Brief Biography

Mr. Lausell concentrates his practice in construction law, commercial litigation, and products liability/tort litigation. His experience includes a wide range of cases in bench trials, jury trials and appeals, as well as arbitrations and mediations. He has served as arbitrator and mediator in several matters under local law pursuant to the American Arbitration Association Rules, as a sole arbitrator and as a panel member, and is listed on the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico List of Mediators for Court-Annexed Mediations with the following areas of expertise: construction contracts and claims, products liability claims, claims involving technical/engineering background, claims involving commercial/business operations.

Mr. Lausell was a professor of the Puerto Rico College of Engineers and Surveyor’s Continuing Education Program, teaching several courses including Construction Contract Claims and Litigation and The Role of Expert Witnesses in Dispute Resolution Proceedings. He was Law Clerk to Judge Carlos V. Dávila, Supreme Court of Puerto Rico from 1979 to 1980. He was a licensed Professional Engineer, Puerto Rico, 1975 to 2008.

Education

  • University of Puerto Rico Law School
    San Juan, PR
    1979, JD
    Magna Cum Laude
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Cambridge, MA
    1974, BS in Civil Engineering

Bar Admissions

  • Puerto Rico Bar, 1979
  • United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, 1980
  • United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 1982
  • United States Claims Court, 1982
  • United States Court of International Trade, 1982
  • United States Supreme Court, 1985

Professional Associations & Certifications

  • American Bar Association
  • Colegio de Ingenieros y Agrimensores de Puerto Rico
  • Federal Bar Association

Representative Cases

Bravo-Santiago v. Ford Motor Company
206 F.Supp.2d 294 (D.P.R. 2002)
Vehicle seatbelt products liability.
Dupont-Benlate Litigation
877 F. Supp. 779 (D.P.R. 1995)
Benlate 50 DF product’s liability.
San Miguel Otero v. Briggs & Stratton Co.
District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Civil No. 89-00025
Products liability – Lawnmower injury.
Paul N. Howard Co. v. Puerto Rico Aqueduct Sewer Authority
744 F.2d 880 (1st Cir. 1984)
Construction dispute numerous issues differing site condition.
In re San Juan Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire Litigation
MDL No. 721 (D.P.R. 1988)
Firm Member of Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee; fire in Hotel resulting in 97 deaths and 100 injured.
González-Reyes, Mayra
González-Reyes, Mayra
Lausell, Steven C.
Lausell, Steven C.
Dulzaides, Raquel M.
Dulzaides, Raquel M.
Román-Méndez, Nelson
Román-Méndez, Nelson
Rivera-Morales, Ramón J.
Rivera-Morales, Ramón J.
Picó-Ramirez, Andrés
Picó-Ramirez, Andrés
Vega-López, Edgardo A.
Vega-López, Edgardo A.
Graffam, William A.
Graffam, William A.
Blasini, Jorge F.
Blasini, Jorge F.
Rodríguez-Bird, Manolo T.
Rodríguez-Bird, Manolo T.
González- García, Yasthel I.
González- García, Yasthel I.