ABOUT STEVE CRANE JR.

WHY STEVE CRANE?

My team and I are deeply committed and driven to help victims and survivors recover whatever has been taken from them together with recovery for what they have suffered and lost as a result of sexual abuse and assaultive acts by another.

Early in my life, I witnessed pre-teens and teenagers being bullied, hazed, and attacked by other pre-teens and teens. The perpetrators attacked because they could. They had power and dominance, while the victims did not. Their attackers were possibly sadistic perverted or demented. Whatever the reason, these pre-teens and teenagers were attacked, abused, bullied, and hazed. It was wrong.

For each attack, I was outspoken. I stepped in and stopped it. When people were being perversely hazed, I stepped in and stopped it. When people were being exploited, because they were perceived as being weak or the person with power had something to gain, I stepped in and stopped it. When people were emotionally and physically attacked, I stepped in and stopped it. Such attacks and other egregious actions have driven me to step in and protect the victims ever since. From a very early age, a fire has been lit within, driving me to protect and help. As a result, I have always remained vigilant, highly insightful, compassionate, approachable, tolerant, and understanding of the pain endured by others.

I am personally and professionally driven to help victims and survivors of past and present sex abuse, bullying, hazing, and physical assaults to find safety, to recover, and put their lives back together. I strive to be a comforting light to those who have been exploited by someone who thought they could exploit and abuse because they had the power – assuring protection, and safety in addition to winning the financial compensation my clients deserve for their great pain and loss.

STEVE’S DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY SERVICE AND WORTHY CAUSES

I am dedicated to civil service. In 2020, I worked on a pro bono basis more than 178 hours which translates to more than one solid week 24/7. I am a member of the Sex Abuse section of the American Association of Justice. Also, I am a member of the National Association of Public Defense, which confronts systemic issues that marginalize those less fortunate and perpetuate injustice. In 2007, I founded FACTORS – Finding a Cure Through Our Resources, a 501(c)(3). A charity which aids in the discovery of causes, cures, therapies for human diseases, and infirmities and disabilities.

UNDERSTANDING STEVE ON A MORE PERSONAL LEVEL SHEDS LIGHT ON HIS DRIVE TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED ABUSE.

“As a child, I started out with a speech impediment and was diagnosed as hyper-kinetic. Throughout my elementary school years I was relegated to elementary school special education. We were bused in from long distances to the facility that housed the special education program. The “cool” and “normal” kids looked at me and my bus mates as “speds.” Some of bus mates were in wheelchairs and would have to be lowered from the bus. They called me a “beached whale” among other de-humanizing things. Sometime it was worse than just mere words. Sometimes it was physical. My bus mates endured far worse than me. The abuse we endured was wrong. As I gained a voice, I protected them. Eventually, the powers to be decided I was what they termed “normal” and should not be in special education.

High school was a rebirth. I participated in sports and had excellent grades. Yet, my experience with special education taught me so much more. It instilled in me deep empathy and compassion for others. I know first-hand how those who have power can exploit it and harm you. Why do they exploit and harm you? Because they have the power. Because they think they can!

To this day, my experiences in special education have been my motivation to help others who may be bullied, hazed, exploited or abused.”

STEVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING SELECTED TO TRAIN AT TRIAL LAWYERS COLLEGE.

THROUGH THESE UNIQUE TRAINING METHODS STEVE IS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH HIS CLIENTS ON A MUCH DEEPER LEVEL AND TELL THEIR STORY AND THEIR TRUTH.

In 2016, I was 1 of only 55 lawyers selected nationwide to attend Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College in Dubious, Wyoming.

In 1996, the College was founded by Gerry Spence considered by most to be the greatest trial lawyers of all time. Approximately 1,500 attorneys have successfully graduated from the College. Many lawyers apply each year to attend the College. Very few are admitted. Even fewer graduate.

The College utilizes reenactment interviewing (“psycho-dramatic”) techniques and methods. In law school, students are taught the Socratic Method. This is what most people cannot stand when they speak to a lawyer because the lawyer asks so many monotonous questions. Questions are important, yet at some point, the client’s story is lost upon the lawyer.

The College teaches lawyers how to facilitate emotional insight into a client’s case. It teaches a method that favors feeling over thought, emotion over intellect, intuition over-analysis. It is the exact opposite of what is taught in law school.

At the College, I learned about applying psycho-dramatic methods such as role-reversal, doubling, and scene-setting to improve my understanding and advocacy of my clients’ cases. In implementing different aspects of psycho-dramatic techniques, the College equipped me in being better positioned to discover my clients’ stories.

The College taught me how to tell my clients’ stories passionately and succinctly. In the end, the essence of the trial is storytelling. Trial advocacy teachers stress the importance of the theme. The Socratic Method, which all lawyers learn in law school, only teaches how to elicit what happened to the client. Yet, good storytelling is more than what happened. To be a good trial lawyer, you must be a good storyteller.

The College equipped me with techniques and methods for storytelling and a better way of telling a story. At the same time, I learned to understand myself on a deeper level. By understanding myself, I am better able to understand the human condition and my clients’ experiences. I am better able to understand and extract real-life trauma. Different people see things differently. Oftentimes, others see something I do not. The College’s methods and techniques assist in learning one’s blind spots. It opens the door to asking questions I would not even think to ask. It has helped me get to know my clients on a much deeper level by helping me walk in my clients’ shoes because in the end, it is their story and their truth.

Steve Crane is recognized and accorded the honor of being one of Michigan’s BEST LAWYERS

Only a few attorneys from each state are selected to the Best Lawyers designation for any given year. The multi-factor selection process includes independent research, peer nominations, and evaluations, as well as professional achievement in legal practice.

LICENSURES AND COLLABORATIONS

Steve is licensed in Michigan and Texas. He will collaborate, consult and work with local counsel, representing injured persons and businesses in civil matters and defending those whose liberty is in jeopardy in criminal cases throughout the United States. He is able to practice throughout the United States on a collaborative and consultation basis and by being admitted pro hac vice for appearance and conducting a trial in a particular case.

CURRICULA VITAE

Judicial Clerkships

Circuit Judge Max Rosenn
  • United States Court of Appeals, Philadelphia, PA
Justice Dorothy Comstock Riley
  • Michigan Supreme Court, Lansing, MI

Education

University of Michigan Law School

Juris Doctorate

  • Associate Editor, Michigan Journal of International Law
Boston University

B.S. Business Administration and Management

  • Graduated summa cum laude
  • Lock Honorary Service Society
  • Golden Key Honorary Service Society

Professional Affiliations

Licensures:
  • State Bar of Michigan
  • State Bar of Texas

Specialty Professional Membership

Child Sex Abuse Litigation Group, American Association of Justice

Litigation Section, State Bar of Michigan

Litigation Section, State Bar of Texas

Other:

  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • MCR 2.411(F) Certified Civil Court Mediator – Michigan
  • Graduate – Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College Dubois, Wyoming
  • Founder and Principal Director of FACTORS – Finding A Cure Through Our Resources – a 501(C)(3) organization
  • Senior Faculty, AOT – Art of Trance Trial Practice Institute
  • Co-Founder, Gold Medal Trial Skills Academy

Stop the cycle today and take your power back

It’s time for you to stop feeling powerless and start becoming the confident survivor who has saved yourself and others from future abuse.