Stites & Harbison, PLLC

Stephen Price is co-chair of the firm's Employment Law Service Group. He also is an active member of the Business Litigation, Intellectual Property & Technology and Class Action service groups. His practice focuses on complex and commercial litigation, employment law, and intellectual property litigation.  Stephen is listed in the Nashville Business Journal's Best of the Bar for 2010.

Stephen also counsels employers in all aspects of employee relations, including planning reductions in force, advising on employee terminations, preparing employee handbooks and policies, drafting employment, non-compete and confidentiality agreements, litigating non-compete and trade secret disputes and defending against employment discrimination claims.

Recent Assignments

• Jury trial verdict over $5 million for willful patent infringement for iLight Technologies (M.D. Tenn., No. 2:06-0025)
• Summary judgment dismissing employment age discrimination claim for Novartis Animal Health (2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94417)
• Dismissal of civil rights conspiracy claim for Jack Daniel Distillery (2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43480)
• Opinion by Tennessee Supreme Court upholding direct constitutional challenge of state tax statute for Colonial Pipeline (263 S.W.3d 827)
• Summary judgment dismissing employee's retaliation claim for Lear Siegler (2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 28004)
• Dismissal of $10 million piercing-of-corporate-veil claim for Prime Hospitality (462 F.3d 666)
• Defense trial verdict in trade-dress infringement action for Pacific Bay (461 F.3d 675)
• Summary judgment dismissing medical leave and employment disability discrimination claim for Eckerd Corp. (2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 15240)
• Summary judgment dismissing retaliatory discharge claim for Lincare (M.D. Tenn., No. 2:05-0122)
• Denial of certification of financial consumer class action for Ocwen (M.D. Tenn., No. 3:00-1176)

Recent Publications and Speaking Engagements 

• "Clearing up Confusion About Non-Competes," Nashville Chamber of Commerce's HR Notes, May 4, 2010
• "Double-checking on Family Medical Leave Eligibility," Stites & Harbison Client Alerts, August 20, 2009
• "Tips for Handling Workforce Reductions in Tough Economic Times," Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, HR Notes, July 2009
• "Higher Burden of Proof for Federal Age Discrimination Claims?," Stites & Harbison Client Alerts, June 2009
• "Employment Retaliation," Music City Employment Institute, Moderator & Speaker, Lorman Education Services, May 2006
• "Although Limited in Scope, the ADA Remains Alive and Well," Nashville Business Journal, April 2006
• "Well Tailored Non-Competes Still Have a Place in Tennessee," Nashville Business Journal, September 2005

Before Stites & Harbison

Stephen is a former law clerk for the Honorable Will Garwood of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

More Than Stites & Harbison

Stephen, whose youngest daughter has type 1 diabetes, was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Middle Tennessee Branch. He recently concluded a 4-year stint on the Board of Directors of the Sequoia Swim and Tennis Club in Nashville where he also served as past President of the Club. Stephen sings in his church choir at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Nashville where he also was a deacon for four years. He is an adult leader for his son's boy scout troop, and recently joined a group of scouts and adults from the troop on a 2-week high adventure trip to Alaska.

Besides Stites & Harbison

When he's not busy at work or having fun with his family, Stephen is an avid tennis player. He also enjoys hiking, playing basketball, and cycling with his wife.