February 4, 2009

Profile of Steven W. Hansen

steve hansen
I graduated from Brigham Young University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree and my law degree (Juris Doctor; J.D.) from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1986. Since 1986 I have practiced in many of the areas outlined in the firm profile at both national and small firms. I founded this firm in 1994. Many of the practice areas outlined in the firm profile overlap and I have gained experience in some areas of the law because of the unusual fact patterns of particular cases. Most of the practice areas are complimentary. I have learned that many cases require a knowledge of more than one practice area to be properly defended.

I am a cycling enthusiast and have covered most of the US (and about 15 foreign countries) on a bicycle as well as followed the routes of the Tour de France (1991, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006), Giro d'Italia (1992, 1999, 2002), Tour de Suisse (1993 and 2004) and Tour Du Pont (1994, 1995) by bicycle. Some of my bike trips can be seen here. I complete all of my own repairs and maintain all my own bicycles. I am a former licensed USCF bicycle racer, have finished over 200 sanctioned road, mountain and biathlon race events and ridden over 200,000 miles since 1986. I attend most of the major industry trade shows (since 1989) such as Interbike, Eurobike and the Taipei International Cycle Show, as well as keep current with industry and consumer publications covering cycling. I have toured many factories and production facilities in China and Taiwan on behalf of clients and on litigation matters.

I was instrumental in setting up the first bicycle standards activity group at ASTM (F08.x) in about 1995. This ASTM subcommittee is still active and now participates in ISO standards activity (i.e ISO 4210) thru ASTM F08.96. I was also one of the primary drafters of the Bicycle Buyers Checklist in 1991-1992. I also worked with Lee Iaccoca (car manufacturer Icon) on his initial foray into the ebike market in 2003.

BAR MEMBERSHIPS

Member, California State Bar, 1986 to Present.

Admitted, United States District Court for the Central District, 1986 to present.

Admitted, United States District Court for the Southern District, 1991 to present.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Member, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Product Liability Committee and Manufacturer's Risk Prevention Specialized Litigation Group, 1998-1999.

Member, Membership Committee, Bicycle Product Suppliers Association (BPSA) (formerly the Bicycle Wholesale Distributors Association, "BWDA" and currently merged with "People for Bikes") 2010 to 2011

Founding Legal Advisor to the California Electric Bicycle Association (CalEBA), an association advocating for equal treatment for electric bicycle riders on off-road paths.

Secretary, The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F08.10 Subcommittee on Bicycles (within the F08 Committee on Sports Equipment and Facilities) 1996 to 2004; member 1996 to present.

Secretary, The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F08.96 Subcommittee comprising the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO TC (Technical Committee) 149/SC1 on Cycles 1996 to 2004; member 1996 to present.

Legal Advisor to the BSE Board (Bicycle Standards of Excellence), which tests bicycle retail employees for assembly competence, 1999-2001. (currently merged into U of Q Institute; the leading trade school for bicycle mechanics.)

Founding Legal Advisor to the U.S. Electric Bicycle and Scooter Association, an association intended to advance and standardize electric bicycles and scooters. 1999-2000. (the predecessor to "LEVA" Light Electric Vehicle Association)

Approved Panel Counsel, Independent Cities Risk Management Authority (ICRMA), 1994 to present.

OTHER AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS / ADVOCACY / INDUSTRY SUPPORT

Member, United States Cycling Federation (now USA Cycling), Category 4 road racing; 1997 to 2003.

President, Paramount Racing, United States Cycling Federation Club license #274, Orange County California; a 75 member race team part of a 400 member recreational club; 1998 through 2001. (now merged into Orange County Wheelmen)

Member, California Bicycle Racing, (organization which sanctions bicycle racing) Category 4 road racing; 2003 to 2012

Member, League of American Bicyclists, Legal Network, 2006 to current.

Member, San Gabriel River Master Plan Stakeholder Committee, Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Works, personally responsible for over $1 million dollars of completed and planned bike path improvements along the San Gabriel River Bicycle Path, 2002 to current.

