Steven Pavsner

A principal in Joseph, Greenwald & Laake’s Civil Litigation Practice Group, Steve Pavsner has five decades of experience in litigating a wide range of complex civil matters, including class actions, false claims act cases, business litigation, and professional negligence cases, such as medical, nursing home, legal, architectural, accounting and engineering malpractice. Steve is particularly passionate about his work in the area of legal malpractice. He believes the law is a noble profession, and takes it personally when attorneys betray their clients’ trust.

Among Steve’s principal cases are Howard v. Ford Motor Company, a class action involving millions of consumers and some 22 million vehicles that resulted in the first-ever state court-ordered recall imposed on a carmaker. The case ultimately was resolved in a settlement with an estimated value of more than a billion dollars. In Amaya v. Schuster, he won a unanimous decision in the Maryland Supreme Court that established that Maryland’s wage payment laws provide more protection to wage earners than federal law. Recently, he served as lead litigation counsel in Fischer v. Community Health Network, a false claims act case that resulted in a $135 million settlement on non-intervened claims of Stark Act and other violations of federal and state law.

In addition to his distinguished litigation career, Steve serves as a Hearing Officer for National Arbitration and Mediation (NAM), one of the nation’s leading full-service providers of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). As both an arbitrator and mediator, Steve leverages his extensive experience in complex civil litigation to facilitate effective dispute resolution for a wide range of matters. Known for his meticulous approach to each case and a commitment to impartiality, Steve guides parties toward equitable outcomes in even the most challenging matters. He provides ADR services throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.

Steve also taught highly regarded courses in medical liability and trial advocacy at the Washington College of Law of American University for nine years.

Most of Steve’s clients are referrals from former clients and lawyers who know him and the quality of his work.