For almost 40 years, Steve Beardsley has engaged in a civil litigation practice that includes personal injury, construction law, commercial law, workers compensation, medical malpractice, insurance defense, and product liability. His work has earned Mr. Beardsley an “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell. After graduating with honors from law school, Steve served as a Law Clerk in U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota (1978-80), before entering private practice. An accomplished litigator, Steve has tried lawsuits in both state and federal courts across South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Iowa. He has also tried arbitrations in South Dakota and Colorado.
Steve is a member of the American Association for Justice and has served on the American Bar Association’s committees for Trial Techniques, Automobile Technology, and Litigation justice. Steve’s appellate work includes appearing before the South Dakota Supreme Court, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Steve also served on the Board of Governors, South Dakota Trial Lawyers of America (2008-2010), and previously served from 1992 to 1994. Steve served on the Board of Governors, South Dakota Trial Lawyers of America (2008-2010), and previously served from 1992 to 1994. Steve was also awarded the South Dakota Trial Lawyer of the Year for 2021.
Examples of Litigation Experience
Personal Injury
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Brain injury
- Serious spinal injury
- Partial paralysis
- Crashworthiness of vehicles
- Products Liability
Severe burns, high voltage explosion
- Multiple injuries, fall from work station
- Crashworthiness of vehicle
- Auger injuries
- ATV rollovers
Premises Liability
- Electrocution severe burns
- Catastrophic burns as a result of fires
- Electrocution injuries through telephone
Insurance
- Bad faith
- Failure to settle
- Underinsured coverage
- Insurance coverage questions
Business/Commercial
- Wrongful termination
- Non-compete agreement enforcement
- Litigation regarding brokerage firms
- Antitrust litigation
Real Estate
- Finders fee agreement
- Real estate fraud
Environmental
- Claims regarding contamination
- Claims regarding pollution
- Policies concerning EDB contamination (pesticide)
- Claims against United States government
Construction Litigation
- All construction litigation
Representative Cases
- Kahle v. Leonard, 563 F.3d 736 (8th Cir. 2009)
- Madison v. Meza, 7th Judicial Circuit, Pennington County Court, File No. 07-209
- Corcoran v. McCarthy, 7th Judicial Circuit, Pennington County Court, File No. 06-1263
- Kahle v. Leonard, 477 F.3d 544 (8th Cir. 2007)
- Lund v. Lombard Securities Inc., U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, File No. 07-5055
- Webb v. Douglas County, 224 Fed.Appx. 647 (9th Cir. 2007)
- Roden v. General Casualty Co. of Wisconsin, 671 N.W.2d 622 (S.D. 2003)
- Bedney v. Quest Communications, 7th Judicial Circuit, Pennington County Court, File No. 98-868
- Hensley v. HD Electric Co., U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, File No. 98-5067
- Richards v. Lenz, 539 N.W.2d 80 (S.D. 1995)
- Karas v. American Family Insurance Co., Inc., 33 F.3d 995 (8th Cir. 1994)
- Winters v. Northwestern Nat’l Casualty Co., 838 F.Supp. 440 (D.S.D. 1993)
- Hansen v. U.S.A., U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, File No. 5:02-cv-05101-KES
- Brown v. Black Hills Federal Credit Union, U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, File No. 5:03-cv-05046-KES
- Ackley v. Mid-Century Ins. Co., U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, File No. 5:03-cv-05078-AWB
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Bar Association, 1978- Present
- Tort and Insurance Practice Section
- Products General Liability and Consumer Law Committee
- Automobile Law Committee
- Tort and Insurance Practice Committee
- Litigation Committee Trial
- State Bar of South Dakota
- Worker’s Compensation Committee, State Bar of South Dakota
- Negligence & Tort Law Committee, State Bar of South Dakota
- South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, 1991
- American Association for Justice
- National Institute for Trial Advocacy Advocates Association
- The Black Hills Criminal Defense Bar
Schedule your consultation with Steve today at (605) 777-7466.
