Atty. Steven L. Hurdle
In 1976, Steve graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society. After graduating from the University of the Tennessee College of Law in 1979, he was admitted to the Tennessee bar and served as law clerk for Judge Robert K.
Profile Summary
About Steven L. Hurdle at a glance
Steven L. Hurdle is a Partner based in Knoxville, Tennessee, practicing at Arnett Baker Draper & Hagood, LLP. They have 47+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1979. Their practice focuses on personal injury, slip & fall, product liability, and insurance. Admitted to practice in Tennessee (1979), U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee (1980), and U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee (1980). Educated at University of Tennessee (J.D., 1979) and University of Tennessee (B.A., 1976). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of Knoxville, Tennessee and American Bar Associations. Serands clients in Knoxville, TN and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Want to Get Service From This Attorney?
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
About
- In 1976, Steve graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society
- After graduating from the University of the Tennessee College of Law in 1979, he was admitted to the Tennessee bar and served as law clerk for Judge Robert K. Dwyer on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals
- In 1980, Steve joined Arnett, Baker, Draper & Hagood and has been a partner in the firm since 1986
- He is recognized with an AV rating by Martindale Hubbell and has been listed in Best Lawyers since 2018
- Steve represents defendants in products liability, trucking and automobile accident, premises liability, and business and insurance cases
- He focuses on motion practice, trials, appeals, and on resolving lawsuits efficiently in the client’s best interest
- Steve’s 44 years handling asbestos, products liability, trucking and automobile, and premises liability litigation provide him the background to effectively represent clients in virtually all types of personal injury, property damage, insurance, and products liability cases
- For more than 40 years he has defended equipment manufacturers and insulation contractors in hundreds of asbestos personal injury lawsuits in Tennessee, as well as serving for 20 years as national counsel for a regional contractor with cases across the eastern United States
- He has tried jury trials throughout East and Middle Tennessee, including the trial and successful resolution of an asbestos disease case involving a plaintiff who died at age 60 of malignant mesothelioma
- He has tried to verdict vehicle crash, construction, insurance, and workers’ compensation lawsuits and negotiated hundreds of favorable settlements—many of which were mediated
- In 2018, Steve led a team that obtained summary judgment for our trucking company client on the grounds that its independent contractor driver was not its agent (despite displaying a placard with our client’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration number) when he was involved in a crash that caused catastrophic injuries to the plaintiff
- In 2024, he successfully handled the defense of a tractor-trailer fatality lawsuit that required the download of EDR data from both vehicles and the use of 3D scanning technology to establish the fault of the deceased plaintiff
- Since the 1980s, Steve has served on the committee investigating applicants to the Tennessee bar
- In 2014, the Tennessee Supreme Court appointed him District Investigating Chair for District 2, responsible for investigating bar applicants in Knox County and eight surrounding counties
- Effective January 1, 2024, Steve is an advisory role with Arnett, Baker, Draper & Hagood
- Steve is a member of the American, Tennessee, and Knoxville Bar Associations as well as the Defense Research Institute and the Trucking Industry Defense Association
- Steve is married and the father of two adult children and one grandchild
- In his free time, Steve and his family are avid followers of University of Tennessee athletics
- Steve also enjoys golf, traveling, and gardening
Practice Areas Explained
Steven L. Hurdle's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Steven L. Hurdle handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Steven L. Hurdle is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in Tennessee →
Steven L. Hurdle is one of 29,473 slip & fall attorneys indexed nationally. Browse slip & fall attorneys in Tennessee →
Steven L. Hurdle is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in Tennessee →
Insurance attorneys for coverage disputes, bad faith claims, denied claims, and policy disputes.
Steven L. Hurdle is one of 121,912 insurance attorneys indexed nationally. Browse insurance attorneys in Tennessee →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Tennessee
Practicing law in Tennessee. Legal matters in Tennessee are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Knoxville are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Tennessee state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Tennessee brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Tennessee courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Tennessee attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Knoxville or all attorneys in Tennessee.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about Steven L. Hurdle
Where is Steven L. Hurdle's law office located?
What practice areas does Steven L. Hurdle handle?
How long has Steven L. Hurdle practiced law?
Where did Steven L. Hurdle go to law school?
How can I contact Steven L. Hurdle for a consultation?
What awards or recognition has Steven L. Hurdle received?
Practice Areas
Education
Awards
Bar Admissions
Reviews
No reviews yet.