Kimberly D. Stevens
Kimberly D. Stevens is a Partner with Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP. She is an experienced civil trial attorney who represents Fortune 500 companies and governmental entities in product liability, complex business disputes, premises liability, malicious prosecution, catastrophic injuries, employment, and asbestos litigation. Kimberly previously worked as in-house counsel for a major corporation serving as a civil trial litigator representing the parent company, its subsidiaries, and employees. Kimberly has also worked in management for one of the big three American automobile companies.
Professional Experience
Premises Liability Litigation
Kimberly has successfully defended major retail and oil companies in premises liability lawsuits involving wrongful death, significant personal injuries, dram shop claims, negligent security, claims for third party criminal conduct, significant property damage, and claims for spoliation sanctions. Representative matters include:
- Defense verdict in jury trial in a complex premises liability case for major retailer in which the Plaintiff alleged disabling injuries and loss of business profits
- Defense verdict in jury trial in wrongful death action
- Successfully defended several motions for a determination that spoliation occurred and the imposition of sanctions
- Numerous summary judgments for clients on the issues of duty and causation
Malicious Prosecution Litigation
Kimberly has effectively defended claims for malicious prosecution, false arrest, and false imprisonment. Representative matters include:
- Several motions for summary judgment granted in favor of major corporations and their employees and affirmed in the Georgia Court of Appeals
- Successfully defended several motions for the imposition of spoliation sanctions involving surveillance video and other evidence
Products Liability Litigation
Kimberly has experience in the products liability area, including the representation of clients in litigation involving retail, industrial, and consumer products from asbestos and chemicals to automobiles, component parts, and textile products. She also counsels clients on claim prevention matters, providing advice on issues such as warnings, product recalls, investigations, and document retention and control. Kimberly handles claims ranging from single personal injuries to multi-deaths.
Employment Litigation
Kimberly has represented school districts and companies in employment lawsuits involving claims of race discrimination, retaliation and violations of First Amendment rights. She has also handled many administrative hearings involving employment issues, several of which have been upheld by the Court of Appeals. She also succeeded in receiving summary judgment for the defense in a significant race discrimination lawsuit.
Professional affiliations
- Georgia Defense Lawyer Association
- Vice Chair, Premises Liability Substantive Law Committee (2006 to present)
- Wolverine Bar Association
- Board of Directors (2000-2002)
- Recipient, Distinguished Service Award (2002)
- Recipient, Special President's Award (2000)
- Newsletter Editor (2001-2002)
- Member, Young Lawyers Committee (1998-2002)
- Wolverine Bar Foundation
- Board of Directors (1996 - 2002)
- Chairperson, Judge Damon J. Keith Scholarship Committee (1998-2002)
- Co-Chairperson, Judge Damon J. Keith Scholarship Committee (1999-2000)
- Member, Judge Damon J. Keith Scholarship Committee (1997-2002)
- Recipient, Wolverine Bar Foundation Scholarship (1995)
- Barristers of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
- Board of Directors (1998-2002)
- Recipient, Barrister of the Year Award (2001)
- Chairperson, Law School Committee (2000-2002)
- Chairperson, Fundraising Committee (1999-2000)
- Member, Social Committee (1998-2000)
- Member, Law School Committee (1998-1999)
- Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
- Member, Circuit Court Section (1998-2002)
- Member, Corporate Counsel Section (1998-2002)
- Member, Public Advisory Committee (1998)
- Member, Sports & Entertainment Law Section (1997)
- Member, New Century Initiative, Corporate Campaign Committee (1996-1998)
- State Bar of Michigan
- Member (1996 to present)
- Member, Intellectual Property Law Section (2000-2002)Member, Negligence Law Section (1998-2002)Member, Litigation Law Section (1998-2002)Member, Arts Communication, Entertainment & Sports Law Section (1999-2000)
- Member, General Practice Section (1996-1997)
- Member, Probate and Estate Planning Section (1996-1997)
- State Bar of Georgia
- Member (2001 to present)
- American Corporate Counsel Association
- Member (1999-2003)
- American Bar Association
- Member (1996 to present)
- Member, Intellectual Property Section (1999-2001)
- Member, Entertainment & Sports Division (1999-2001)
- Member, Young Lawyers Division (1996-2001)
- National Bar Association
- Member (2002 to present)
- Georgia Association of Black Women Lawyers
- Member (2003 to present)
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
- Member (1991 to present)
Community involvement
- Everybody Wins! Atlanta, Reading Mentor to Elementary School Students (2008 to present)
- Volunteer Impact, Board of Directors (2000-2001)
- United Way Community Services, Allocations Committee Volunteer (1998-1999), Loaned Executive Program (1992-1993)
Honors
- Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Atlanta Magazine (October 2006)
- Recipient, Distinguished Service Award, Wolverine Bar Association (2002)
- Recipient, Special President's Award, Wolverine Bar Association (2000)
Trials
Practice areas
Education
J.D., Wayne State University Law School, 1996
- Moot Court
- Legal Writing Mentor
B.A., Personnel Administration Management, Michigan State University, 1991
- MSU Business Student Association
Bar admissions
- Georgia
- Michigan
Courts
- Court of Appeals (Georgia)
- United States District Court (Eastern District of Michigan)
- United States District Court (Northern District of Georgia)
- United States District Court (Middle District of Georgia)
- United States Court of Appeals (Eleventh Circuit)