J. Steven Stewart, Attorney

Steve Stewart has practiced with Hall, Bloch, Garland & Meyer, LLP since graduation from Georgia Law School in 1977. His practice areas include personal injury litigation, business and general litigation, general business law, contracts, insurance disputes, wills and estate planning.

For many years, Stewart has devoted a significant portion of his time to the representation of Norfolk Southern Corporation and its operating subsidiaries, as well as other railroad companies, in crossing accident cases, employee injury claims and a variety of other matters. He is a member of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (NARTC).

Stewart handled the trial and appeal in Evans Timber Company, Inc. v. Central of Georgia Railroad Company, 236 Ga. App. 262 (1999) where the Court of Appeals of Georgia, held that railroads are not responsible for the erection of automatic signal devices at public grade crossings because Georgia statutory law vests such decisions exclusively in governmental agencies. The decision overruled longstanding common law to the contrary.

After attending Vanderbilt University for two years, Stewart graduated from Georgia Tech in 1974 with a B. S. degree in Industrial Management. He served as president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma. In 1977, Stewart received his Juris Doctor degree cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi. A native of Macon, Stewart attended Stratford Academy and was Salutatorian of the graduating class of 1970.

He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Georgia Bar Association and the Macon Bar Association. He is admitted to practice in the Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal, the United States Court of Claims, the United States District Courts for the Middle and Northern Districts and all state courts. He has spoken at local and statewide CLE seminars and is a member of the William Augustus Bootle Inn of Court.

Community and charitable involvement include Christ Episcopal Church as member of the Vestry and Senior Warden; Stratford Academy Board of Trustees; Idle Hour Country Club Board of Directors; Vine Ingle Little League board member and manager/coach; Children's Hospital Board; Med Cen Foundation - Calloway Society Board; president of Macon Area Georgia Tech Club; president of The Bons Hommes; and member of the Macon Civic Club.

• Evans Timber Company, Inc. v. Central of Georgia Railroad Company 1999