Steven M. Campora

Steve began his career defending large corporations in personal injury and construction cases. However, for the last 18 years, he has had the honor and privilege of representing injured clients or heirs in personal injury and wrongful death cases arising from auto, trucking, and construction accidents, as well as product failures. 

Steven Campora came to the firm as an associate in July of 2002. In December of 2008, Mr. Campora became a partner, and in January of 2012, became our latest name partner, making our firm Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora, LLP.

A Dedicated Work Ethic from the Start

Steve grew up in the foothills of California and was a high school and college football player. He attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento, and the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, where he graduated with honors. He credits his success in law to the lessons his parents taught him when he was young. "My dad had been a professional football player and was a college football coach. My mom was a librarian. Competing, working hard and studying hard were a given in my home when I was growing up. I think those traits translate well to the practice of law and benefit my clients," Steve has told us.

A Record of Success

For 10 years, Steve has been AV-Preeminent® rated,* the highest rating, through Martindale-Hubbell®. In 2010 he was named Advocate of the Year along with his partner Robert Buccola for their work on behalf of injury victims. Steve has consistently been recognized by Sacramento Magazine as a "Top Attorney" in Sacramento and has been selected for inclusion in California Super Lawyers® Top 100 Lawyers in Northern California in each of the last six years.

In 2010 Steve was a finalist for the Consumer Attorneys of California’s Trial Lawyer of the Year, where he was recognized as the runner-up.

Commitment to Clients, Small and Large

Steve abides by his commitment to take on any opponent, be they a government entity or a big corporation. He does not back down from a fight, but puts in the work to pull through for his clients to seek justice on their behalf.

In 2009, Steve and Robert Buccola, on behalf of their clients, required Simplex Grinnell to change its business practice regarding the impairment of life safety systems. This suit arose from the disconnecting of a fire alarm system for 70 days. The terms of this settlement will help to minimize the chance that a wrongful death might occur in the future. Steve said:

"Our first job is to do our best to make sure our clients receive full compensation for their injuries or loss, but it is also our job to do our best to protect people from becoming the future victims of unsafe conduct or practices. I do not know of another firm whose clients have, as part of a settlement, required a defendant to change its behavior.”

Steve also worked with Catia Saraiva to represent the Botell Family in an action arising from the death of Tommy Botell, age 9, and injury to his sister, Katrina, age 13, at Lassen Volcanic National Park. In Botell v. United States. The government denied liability for the death and injuries and refused to compensate the family for their loss. The conduct of the United States, specifically park management, resulted in the United States being sanctioned for destroying evidence. Steve and Catia were able to establish that the park superintendent had not complied with mandatory park policies, and ultimately the court struck the defense of the United States and ruled that negligence on the part of the United States was the cause of the death of Tommy and injury to his sister, Katrina. The case settled on the eve of trial for a substantial amount.

Steve represented victims of the San Bruno/PG&E Camp Fire tragedy that occurred in September 2010. Eight people died in the blast, and hundreds of others were injured and lost their homes. More than 200 lawsuits were filed, and Steve was selected as a lead counsel for the plaintiffs. Those cases resulted not only in recovery for his clients, but also in changes to the way in which PG&E manages its gas transmission pipelines. For his work on behalf of the San Bruno injury victims, the California Consumer Attorneys of California recognized Steve as the Consumer Attorney of the Year in 2013.

Steve was also selected as a lead counsel for litigation resulting from the Butte Fire in Calaveras County, and his clients have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for losses they sustained.

Areas Of Practice

• Personal Injury Litigation
• Wrongful death
• Construction accidents
• Product liability
• Motor vehicle accidents

Honors and Awards

• Selected to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list, 2024
• Top 100 Lawyers in Northern California - SuperLawyers 2014-2020
• Consumer Attorneys of California, Consumer Attorney of the Year 2013
• Consumer Attorneys of California, Finalist for Consumer Attorney of the Year 2010
• Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association, Advocate of the Year, 2010
• Super Lawyers, Top Attorneys in Northern California 2010 - 2020
• Martindale Hubble, Peer Review Rated: AV® Preeminent
• Sacramento Magazine, Top Attorneys in Sacramento 2010 - 2020
• Professional Associations and Memberships
• Consumer Attorneys of California, Member
• Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association, Member
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member
• Sacramento County Bar Association, Member
• Placer County Bar Association, Member
• Attorneys Information Exchange Group, Member
• American Board of Trial Advocates, Member

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.