PRESENTATIONS

Guest Speaker, "Recreational Pre-Injury Releases" addressing the Be-Pro Conference sponsored by Cycle California Magazine and the Bicycle Ride Directors Association of America (BRDAA), San Jose, California January 2014

Panel Speaker / Moderator, “Product Standards and Recalls”, Bicycle Business Leadership Conference, BPSA Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, January 2003

Panel Speaker, "Product Liability Litigation Symposium", Bicycle Industry Organization (BIO) Annual Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada, September 1994 (BIO was a competing trade show organization to Interbike which has all been taken over by the Outdoor Retailer show)

Panel Speaker, "Product Liability Prevention Programs and Efforts", addressing the Defense Research Institute (DRI) Product Liability Committee and Manufacturer's Risk Prevention Specialized Litigation Group yearly meeting, (now referred to as: "Recreational Products Specialized Litigation Group") New Orleans, Louisiana, February 1998

Featured Speaker, "Product Liability Basics for the Bicycle Retailer", CABDA World Cycling Expo, Rosemont Convention Center, Chicago, Illinois, October 30 - November 1, 1998 (Chicago Area Bicycle Dealers Association "CABDA")

Featured Speaker, "Employment Law Basics for the Bicycle Retailer", CABDA World Cycling Expo, Rosemont Convention Center, Chicago, Illinois, October 30 - November 1, 1998

Guest Speaker, "Risk Management", addressing the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA), Board Meeting, Irvine, California, July 1993

Guest Speaker, "Standards Development", addressing the International In-Line Skating Association (IISA), Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) annual meeting, Palm Beach, Florida, October 1995

Invitee, "Indy Dealer Expo Show" Largest Motorcycle Trade Show in the USA, Indianapolis, IN, February 2006. (now the AIM Expo)

Attendee, European Union type-approval legislation for electric bikes (e-bikes), scooters, mopeds and motorcycles; organizational meeting, sponsored by Light Electric Vehicle Association (LEVA) and European Twowheel Retailers' Association (ETRA), held at Eurobike, Sept. 5, 2009 and Interbike Sept. 25, 2009.

Attendee, "CPSIA Legislative Update", Bicycle Leadership Conference "BLC" , Monterey California, April 15-17, 2009

Attendee, Bicycle Leadership Conference "BLC" , Monterey California, April 14-15, 2010

Attendee, "Seminar on the Role of Standards in Sports Litigation", ASTM F.08 Committee on Sports Equipment and Facilities , Denver Colorado, May 15-16, 1995

Invitee, AIMExpo Powersports Tradeshow, discussing the latest developments in regulations and product liability litigation, Las Vegas, February 6-8, 2024.


PUBLICATIONS

Columnist, "A Legal Viewpoint", Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, 1994 to 2003; 2013 to current. Selected older articles and more recent articles.

Article, "Opinion: Issue Of Ebikes On Federal Lands Far From Over" reprinted with permission from cyclevolta.com April 2020

Article, "The Consumer Product Safety Database: Why You Should Care" Reprinted with permission from the June/July 2011 edition of Bicycle Dealer Magazine

Editor, Product Liability Defense Newsletter, a topical newsletter distributed electronically to over 2000 product manufacturers, distributors and retailers, 1997 to present.

Editor, Insurance Industry Newsletter, a topical newsletter distributed electronically to over 300 insurance brokers, insurance underwriters, claims adjusters and in house counsel, 1999 to present.

Article, "Business Basics: Limiting Suspension Liability", Off-Road Retailer Magazine, March/April 2005.

Article, "The Law and Bike Rentals: What you can do to help protect yourself from legal liability", Outspokin', official publication of the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA), June 1995.

Article, "Legal Analysis: Trademark issues proliferate in the Internet Age" Light Electric Vehicle Assoc. (LEVA) Newsletter (The trade association for the worldwide light electric vehicle industry) December 2013.

Feature Article, "Using Standards in Defending Product Liability Cases", ASTM Standardization News, February 1996

Contributing Author, “Electric Bikes Worldwide Reports” appearing in the 7th, 8th and 9th (2009) editions; published by Electric Bikes Worldwide Report by Frank E. Jamerson PhD.

Article, "Covering Your Assets", Mountain Bike Magazine, October 1996 page 124-125 and December 1996 page 132-133.

Quoted, "Reducing Rental Liability", Inline Retailer and Industry News, June 1996

Quoted, "UL Inspected", Home Theater Magazine, Feature Article, January 1998

Quoted, "The Dark of Heartness", Mountain Bike Magazine, Feature Article profiling product liability suits in the bicycle industry, September 1998

Quoted, "Risky Business: Liability Is Serious Threat To Mountain Bike Parks", Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, August 1, 2006.
   

PODCASTS

Guest on The Laidback Bike Report discussing State and Federal law as it pertains to e bikes and human powered bikes, December 5, 2021. Full version of interview and shortened version with all presenters

Guest on The Laidback Bike Report Topic: "E-Assist Riding-What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" January 8, 2023. Full version of interview and shortened version

SEMINARS

DOT/NHTSA Recall Management Portal training, US Department of Transportation / National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, July 2014; dealt with issues regarding the 2014-15 on line only recall submissions process.

Litigating a Failure to Warn Claim in Product Liability Cases, March 2018, Hosted by the TASA Group Inc. and Goldhaber Research Assoc. LLC


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