Stephen J. Soule, Director
Trial Law, Complex Litigation
Mr. Soule is a member of the litigation team at Paul Frank + Collins. He focuses on complex civil lawsuits involving a multiplicity of parties, witnesses, issues and evidence.
He has experience litigating on behalf of a wide range of clients, from gas companies to supermarket chains to airplane and tire manufacturers. In the areas of product liability and property damage litigation, he has represented numerous institutional clients such as the State of Vermont, the University of Vermont, Chittenden Bank, Omya-White Pigment Company and the Eden Park Nursing Homes.
Mr. Soule has been instrumental in implementing and utilizing state-of-the-art legal technologies at Paul Frank + Collins. These integrated technologies provide a vital communications tool, enabling up-to-the-minute access to information, and facilitating the high-level sophisticated strategic planning that produces results for clients.
Additionally, Mr. Soule frequently serves as local counsel on behalf of attorneys handling litigation in the State and Federal courts in Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Mr. Soule can serve as local counsel in as extensive or as limited a capacity as the case merits. He brings a high degree of professionalism and sensitivity to each legal matter and provides superior service while respecting existing attorney/client relationships.
Before attending law school, Mr. Soule received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Maine. This background gives him a strong foundation in scientific principles, which in turn enhances the depth and aplomb he brings to complex litigation cases, particularly those containing a scientific or technical component.
Mr. Soule is a member of the American Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. He is a licensed private pilot, and he built and flies an experimental two-place aerobatic aircraft.
REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED CASES:
□ Bessette v. Department of Corrections, 2007 VT 42, 928 A.2d 514, June 01, 2007 (NO. 2006-003)
□ Union Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Joerg, 2003 VT 27, 824 A.2d 586 (Mar 28, 2003) (NO. 01 336)
□ Derosier v. Pawtucket Mut. Ins. Co., 2003 VT 6, 819 A.2d 739 (Jan 31, 2003) (NO. 2001 106)
□ Sheltra v. Vermont Asbestos Group, 2003 VT 22, 820 A.2d 221 (Feb 19, 2003) (NO. 2002- 116)
□ Knisely v. Central Vermont Hosp., 171 Vt. 644, 769 A.2d 5 (Vt., Oct 12, 2000) (NO. 99-158)
□ Debus v. Grand Union Stores of Vermont, 159 Vt. 537, 621 A.2d 1288 (Vt., Jan 29, 1993)
(NO. 92 063)
□ Howard Bank, N.A. v. Estate of Pope, 156 Vt. 537, 593 A.2d 471 (Vt., May 24, 1991) (NO. 89 278)
□ Northern Aircraft, Inc. v. Reed, 154 Vt. 36, 572 A.2d 1382 (Vt., Mar 02, 1990) (NO. 89 259)
□ University of Vermont v. W.R. Grace & Co., 152 Vt. 287, 565 A.2d 1354, 57 Ed. Law Rep. 163,
Prod.Liab.Rep. (CCH) P 12,300 (Vt., Aug 04, 1989) (NO. 88 181)
□ Westchester Fire Ins. Co. v. Deuso, 146 Vt. 424, 505 A.2d 666 (Vt., Dec 13, 1985) (NO. 84 121)
□ Cavanaugh v. Abbott Laboratories, 145 Vt. 516, 496 A.2d 154, Vt., April 26, 1985 (NO. 84-012)
EDUCATION:
University of Maine, B.S., 1973
Washburn University, (cum laude), 1981
Senior Notes Editor, Washburn Law Journal, 1981
BAR ADMISSIONS:
State of Kansas, 1981
State of Vermont, 1984
U.S. District Court, District of Vermont, 1984
State of New Hampshire, 1988
U.S. District Court of New Hampshire, 1989
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, 1998
U.S. Supreme Court, 1999
U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2001
U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit, 2002
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2003
State of Maine, 2008
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
American Bar Association
New Hampshire Bar Association
Vermont Bar Association
Chittenden County Bar Association
Lawyer-Pilot Bar Association
INDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS:
Experimental Aviation Association
Vermont Aviation Advisory Council
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Former Member, Board of Trustees, Howard Center for Human Services
Past President, Family Advisory Council, Baird Center for Families and Children
Fundraiser and Grant Writer for Camp Exclamation Point, Inc., which conducts an annual residential summer camp for disadvantaged rural Vermont and New Hampshire children.
Member, Board for March of Dimes annual Stowe events
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS:
Licensed private pilot, built and flies an experimental aircraft.