Steven J. German

Education

Steven J. German is a nationally recognized environmental lawyer who has achieved environmental settlements, verdicts and cleanups valued at over $1 billion. He is a Managing Partner at German Rubenstein LLP. He launched his legal career as a Law Clerk at the U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Environmental Enforcement Section in Washington, DC and then at the U.S. EPA, New Jersey Superfund Branch. Mr. German has been appointed as Class Counsel and Lead Counsel in numerous high-profile environmental lawsuits. Mr. German’s cases have been covered by television and print media across the United States.

• Plaintiffs'​ counsel in Latta v. City of Hannibal, a case seeking money damages and medical monitoring for Missouri residents who are being served water contaminated with trihalomethanes above federal drinking water standards. (Missouri, 2016) 
• Plaintiffs'​ counsel in Cole v Marathon, a case alleging nuisance, negligence and strict liability arising from airborne refinery emissions resulting in odors, noise, soot, dust and health concerns in Southwest Detroit. (EDMI, 2016) 
• Court-appointed Plaintiffs'​ Class Counsel and Settlement Class Counsel in Halley v. Honeywell, a case alleging property damage caused by defendants' improper disposal and failure to remediate hexavalent chromium in Jersey City, NJ. (DNJ, 2015)
• Appointed by Governor Christie as Special Counsel to the State of New Jersey in connection with natural resource damage litigation against ExxonMobil. (2015 settlement, New Jersey)
• Plaintiffs'​ counsel in Roeder v. Atlantic Richfield, Co.  A class action settlement that provided water extension to desert community, cash payments and purchase of water rights in connection with mining contamination in domestic drinking water wells in Nevada. (2014 Settlement, DNV)
• Court-appointed Plaintiffs'​ Co-Lead Interim Class Counsel in In Re Behr Dayton Thermal Products, LLC Litigation, concerning contaminated groundwater and vapor intrusion at 500+ properties in Dayton, Ohio. (SDOH, 2008 class certification pending)
• Represented plaintiff in Gates v. W.R. Grace & Co., Mosaic & Cargill, a case alleging that contaminated drinking water near Florida phosphate facility caused cancer in local resident. (MDFL, 2009 settlement)
• Plaintiffs’ counsel in MDL 1358: In Re MTBE Products Liability Litigation. Represented drinking water providers across the U.S. in connection with contamination of their water supply wells with the gasoline additive MTBE. (SDNY, 2004-2008)
• Appointed Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of New Mexico in connection with MTBE groundwater contamination claims. (2006) 
• Trial team in Interfaith Community Org. and Hackensack Riverkeeper v. Honeywell. Trial and appellate victories resulted in one of the nation’s largest environmental cleanups of soil, groundwater and river sediments. (DNJ, 2004)