Stephen John Estey

Stephen J. Estey, founding partner of Estey & Bomberger, LLP,  considers personal injury law to be his true calling and is always enthusiastic when it comes to helping his clients obtain justice. Stephen’s practice is focused on catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death law, and he personally has had particular success in this arena, having recovered countless multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements.  Estey has extensive legal experience in the negotiation, settlements and litigation of various types of serious injury matters, including car accident claims, truck & big rig accident claims and bus accident claims, insurance contract disputes and insurance bad faith claims. He is committed to providing the highest quality of legal services for clients.

One of Estey's specialties over the last decade or so has been "institutional" child sex abuse cases, meaning the child was in the care of a school, sports club, day care or church at the time they were abused.  "My goal," Estey says, "is to take the blame and shame these survivors are feeling, and redirect it back to those institutions that failed to protect them in the first place."  Estey's first such case, in which he obtained a $30 million verdict, offered his first glimpse into the lifelong effects of childhood sex abuse, and he points out that institutions take note of large verdicts because it affects their bottom line, prompting changes in policies and proceures that keep our children safer in the long run.  

Estey enjoys the challenges of complex cases and the satisfaction of helping victims recover the compensation they deserve.  An advocate of consumers’ rights, Stephen has been involved in several published appellate opinions, Morris v. DeLaTorre (2005) 36 Cal 4th 260 and Cervantes v. United States of America (9th Cir. 2003) 330 F. 3d 1186, both of which have changed laws in favor of consumers. Prior to founding Estey & Bomberger with his partner Mike Bomberger, Stephen worked in the insurance industry – an experience that differentiates him from many other personal injury attorneys and gives him a unique understanding in litigating serious injury claims.

Over the years, Estey has frequently been called upon to speak to the media on various complex litigation issues. He has been awarded numerous professional designations including an AV-Rating by Martindale Hubbell.  He is also an MCLE lecturer for Consumer Attorneys of California. 

Estey is also a popular presenter and guest speaker at organizations including the Color of Child Welfare Conference in Mlwaukee, the East Los Angeles Women's Center, the San Diego International Conference on Child & Famly Maltreatment, and the Victims of Crimes seminars sponsored by the National Center for Victims of Crime.