Phillip Stanfield

Partner

Arizona

   

pstanfield@jshfirm.com
TEL: 602.263.1745
FAX: 602.200.7877
Legal Assistant: Rebecca Camelio
602.263.7355
rcamelio@jshfirm.com

An accomplished trial attorney, Phil Stanfield focuses his practice on transportation defense, professional liability, product liability, and defending insureds covered by general liability policies. Phil is a member of the firm’s Rapid Response Team. Prior to pursuing a law degree, Phil worked as a chemical engineer for four years. 

In 2009, Phil was inducted as a Fellow by the American College of Trial Lawyers, an organization widely considered to be the premier professional trial organization in America. He is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an organization that selects is members based on trial skills and ethics and is dedicated to the preservation and protection of the right to jury trial. 

  • Obtained judgment in favor of an Arizona-based professional liability corporation, when Plaintiff filed for a new trial but failed to meet his burden of proof to show prejudicial error under any of Rule 59’s exclusive grounds for a new trial. In the original case, the jury reached a verdict that apportioned zero fault for our client, a company that provided private security for a Kingman-area bar.
  • Represented a motor carrier against allegations of wrongful death in a 6-day jury trial. Plaintiff, the wife of the Decedent, brought a wrongful death suit against our client, alleging that the Defendant, a truck driver for the motor carrier, failed to used reasonable force in repelling Decedent’s attack. Decedent, who had a .17 blood alcohol level, pursued the Defendant 26 miles down Beeline Highway. Upon catching Defendant, the Decedent attacked the Defendant, who then shot Defendant. The Defense argued comparative fault of Decedent. After two hours of deliberation, the jury found the Decedent to be 98% at fault and the Defendant to be 2% at fault.
  • Obtained unanimous jury verdict in favor of a petroleum transportation provider in a 7-day trial. The Plaintiff, a 22-year old male truck driver, was a passenger in a pickup truck operated by his mother traveling on I-40 west of Winslow. Prior to the accident, the Defendant, who was operating an 18-wheel tractor-trailer, “cut-off” Plaintiff’s vehicle, as the freeway narrowed for construction. Plaintiff’s mother “let the truck driver have it” over the CB radio. After passing the construction zone, the Defendant moved into the fast lane of travel in an attempt to pass a slow moving RV. At the same time, as Plaintiff’s mother attempted to pass the slower moving tractor-trailer, Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant sped up and collided with the rear of the Plaintiff’s vehicle. The impact caused the mother to lose control of the vehicle, which rolled several times into the median. Plaintiff and his mother both suffered various severe injuries, resulting in multiple surgeries and future complications. Plaintiff made pre-trial demand of $1 million. Defense refused to make an offer and after two hours of deliberation, the jury found for the defense.
  • Represented a national transportation corporation and its driver in a $10-million personal injury matter involving a controlled intersection. Plaintiff, a Buckeye city police officer, alleged that while responding to a call requesting police assistance, in a fully marked patrol car, the Defendant, operating a tractor-trailer, failed to stop for a stop sign, causing the Plaintiff’s cruiser to become entangled in the Defendant’s truck. Defendants admitted negligence but argued damages. Plaintiff alleged that in addition to several severe head and facial injuries, he is unable to perform his occupational duties and will have difficulty maintaining steady employment due to his cognitive and emotional impairments. Plaintiff made a pretrial demand of $5 million. During closing arguments, Plaintiff’s counsel asked jury to award Plaintiff more than $10 million. Defense offered and suggested $2 million, based on expert testimony. After a 6-day trial, the jury deliberated for more than four hours, and awarded Plaintiff an amount commensurate to the Defense’s suggestion, just below $3 million.
  • Obtained unanimous jury verdict in favor of defense in a wrongful death matter. The Decedent, an unemployed male, who was traveling on I-10 as a dust storm caused zero visibility to occur, was traveling at 45-miles per hour and rear-ended the vehicle in front of him. The Decedent’s father, who was driving immediately behind his son, was operating a tractor without a trailer, traveling between 45- to 55-miles per hour, when he rear-ended his son (the Decedent’s) vehicle. Our client, a full-service expedited carrier, and its driver, the Defendant, was driving behind the father and collided into the Decedent’s father after the father rear-ended his son. The Decedent’s family brought suit for his wrongful death, alleging that the Defendant’s driver negligently rear-ended Decedent’s father’s vehicle, propelling it into the Decedent’s vehicle, causing Decedent’s fatal injury. The Defense denied liability and, with expert testimony, argued that the Decedent suffered his fatal injury when he was rear-ended by his father. Plaintiffs made pretrial demand on $1 million. The Defense offered $100,000 and after a 5-day trial, the jury returned a unanimous defense verdict.
  • Obtained defense verdict in a $20-million wrongful death case on behalf of a world-wide transportation and logistics company. As the Decedent was traveling on I-10 after 8 p.m., her vehicle developed a flat tire and came to a stop in the number three travel lane. The Decedent’s family brought suit against our client, claiming that because the Defendant, a truck driver operating a loaded tractor-trailer, failed to recognize the hazard created by the Decedent’s vehicle and take appropriate evasive action, the Defendant negligently rear-ended Decedent’s vehicle. Denying liability, the Defense argued that the Decedent created a sudden emergency and the Defendant acted reasonably. Additionally, the Decedent was negligent when she stopped her vehicle in a travel lane and failed to engage her hazard lights. The Defense also argued that the Decedent’s husband was negligent in the maintenance of his wife’s vehicle, as he placed an inappropriate snow tire, which had a bulge, on the vehicle. Plaintiffs made pretrial demand of $10 million and suggested the jury award $20 million during closing arguments. The Defense offered $2 million. After a 4-day trial, the jury deliberated for approximately three hours before returning a defense verdict. Aguilar v. Werner Enterprises, Inc., October 2013.

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Associate
  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow 
  • USLAW, Board of Directors, 2015-2016; Transportation Group Chair, 2009-2010 
  • State Bar of Arizona, Member 
  • Trucking Industry Defense Association, Member 
  • American Trucking Association, Member 
  • Arizona Trucking Association, Member 
  • Defense Research Institute, Member 

Professional Recognition & Awards

  • Southwest Super Lawyers, 2015-2023
  • Best Lawyers in America®, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2020-2024; Insurance Law, 2023-2024; Litigation – Insurance, 2024; Transportation Law, 2024
  • Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year,” Product Liability Litigation – Defendants in Arizona, 2022
  • AV® Preeminent™ Rated on Martindale Hubbell 

Presentations & Publications

Phil frequently presents on a variety of issues affecting the transportation industry and in the areas of professional liability and product liability. 

Education

Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1987
Arizona Law Review, Member and Articles Editor

University of Arizona, B.S., Chemical Engineering, 1982

Admissions

Arizona, 1987
U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit