homeowner’s insurer against aquarium service company that caused a fire at the home of a member of the Dallas Cowboys football team.

Confidential settlement for insurer of Little Rock, Arkansas ABC-TV affiliate arising from the collapse of a 2000’ tall TV transmission tower. The case involved an extensive forensic investigation of the collapse spanning several weeks, as well as a complex damage model for recovery of the market value of the 40-year old tower, emergency mitigation expenses and lost profits arising from the loss of use of the tower during a critical sweeps week.

Obtained a verdict and judgment totaling more than $6 million in Dallas County, Texas following a bench trial for a builder's risk insurer in a case involving electrical damage to an apartment complex caused by the negligence of an electric utility company. The electric utility company's highest offer before trial was $300,000. The case subsequently settled pursuant to a confidential settlement agreement.

Obtained a verdict and judgment totaling $550,000 in Webster Parish, Louisiana following a bench trial on behalf of a builder’s risk insurer in a case involving an electrical fire to a custom log home under construction. The case subsequently settled pursuant to a confidential settlement agreement.

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Eastland Complex Wildfires Alert

March 23, 2022

Suzanne Radcliff, Steve Halbeisen, and David Brisco discuss the Eastland Complex Wildfires affecting the 76448, 76454, 76435, 76471, 76470, 76470, 76448, 76444, and 76445 zip codes.

Hurricane Harvey Litigation Update: Conflicting Opinions Spur Trial on Damages and Appeal [Alert]

January 11, 2021

Jason Schulze, Stephen Halbeisen, Jake Skaggs Elliott Feldman and Kevin Hughes discuss the status of the litigation arising out of Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall in Houston on August 25, 2017,

Not So Fast: The Supreme Court of Texas Narrows the Scope of the Economic Loss Doctrine [Subrogation & Recovery Alert]

October 17, 2014

Historically, Texas courts have applied the economic loss doctrine (ELD) to bar tort claims (negligence and strict products liability) against a manufacturer or seller of a defective product when the damage is limited to the defective product itself and did not cause damage to a person or to other property. In addition, Texas courts have held that the ELD precludes tort recovery for economic loss arising from a party’s failure to perform under a contract when the harm consists only of the economic loss of a contractual expectancy.

Subrogation and the 2014 Polar Vortex: Recovery Opportunities and Hurdles

February 19, 2014

Topics include: Causes of Freeze Losses, Subrogation Considerations on Freeze Losses, Subrogation Claims & Interruption of Gas Service & Impact of Tariffs and Statutes of Repose on Subrogation Claims

Deep Freeze: Evaluating Subrogation Claims Arising From The January 2014 Freeze In The Midwest And Eastern United States

January 23, 2014

January 5-7, 2014, a wide swath of subzero temperatures impacted much of the United States, from Montana eastward to New York, and southward to parts of Oklahoma and northern Alabama. Several major cities recorded their lowest temperatures in more than 20 years.

Proving Fine Art Damage: It's All in the Details [Claims Magazine]

June 01, 2012

Proving Fine Art Damage: It's All in the Details - Claims Magazine - To Maximize Subrogation Recoveries, Pay Attention of damages and hiring the right damages experts
are as important as proving the cause of
the loss.

Summer 2010 [Subrogation & Recovery Observer]

July 29, 2010

Summer 2010 - Subrogation & Recovery Observer -

Fall 2009 [Subrogation and Recovery Observer]

October 01, 2009

Fall 2009 - Subrogation and Recovery Observer - Welcome to the Fall 2009 issue of the Cozen O'Connor Subrogation and Recovery Observer. In this issue, we report on our recent trial victories, notable settlements, and other newsworthy developments in subrogation issues

Fall 2007 [Subrogation and Recovery Observer]

October 01, 2007

Fall 2007 - Subrogation and Recovery Observer - As football season gets underway and the exciting post-season baseball action has
started, Cozen O’Connor’s Subrogation Department is pleased to announce the continued expansion of our team roster. The Fall 2007 edition of the Subro Observer includes the introduction of five new attorneys in Philadelphia, Charlotte, Chicago, San Diego, and Los Angeles.

Spoliation of Evidence [Subrogation and Recovery - Articles and Papers]

January 13, 2006

Spoliation of Evidence - Subrogation and Recovery - Articles and Papers - 13 pgs total. This paper covers the various implications of spoliation of evidence. First, the evolution of the spoliation doctrine is explored with particular attention paid to the inferences invoked and sanctions levied by courts... Second, the impact of the concept of spoliation of evidence on the investigation of an insurance claim is explored... A checklist is offered to identify what evidence collection efforts should be taken...

Claims and Litigation Management Alliance’s 2023 Construction Conference	Austin, TX	09/27/2023
"Tis the Season – Fireplace and Chimney Fires: How a warm night by the fireplace can turn into a cold night on the street!”	Webinar	01/20/2022
Next Generation Scene Documentation, Evidence Preservation, & Case Preservation Using Matterport	Virtual	11/16/2020
Forensic Scene Documentation and Presentation Utilizing Matterport	Webinar	05/19/2020
2016 CLM Southwest Conference	Dallas, Texas	11/03/2016
2015 Denver Subrogation Seminar	Denver, CO	09/03/2015
Subrogation and the 2014 Polar Vortex: Recovery Opportunities and Hurdles	Webinar	02/19/2014
2011 Philadelphia Subrogation Seminar and Baseball Game	Philadelphia, PA	06/16/2011
2007 NASP Conference - Subrogation And All That Jazz!	New Orleans, LA	11/04/2007