STUEMKE LAW FIRM - Key Persons
Since graduating law school, Jay has zealously advocated for plaintiffs' rights all across the country. For over 25 years he has successfully litigated cases against some of the largest and most sophisticated corporations in the world on behalf of his clients. Jay specializes in trying cases involving products liability, toxic workplace and environmental exposures, wrongful death, and gross negligence. He has achieved multiple jury verdicts that have been recognized as among the highest in the state in which they were tried and the nation.
Jay believes passionately in using the law to advance public safety, and has been at the forefront of efforts to expose hidden dangers in consumer products - and to hold wrongdoers accountable. Currently, his efforts to promote safety among visitors to Hawai'i have received international media attention. Jay has been featured in USA Today, News Nation, Fox News, The Independent (UK), the New York Post, Business Insider, and other mass-media outlets, in legal magazines including Texas Lawyer, appeared as a legal commentator on television, and repeatedly been an invited speaker and panelist at professional conferences. In addition, he often partners with other firms to help bring their cases to trial and successful resolution.
"As a trial lawyer, you cannot consistently win verdicts, or recover substantial settlements, without fully understanding three things: your client's experience, the evidence that shows the defendant's responsibility, and the science that proves it. In every case I try, I am committed to delving into all the details of each of these elements to maximize the client's recovery and the probability of a successful verdict."
In his personal time, Jay enjoys spending time with his wife/law partner Deanna and their three kids and three dogs. Jay and Deanna love hiking, biking, going to the beach, and embracing the Hawaii lifestyle as much as possible. They can also frequently be found cheering at their youngest child's swim meets, water polo games, and cross-country meets. Their two older children currently attend college on the mainland.
Education
University of Texas School of Law, JD, 1997
Texas A&M University, cum laude, BS 1994
Deanna is living proof that you can have it all, just not at once! She has extensive experience advocating for her clients in both litigation and as a briefing attorney, including drafting briefs to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. She was on partnership track at one of the largest law firms in the nation and headed her own practice group within her office. It was during this time, however, when her advocacy skills were needed most at home. So, she took time off of her law practice to raise her three children, one of whom has special needs. She did, however, continue to take on legal pet projects that were near and dear to her heart. Once her children were older and with their full support and encouragement, she resumed her law practice as co-founder and partner of the firm she now runs with her husband, Jay. Deanna brings compassion and an unbridled desire go the extra mile to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves, whether it be in the courtroom or in her law and motions practice.