Maassen

Hoagland, Fitzgerald, Smith & Pranaitis

Attorneys at Law

STEPHEN J. MAASSEN, born May 2, 1951, Clifton Springs, New York

Partner

Phone: (618) 465-7745

Education and Employment Background
Areas of Specialization
Admitted to Practice in the Following Courts
Professional Organizations and Societies
Published Opinions
Charitable and Community Activities

Education and Employment Background:

Steve spent much of his early life living in various towns in Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois but for the past 25 years has resided in Madison County with his family.

He graduated from Central College, located in Pella, Iowa, with a B.A. degree in 1973, and he then attended law school at Valparaiso University, where he was Managing Editor of the Valparaiso University Law Review in 1976. He received his J.D. degree in 1977.

He practiced for one year in Munster, Indiana with a small firm and then worked for the Illinois State's Attorney Appellate Service Commission for one year handling appeals. He then worked as a law clerk for Justice Dorothy W. Spomer and Justice George W. Kasserman at the Appellate Court of Illinois (Fifth District) from 1979 to 1981. In 1981, he moved to Alton and joined the firm (known then as Hoagland, Maucker, Bernard & Almeter) and has been here ever since.

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Areas of Specialization:

Extensive civil trial and appellate practice with numerous verdicts and published opinions in state and federal courts in areas of personal injury law, employment law, construction litigation, admiralty law, toxic torts, product liability law and insurance law.

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Admitted to Practice in the Following Courts:

State Courts of Illinois, Missouri and Indiana; U. S. Court of Appeals for Seventh Circuit; U. S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois; U. S. District Court, Central District of Illinois; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana.

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Professional Organizations and Societies:

International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC); Defense Research Institute (DRI); Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (IDC); Alton-Wood River, Madison County, Illinois State, Indiana State and American Bar Associations; The Missouri Bar and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL); Federal Bar Association of Central and Southern Districts (Member, Legislation Committee).

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Published Opinions:

