Bio

Stephen Netherton is a partner in the firm. He is a trial lawyer focusing on civil litigation defense, medical malpractice defense, and health care law.

Since joining the firm in 2013, Stephen has developed an active practice in all stages of litigation in state and federal courts. Through his motion practice, he has successfully achieved dismissal and summary judgment in numerous cases. In his cases that have proceeded to trial, Stephen has obtained defense verdicts as lead and second-chair counsel in multiple trials in both state and federal court. At the appellate level, he has briefed and argued several cases before the Kansas Court of Appeals and Kansas Supreme Court, including successfully clarifying the law pertaining to the corporate practice of medicine for Kansas physicians and ambulatory surgery centers.

Stephen was born and raised in Kansas, attending Mid-America Nazarene University on a baseball scholarship. Following college, he was drawn to Baylor University School of Law, where he received multiple advocacy awards, including a National Championship in mock trial, and graduated with honors. Stephen and his wife were happy to return to their hometown of Wichita to raise their family.

Education

Undergrad: B.A. Mid America Nazarene University, 2009 magna cum laude 
Law School: Baylor University, 2013 cum laude 
Year Started Practicing: 2013

Court Admissions

• Kansas, 2013
• U.S. District Court, District of Kansas, 2013
• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2014

Honors

• Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, 2021 – 2024 (Health Care Law and Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants)
• Super lawyers, Rising Star, 2019 – 2022 (Personal Injury – Medical Malpractice: Defense)
• NITA Mock Trial National Champion, Best Advocate, 2012
• Baylor Law Review, Associate Editor
• American Board of Trial Advocates Award
• National Order of Barristers

Publications and Presentations

• “Vicarious Liability between Healthcare Providers”, Wichita Bar Association Medical-Legal Issues continuing education seminar 2023

Representative Experience

Medical Malpractice

• Represented numerous physicians, mid-levels, clinics, and hospitals against medical malpractice claims, HIPAA/privacy allegations, and contractual disputes in state and federal court.

Health Care Law

• Represented various health care providers and entities with corporate practice of medicine issues, professional licensing (Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, Kansas State Board of Nursing, Behavioral Science Regulatory Board, Kansas State Board of Examiners in Optometry), and contractual disputes.

Civil Litigation

• Represented individuals, small businesses, and Fortune 500 Companies on liability matters ranging from premises liability, contracts, business torts, consumer protection, insurance defense, personal injury, and general negligence claims.

Appellate Decisions

Central Kansas Medical Center v. Stanley M. Hatesohl, M.D., et al., Kansas Supreme Court Nos. 113,675 and 113834 (2018)