First Admitted: 1988, Oklahoma

Professional Webpage: https://www.stipeinjurylaw.com/about-us/james-belote-esq-/

Bar/Professional Activity:

Vice-President, Oklahoma Association for Justice, 2007-2008
Executive Committee, Oklahoma Association for Justice, 2011
U.S. District Court for the Eastern Districts of Oklahoma
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
American Association for Justice
All Oklahoma State Courts
OBA Administration of Justice Task Force, 2009
Texas Bar Association, 1990
U.S. District Court for the Western Districts of Oklahoma
Executive Committee, Oklahoma County Bar Association, 2004-2010, 2012-2015
President, Oklahoma Association for Justice, 2009
Executive Committee, Oklahoma Association for Justice, 2004-2010
Oklahoma Bar Association, 1988
U.S. District Court for the Northern Districts of Oklahoma
Oklahoma County Bar Association
President elect, OAJ, 2008-2009

Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):

Trucking Accident Verdict of 2.5MWhen KLLM semi-tractor trailer collision victim Latrina McNeil was offered a sum to settle her case, we knew we couldn’t accept such a low amount. After helping Latrina pursue compensation in court, a unanimous jury awarded her $2.5 million in late January. The disparity between what Latrina was offered to settle her case at mediation and what she ultimately won demonstrates why plaintiffs must carefully consider settlement offers. Had Latrina taken the offer from KLLM to settle, she would have walked away with nine times less in compensation than what she ultimately won at trial. The $2.5 million Latrina won will help her afford her medical treatment from the accident, which includes two neck surgeries. KLLM admitted liability for the accident, which occurred when the driver of one of the company’s semi-tractor trailers crashed into a concrete wall. Latrina was a co-driver of the vehicle and sleeping in the vehicle’s sleeping berth at the time of the accident. Although KLLM was willing to admit fault for the accident, the compensation they offered our client at mediation was unacceptable. We encourage all accident victims to seek legal counsel they trust to help them achieve a better settlement or jury award. If you were injured in an accident and need legal representation, reach out to us at The Law Offices of Stipe & Belote for more information., 2022
In Cox v Southwestern Bell Telephone (SWBT), CJ-11-145. The Jury awarded Ms. Cox $836,000 in damages, which is more than three times the Defendant's best offer
$5.5 million - Trucking Accident, Wrongful Death
$2.8 Million - Defective Product, permanent injuries
$6.025 Million - Trucking Accident, Wrongful Death
$1.020 million - Products Liability, door opening during rollover
$9 million - Trucking Accident, permanent injuries
$2.5 million - Products Liability, defective medical devices
$2.2 Million - Defective Product, Explosion
$1.75 million - Insurance Bad Faith, failure to pay insurance benefits
Opitz, Inc., sued LeMars Insurance Company for breach of contract, bad faith and for punitive damages. The jury awarded Opitz, Inc., $415,000 in actual damages on the breach of contact and bad faith claim and $225,000 in punitive damages. The Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals affirmed the punitive damage award on May 7, 2013
In Willis v. Loomis Armored US LLC ( CJ-2015-142), the Jury awarded Ms. Willis $1,125,000 in damages. Loomis filed an offer to confess judgment before trial in the amount of $200,000. The verdict of $1,125,000 included economic damages of $125,000 and non-economic damages of $1,000,000. The Jury and the Judge made a finding of gross negligence, so the cap on non-economic damages was lifted., 2018
$4.1 million - Insurance Bad Faith - failure to pay insurance benefits
In excess of $10 million - Class Action - Insurance Bad Faith, failure to pay interest benefits
$3.0 million - Medical Malpractice, Failure to Diagnose Fracture
$1.9 million - Premises Liability, failure to properly maintain work place
$5.5 million - Trucking Accident, Wrongful Death
$1.170 million - Trucking Accident

Honors/Awards:

Oklahoma Super Lawyer 2010
Oklahoma Super Lawyer 2013
AV rated by Martindale Hubble
Oklahoma Super Lawyer, 2017
Oklahoma Super Lawyer 2011
Oklahoma Super Lawyer 2014
National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Oklahoma Lawyers
Oklahoma Super Lawyer, 2018
Oklahoma Super Lawyer 2009
Oklahoma Super Lawyer 2012
Oklahoma Super Lawyer 2015
Oklahoma Super Lawyer 2016

Educational Background:

University of Oklahoma, B.B.A. in Finance, 1985

James A. Belote

James A. Belote

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