Sollami v. Eaton, 201 Ill.2d 1, 772 N.E.2d 215, 265 Ill.Dec. 177 (Ill. S.C., 6/6/2002); Sollami v. Eaton, 319 Ill.App.3d 612, 747 N.E.2d 375, 254 Ill.Dec. 335 (5th Dist. 3/21/2001); Ford ex rel. Ford V. Nairn, 307 Ill.App.3d 296, 717 N.E.2d 525, 240 Ill.Dec. 432 (4th Dist. 9/7/1999); Shell Oil Co. v. AC&S, Inc., 271 Ill.App.3d 898, 649 N.E.2d 946, 208 Ill.Dec. 586 (4th Dist. 4/20/1995); Herington v. J.S. Alberici Const. Co., Inc., 266 Ill.App.3d 489, 639 N.E.2d 907, 203 Ill.Dec. 348 (5th Dist. 8/18/1994); Camillo v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 221 Ill.App.3d 614, 582 N.E.2d 729, 164 Ill. Dec. 166 (5th Dist. 11/24/1991); Langley v. H.K. Ferguson Co., 186 Ill.App.3d 1036, 542 N.E.2d 1200, 134 Ill. Dec. 693 (5th Dist. 8/2/1989); Myers v. Williams, 160 Ill.App.3d 707, 513 N.E.2d 1209, 112 Ill.Dec. 600 (5th Dist. 9/24/1987); Hearn, by Cent. Bank v. Beelman Truck Co., 154 Ill.App.3d 1022, 507 N.E.2d 1295, 107 Ill.Dec. 926 (5th Dist. 4/19/1987); Langley v. J.L. Simmons Contracting Co., 152 Ill.App.3d 899, 504 N.E.2d 1328, 105 Ill.Dec. 810 (5th Dist. 2/25/1987); Beaird v. Miller's Mut. Ins. Ass'n of Illinois, 133 Ill.App.3d 670, 479 N.E.2d 374, 88 Ill.Dec. 761 (5th Dist. 5/2/1985); Dintelman v. Alliance Mach. Co., 117 Ill.App.3d 344, 453 N.E.2d 128, 72 Ill.Dec. 823 (5th Dist. 8/30/1983); Hartung v. Central Illinois Public Service Co., 110 Ill.App. 3d 816, 443 N.E.2d 16, 66 Ill.Dec. 493 (5th Dist. 12/6/1982); Mueller v. Hellrung Const. Co., 107 Ill.App.3d 337, 437 N.E.2d 789; 63 Ill.Dec. 140 (5th Dist. 6/10/1982); People v. Rogers, 81 Ill.2d 571, 411 N.E.2d 223, 44 Ill.Dec. 254 (Ill. 9/29/1980); People v. Pierce, 88 Ill.App.3d 1095, 411 N.E.2d 295, 44 Ill.Dec. 326 (5th Dist. 9/19/1980); People v. Meeks, 81 Ill.2d 524, 411 N.E.2d 9 44 Ill.Dec. 103 (9/15/1980); People v. Mosley, 87 Ill.App.3d 1082, 409 N.E.2d 431, 42 Ill.Dec. 816 (5th Dist. 8/21/1980); People v. Shook, 86 Ill.App.3d 174, 407 N.E.2d 976, 41 Ill.Dec. 478 (5th Dist. 6/30/1980); In Interest of J.A., 85 Ill.App.3d 567, 406 N.E.2d 958, 40 Ill.Dec. 755 (5th Dist. 6/27/1980); People v. Delp, 85 Ill.App.3d 463, 406 N.E.2d 903, 40 Ill.Dec. 700 (5th Dist. 6/17/1980); People v. Williams, 84 Ill.App.3d 247, 405 N.E.2d 358, 39 Ill.Dec. 605 (5th Dist. 5/8/1980); People v. Eckles, 83 Ill.App.3d 292, 404 N.E.2d 358, 38 Ill.Dec. 934 (5th Dist. 4/11/1980); People v. Baxtrom, 81 Ill.App.3d 653, 402 N.E.2d 327, 37 Ill.Dec. 437 (5th Dist. 3/14/1980); In Interest of Devine, 81 Ill.App.3d 314, 401 N.E.2d 616, 36 Ill.Dec. 775 (5th Dist. 3/3/1980); People v. Daminski, 80 Ill.App.3d 903, 400 N.E.2d 708, 36 Ill.Dec. 288 (5th Dist. 2/1/1980); People v. Johnson, 79 Ill.App.3d 1133, 399 N.E.2d 282, 35 Ill.Dec. 448 (5th Dist. 12/27/1979); People v. Butler, 79 Ill.App.3d 809; 396 N.E.2d 1374, 33 Ill.Dec. 650 (5th Dist. 11/16/1979); People v. Turner, 77 Ill.App.3d 985, 397 N.E.2d 25, 33 Ill.Dec. 692 (5th Dist. 10/15/1979); People v. Mitchell, 76 Ill.App.3d 878, 395 N.E.2d 696, 32 Ill.Dec. 466 (5th Dist. 9/25/1979); People v. Winkler, 77 Ill.App.3d 35, 395 N.E.2d 671, 32 Ill.Dec. 441 (5th Dist. 9/14/1979); People v. Rogers, 75 Ill.App.3d 866, 394 N.E.2d 813, 31 Ill.Dec. 611 (5th Dist. 8/31/1979); People v. Kifer, 75 Ill.App.3d 202, 393 N.E.2d 1262, 30 Ill.Dec. 915 (5th Dist. 8/14/1979); People v. Edwards, 75 Ill.App.3d 242, 394 N.E.2d 43, 31 Ill.Dec. 127 (5th Dist. 8/9/1979); People v. Page, 73 Ill.App.3d 796, 392 N.E.2d 411, 29 Ill.Dec. 854 (5th Dist. 7/13/1979); People v. Ivery, 72 Ill.App.3d 158, 390 N.E.2d 608, 28 Ill.Dec. 441(5th Dist. 5/23/1979); People v. Stack, 71 Ill.App.3d 356, 389 N.E.2d 659, 27 Ill.Dec. 595 (5th Dist. 8/31/1979); People v. Sylvester, 71 Ill.App.3d 130, 389 N.E.2d 601, 27 Ill.Dec. 537 (5th Dist. 5/1/1979); People v. Kluck, 70 Ill.App.3d 582, 388 N.E.2d 918, 26 Ill.Dec. 917 (5th Dist. 3/28/1979); People v. Knippenberg, 70 Ill.App.3d 496, 388 N.E.2d 806, 26 Ill.Dec. 805(5th Dist. 3/15/1979); People v. Gramlich, 69 Ill.App.3d 23, 386 N.E.2d 1171, 25 Ill.Dec. 507 (5th Dist. 3/13/1979); People v. Cagle, 68 Ill.App.3d 72, 385 N.E.2d 838, 24 Ill.Dec. 697 (5th Dist. 1/24/1979); In Interest of Foster, 66 Ill.App.3d 193, 383 N.E.2d 755, 22 Ill.Dec. 947 (5th Dist. 11/28/1978); People v. Willis, 64 Ill.App.3d 737, 381 N.E.2d 799, 21 Ill.Dec. 472 (5th Dist. 10/6/1978).

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Charitable and Community Activities

Elder, Presbyterian Church. Active in charitable organizations involving people with disabilities, and early childhood. Former Board Member and President of the Board of Directors, Illinois Easter Seal Society. Former Board Member and President of the Board of Directors, Easter Seal Society of Southwestern Illinois. Board Member and Former President of the Board of Directors, Alton Day Care and Learning Center.

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401 Market Street, P.O. Box 130, Alton, IL 62002