Lawyers

Civil and business litigation; products liability and warranty; wet, dry, and chemical fire protection systems; alarm and security systems; insurance; contract/UCC; construction contract and defect; indemnification contracts; toxic torts/cancer litigation; and employment and labor law matters are the areas of emphasis for Stephan A. Barber, who was a partner in a San Jose law firm before joining Ropers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley in 1984. He is now a senior partner in RMKB’s San Jose office.

Born in San Jose, California, he majored in economics at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he received his undergraduate degree in 1972. He received his law degree from McGeorge School of Law in 1976 and was admitted to the California Bar that year.

In 1974, he won the American Jurisprudence Award for real property and was articles editor of the Pacific Law School Journal in 1975-76. His article, The California Public Records Act: The Public’s Right of Access to Government Information, was published in the Pacific Law Journal in 1976. He has tried approximately 90 cases in 14 California counties and the Federal District Courts. A large number of Mr. Barber’s trials have involved claims against product manufacturers and installers and insurance companies. He has also appeared before several state and federal courts of appeal and several of his appellate cases have been officially published. Mr. Barber has earned the highest possible rating for legal ability/competence and professional ethics from Martindale-Hubbell, the country’s leading peer review ratings company for attorneys.

He is a member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association, the California State Bar, the Association of Defense Counsel, the Traynor Society, and the National Registry of Who’s Who. He has also acted as an arbitrator since 1980 and been a speaker at numerous legal seminars. He is married and has two children. Mr. Barber represents many corporations in a wide variety of industries including manufacturing, electronics, fire protection, security, plumbing products, printing and specialty ink, construction, retail, hotels/resorts and insurance . Some of Mr. Barber’s past and present clients include: Honeywell International, Inc.; Cosco Fire Protection; Consolidated Fire Protection; Minimax USA; Watts Water Technologies, Inc; Sun Chemical Corporation; INX International Ink Co.; Star Industries, Inc; Tyco International, Ltd.; Grinnell Fire Protection; SimplexGrinnell, LLC; Ansul, Inc.; Tyco Fire and Building Products; and Central Sprinkler Company; and several insurance companies.