About Stephanie Black
Stephanie A. Black is a trial attorney at Gray Ritter Graham, where she focuses her practice on representing individuals injured in catastrophic injuries, including FELA and rail-related cases. Known for her ability to turn challenging cases into successful outcomes, Stephanie brings both strategic insight and a deep commitment to every client she represents.
With family ties to the railroad industry and inspired by her father’s hard work as a union officer and maintenance worker at a factory in Highland, IL, Stephanie developed an early passion for justice. This foundation fueled her drive to excel academically and professionally. She graduated summa cum laude from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO, in 2008, where she was honored as a finalist for Woman of the Year. Stephanie went on to earn her law degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law, where she served as President of the Trial Team and was recognized with the Best Advocate Award at a trial competition in Chicago.
Stephanie launched her legal career as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Madison County, IL, where she prosecuted a wide range of criminal cases and earned recognition as “Rookie of the Year” in 2012. Stephanie later honed her skills at prominent defense and plaintiffs’ firms before dedicating her practice to representing plaintiffs in railroad-related and catastrophic injury cases.
Before joining GRG, Stephanie was instrumental in securing substantial victories for clients in complex FELA cases. In June 2023, she was part of the trial team that achieved an $18.75 million verdict in Carroll County, IL, for a railroad switchman who suffered a leg amputation due to unsafe work practices. Just months earlier, in October 2022, Stephanie served as second chair at trial in Cook County, IL, helping secure an $864,500 verdict for a locomotive engineer injured at a hazardous crew change point. Additionally, she was an integral member of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in the litigation following the June 2022 Amtrak passenger train collision at a grade crossing in Mendon, MO, which resulted in 150 injuries and four fatalities.
Stephanie’s work in these cases reflects her tenacity, sharp judgment, and tireless advocacy for her clients. Known for her thorough approach, she leaves no stone unturned. Driven by a passion for fighting for the underdog, Stephanie takes pride in leveling the playing field, bringing determination and heart to every case she takes on.
Notable Results
Representative Matters
$18.75 Million Verdict – Carroll County, IL, June 2023: As part of a trial team led by a partner at her former firm, Stephanie helped achieve this $18.75 million verdict (reduced from $25 million) for a railroad worker who suffered a below-the-knee amputation due to unsafe practices. This case exposed the dangers of a previously banned policy requiring workers to board moving trains, which was reintroduced to speed production. The verdict, upheld despite the railroad’s post-trial motions, held the company accountable for the catastrophic impact of this hazardous practice.
$864,500 Verdict – Cook County, IL, October 2022: Stephanie served as second chair at trial, playing a key role in securing a $864,500 verdict (reduced from $1.33 million) for a railroad employee injured at hazardous crew change point near Chicago. This result underscored the dangers of unsafe working conditions and ranks among the largest verdicts for an in-service FELA case.
Professional Accolades
• Missouri Lawyers Weekly: “Big wins from beyond Missouri courts” (2024)
• Chicago Daily Law Bulletin: “Worker injured in rail yard awarded record $18.7M” (2023)
• National Trial Lawyers Association Top 40 Under 40
• Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism Spotlight (2018)
• Southern Illinois University School of Law:
o Texas Young Lawyers Trial Competition, Best Advocate
o Moot Court Trial Team, Chief Judge/President
o Southern Illinois University Law Journal, Articles Editor
o Order of Barristers
o Joan Dawley & John A. Maher Scholarship Endowment
Professional Associations
Professional
• Women Lawyers' Association of Greater St. Louis, President (2024-2025)
• Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Board of Governors
• American Association for Justice, Railroad Law Section Member
• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
• Illinois State Bar Association, Transportation Section Member and Article Contributor (“Getting Railroads Back on Track: Bi-Partisan Legislation Aims to Impose Rail Safety Measures After Slew of Hazmat Derailments,” April 2023, ISBA Newsletter)
• Lawyers’ Association of St. Louis
• Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Trial Section and Women in the Legal Profession (WILP) Section Member
• St. Louis County Bar Association
• Madison County Bar Association
Published Works
News
Bar Admissions & Education
Education
Southern Illinois University School of Law, Carbondale, IL, J.D. 2012
Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO, B.A., summa cum laude, 2008
Admissions
- Illinois, 2012
- Missouri, 2018
- Southern District of Illinois, 2018
Publications and Presentations
Stephanie is an active speaker on litigation best practices and FELA and railroad-related law. She has presented at conferences and workshops, focusing on advocacy, trial skills, and safety regulations in high-risk industries.
Author, “Getting Railroads Back on Track: Bi-Partisan Legislation Aims to Impose Rail Safety Measures After Slew of Hazmat Derailments,” April 2023, ISBA Newsletter
Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater St. Louis, Legislative Luncheon Moderator, 2022-present
CLE Presenter, “Finding the Document in a Paperstack,” St. Louis Paralegal Association, July 2023