Joe Stephens argues a case before the Texas Supreme Court

Clara Harris in jail

Clara Harris must pay for husbands death

Mark Swaim at trial

mother, wife and sons of Luis Robert Gutierrez sought to hold Trammel Crow of Central Texas accountable for Gutierrez's death at the hands of a gunman

Mall must pay for Wrongful Death

Harris County Civil Courts

Media Coverage

Joe B Stephens Texas Super Lawyers, seriously outstanding, only five percent selected each year, visit superlawyers.com

Contact Info

Houston Area
The Stephens Law Firm
23922 Cinco Village Center Blvd. Suite 200
Katy, Texas 77494

Phone: 713-224-0000
Fax: 713-224-0055
Email: joe@joestephenslaw.com

Contact Form

The Stephens Law Firm will represent people anywhere in Texas, or across the United States if the personal injury case merits it. The communities we have frequently served over the past 22 years include: Houston, Katy, Beaumont, Liberty, Richmond, Rosenberg, Wharton, Corpus-Christi, Waller, Austin, Brownsville, McAllen, Dallas, and San Antonio. We have extensive experience in the County and District Courts of Harris County, Ft Bend County, Nueces County, Wharton County, Bexar County, Liberty County, and Jefferson County.

Joe Stephens Texas Super Lawyer

Selection Process of Super Lawyers

The General Survey
We mailed thousands of ballots to attorneys across Texas. We asked attorneys to vote for the best lawyers they have personally observed in action - whether as opposing counsel, as co-counsel, from first-person observation in the courtroom, etc. Our intent was to discourage lawyers from voting for others based purely on reputation.

Each ballot had the name of the addressee-attorney on it. Only ballots properly verified by that attorney (with signature and attorney registration number filled in) were counted. more...

Practice Areas

The Civil Law Process

Civil Procedure

Civil courts handle many different kinds of disputes. By way of example, matters may arise in civil court for these reasons:

1.To contend that a breach of contract has taken place and to request compensation and release from the contract.

2.To contend that personal injury or property damage has occurred as a result of the actions of the accused party and to request compensation.

3.To seek injunctive relief.

4.To dissolve marriages, determine child custody and property issues and to grant adoptions.

5.To probate wills and estates.

6.To handle tax disputes.

The party filing a petition that originates a civil suit is the plaintiff. The party being sued is the defendant.

The original petition is filed in the office of the district or county clerk. These petitions are available to the public, including reporters, although they are not privileged until they are presented at the time of trial.

The original petition may be amended by the filing of additional petitions. In the meantime a cross action may be initiated by the defendant. Such pleadings serve to narrow the controversy toward a single issue, affirmed by one side and denied by the other. That sets the stage for the trial or for an out-of-court settlement.. more...

Joe Stephens has tried over 100 jury trials to a verdict, and has handled hundreds of cases in his 22 year career. He has been recognized by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America as the Most Outstanding Young Trial Lawyer in America Award in 1999. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the most prestigious group of trial lawyers in the United States.

Joe Stephens is also double-board certified. Few lawyers in the country have attained this level of certification. He is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law. Fewer than 1% of lawyers in Texas have earned that title. In addition, he is a Civil Trial Advocate, as recognized by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
He is an AV Rated lawyer by Martindale - Hubbell. This rating is earned from rankings of this peers. He has also received media recognition on several of his cases while he fought for the rights of his client.

He can and will help people in need in these types of cases.