Errol R. Patterson

Of Counsel

1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20036
TEL: 202.429.8062
FAX: 202.429.3902

Errol R. Patterson is of counsel in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he practices in the firm’s Litigation Department.

Prior to joining Steptoe, Mr. Patterson was a partner with Newman and Holtzinger, PC. He successfully has litigated a wide variety of cases including complex commercial contract disputes, insurance coverage claims, labor law issues, and product liability claims. Mr. Patterson's background and experience includes:

Winning plaintiff and defense jury verdicts and bench trials.
Multi-million dollar settlements for clients.
Broad experience working with Corporate Counsel and company management at all levels in developing and executing strategies to achieve desired litigation result.
Broad experience working with experts on highly technical issues (e.g. state-of-the-art defense, soil/groundwater contamination, corrosion, product design defects and damages).
Extensive deposition and mock jury experience.
Management and analysis of cases involving high volume document and database discovery issues.

Representative Matters

Litigation

Senior trial team member as National Trial and Coordinating Counsel for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in asbestos litigation.
Counsel for defendant, The Home Insurance Company, regarding multi-million dollar claim for insurance coverage relating to environmental clean-up costs regarding manufactured gas plant operations.
Lead counsel in defense of Japanese corporation sued for gender discrimination.
Represented plaintiff, a major contractor involved in the construction of the Washington, DC, Metro system, in insurance coverage litigation with Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company.
Represented Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) in litigation against Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO) concerning PECO’s management and operation of the Peach Atomic Power Plant. Defended PSE&G against similar claims regarding the Salem Nuclear Power Station.
Lead counsel for plaintiff in lawsuit against product manufacturer and national retail chain regarding sale of defective product.
Lead counsel for plaintiff in product liability lawsuit against foreign automobile manufacturer.
Represented and advised Arizona Public Service Company (APS) on more than a dozen matters relating to ‘whistleblower’ claims.
Conducted internal investigations of alleged employee and corporate misconduct under federal and state laws and regulations regarding nuclear power plants.

International Law
Mr. Patterson advises international clients on legal and regulatory reform and project development. He represented the Government of Kenya in a project to reform the legal and regulatory framework and restructure the electric power sub-sector in Kenya. In addition, he has been retained by the Ethiopian Privatization Agency to review the laws of Ethiopia for legal impediments to privatization.

Noteworthy

September 2006: Steptoe recognized as "Pro Bono law firm of the year" for results achieved by Mr. Patterson on behalf of Employment Justice Center in dispute with D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission regarding lawful wages for RFK Stadium workers.
August 2006: Plaintiffs' jury verdict against Baltimore County, MD after three week trial finding County zoning law violated Americans With Disabilities Act and the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
May 2006: Negotiated resolution of back pay claim for RFK Stadium workers with D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission resulting in over $500,000 payment of back wages.

Select News & Events

Professional Affiliations

Volunteer, DC Bar Public Service Activities Corporation (Law Firm Pro Bono Clinic)
American Trial Lawyers Association