Steve Harrison has been a trial lawyer for more than 40 years. A founding member of Harrison Davis, he has successfully represented both individuals and businesses in a variety of sophisticated catastrophic injury, product liability, mass tort, and business litigation matters.
Steve, Bryan Harrison, Matt Morrison and Zona Jones represented ten of the families whose loved ones were lost in the deadly ammonium nitrate explosion in West. They also represented scores of seriously injured individuals, the City of West, West Rest Haven nursing home and numerous other businesses damaged by the blast. The Honorable Jim Meyer of the 170th District Court in McLennan County, presiding judge over the hundreds of explosion claims, appointed Steve and Zona to the four person Plaintiffs Executive Steering Committee to lead the development of the liability case for trial against the defendants. Judge Meyer appointed Steve to serve as chairman of that steering committee.
Steve, Bryan and Zona represent the families of four young people who were killed in the Texas Panhandle Wildfires of 2017, as well as scores of ranches and businesses devastated by those fires.
Steve has represented landowners in condemnation proceedings and jury trials. Most recently, that representation was focused on the fight to protect the rights of farmers, ranchers and other property owners affected by the construction of high voltage power lines.
Steve was appointed by the Honorable Ed Kinkaede, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, to serve on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the Pinnacle Hip Implant litigation. The appointment was an honor for Steve and marked Harrison Davis’ significant involvement in hip implant litigation.
In 1983, Steve was lead counsel in the case that resulted in, at the time, the largest jury verdict in the history of McLennan County, Texas. In 2005, he was also lead co-counsel in what has been reported as the nation’s first jury verdict to hold a bus manufacturer liable for its failure to install passenger seat belts and safety glass.
Steve is double board certified, holding that distinction in both civil and personal injury trial work. He is a member of Texas Trial Lawyers Association and served as President in 2012. He has served on the board of directors for more than twenty years has been active in the legislative activities of the organization for many years. Steve is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), an invitation-only trial organization founded to promote ethical and technical standards of practice in the field of advocacy. Membership in ABOTA requires substantial civil jury trial to verdict experience, as well as high personal character and honorable reputation. Steve served for many years as a member of the National Board of Directors of the ABOTA.
He is listed in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, which includes lawyers and law firms that have earned the highest rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and have been designated by their colleagues as preeminent in their field. Steve has an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating level based on superior ethics, as well as the desired level of professional experience. Steve has been recognized regularly as one of the Super Lawyers in Texas Monthly magazine, including the list of Top 50 Lawyers in the Central and West Texas Region.
Steve is a frequent lecturer at his alma mater, Baylor Law School, and at various continuing legal education programs, such as Texas Trial Lawyers Association’s Advanced Personal Injury Seminar. Steve has also testified in the Texas Senate and House of Representatives concerning the effects of proposed legislation concerning litigation. He has authored and co-authored numerous papers and presentations, including “The Case Against the Certified Repair Station-Plaintiffs Approach,” presented to the Tort and Insurance Section, 1988 ABA Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, and “Aviation Tort Law,” Texas Torts & Remedies, Mathew Bender & Co., 1991, “Removal and Remand – Who Moved My Cheese? – Practical Tips for the Prevention & Cure of Relocation Anxiety” presented at Texas Trial Lawyers Association’s Advanced Personal Injury Course, 2004, “Referral Fees in Texas” presented at Texas Trial Lawyers Association’s Advanced Personal Injury Course, 2006.
Steve was appointed by the Mayor of Waco to a steering committee to implement a plan to end chronic homelessness in the city, a program that has become a model for the nation. He has always had a heart for the provision of quality health care. Steve served as chairman of the Board of Directors of Hillcrest Health System and served on that board and the Board of Trustees of Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center for more than 27 years.
Steve believes his calling as a trial lawyer is a vital part of his commitment to faith, family, and community. He and his wife are members of Spring Creek Baptist Church in the Spring Creek community of Bosque County.
Associations / Memberships
• Texas Trial Lawyers Association, President (2012), Member of Board of Directors, Executive Committees (2003, 2004, 2005), Legislative Chairman (2004)
• State Bar of Texas, Committee on Administrative of Rules of Evidence, District 8-B Grievance Committee, 1986-1993; Chairman, 1990-1992 American Association for Justice
• Waco-McLennan County Young Lawyers Association, Former President,
• Recipient Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, 1984
• Waco-McLennan County Bar Association, Former President
• Abner V. McCall American Inn of Court, Master of the Bench and Former President
• American Board of Trial Advocates, Former Member of National Board of Directors
• Christian Trial Lawyers Association
• Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow