As a student at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis, Stephen M. Wagner was named co-valedictorian in 1987. Mr. Wagner earned his B.A. in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of Notre Dame in 1991 and his J.D. from Indiana University School of Law – Bloomington in 1994, both with honors. Before joining the Department of Justice, Mr. Wagner attended the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. After being accepted into the Honors Program, he worked as a staff counsel for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Philadelphia from 1994 to 1995. For the past 20 years, Mr. Wagner has practiced exclusively in plaintiff's injury, including wrongful death, civil rights violations, sexual abuse, product liability, gas explosion and fire cases, construction accidents, and mass torts. As early as 1996, Mr. Wagner decided to return to his hometown and join the esteemed Indianapolis law firm of Riley Bennett & Egloff. When Jason R. Reese joined Mr. Wagner in June 2000, they formed a firm that represents injury victims throughout Indiana and the United States. He has been named an "Indiana Super Lawyer" for the past fifteen years, an honor bestowed upon the state's top 5% of attorneys by the Indianapolis Monthly and Super Lawyer magazines. "Top 50 Personal Injury Attorneys in Indiana" were awarded to him from 2018 to 2021 by Super Lawyer. In 2006, the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association recognized Mr. Wagner as the "Indiana Trial Lawyer of the Year." As a "Distinguished Fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation," Mr. Wagner has been recognized for his significant contribution to the legal profession and leadership within the community. A member of the Indy Trial Lawyers Association Board of Directors. As a frequent speaker and writer about the intersection of workers' compensation and civil litigation, Mr. Wagner has contributed to numerous national and local legal publications, including the American Association for Justice's Trial magazine (Sept. 2011, Cutting Back the Worker's Compensation Lien) and Indiana Trial Lawyers Association's Verdict magazine (June 2008, Preserving the Worker's Compensation Lien). Cases that Mr. Wagner has tried to a jury in Indiana and across the country include auto and truck accident cases, medical malpractice cases, civil rights cases, and premises liability cases, and he has recovered for clients multiple seven-figure and several eight-figure sums. Mr. Wagner delights in representing the "little guy" and helping David defeat Goliath in high-profile legal cases involving police brutality, daycare negligence, and fraternity hazing. With his wife Courtenay, Mr. Wagner has four kids. When he's not working, he likes to help out at his church, play blues harmonica, act in community theatre, grill, and support the Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Irish.