- Criminal DefenseMr. Mullen specializes in complex commercial and personal lines insurance coverage disputes, extra-contractual liability litigation and complex commercial litigation. He has significant trial experience representing insurance companies in third-party insurance coverage disputes as well as E&O, D&O and fraud claims. Mr. Mullen also has significant experience in transportation and trucking litigation and his clients include some of the largest trucking companies in the country. He is member of the Transportation Lawyers Association and has been named as one of America's Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators. Mr. Mullen has additional significant experience in representing financial institutions in regulatory enforcement actions and related white collar criminal defense. Mr. Mullen is a frequent lecturer to bar associations, insurance companies and claims associations on insurance extra-contractual liability, insurance bad faith litigation, insurance coverage and fraud. Mr. Mullen has been named a Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyer from 2008 to 2017 in the area of Insurance Coverage and has been named “Best of the Bar” on numerous occasions. Mr. Mullen has been named a Fellow by the International Institute of Law and Medicine. Mr. Mullen has tried to verdict in excess of 130 civil jury trials in both Federal and State courts throughout the country. Mr. Mullen received his undergraduate degree in political science from Missouri State University in 1988 and his Juris Doctor from Loyola University in 1991.
- Wrongful DeathDave Boresi and Niki Long received a defense verdict after a 7-day jury trial in St. Louis County, Missouri. The case involved the alleged wrongful death of a 90-year-old woman who had hired BrightStar Care of Kirkwood to provide live-in personal caregivers at her home. The decedent collapsed in her home while under BrightStar’s care and suffered a lumbar compression fracture and a hairline fracture in her elbow. She died 11 days later. The decedent’s family asserted counts for wrongful death and punitive damages against BrightStar, the on-duty caregiver, the owner, and the director of nursing. Plaintiffs claimed defendants were negligent in hiring, training, and supervising the on-duty caregiver. Before closing arguments, the Court found that plaintiffs failed to present substantial evidence to support their claim for punitive damages, and further refused to submit the case against the on-duty caregiver, owner, and director of nursing individually. In closing arguments, plaintiffs’ counsel asked the jury to return a verdict of up to $43.5 million. After deliberating for just over an hour, the jury returned a verdict in favor of BrightStar Care.
- Sex CrimesJon focuses his practice on insurance coverage, insurance defense and general civil litigation. He has litigated cases in more than 30 states and has extensive experience representing commercial manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceutical, insurance and other clients in products liability, tort and negligence litigation in federal and state courts throughout the country. Jon previously served as the Assistant County Attorney for Leavenworth County, Kansas. As Assistant County Attorney, he tried to juries numerous high level felony and sexual assault cases and tried hundreds of cases to the bench.
- Theft
- MurderJ. Patrick Brooks et al v. Missouri Boys Ranch, et al., Case No. 16LW-CC00146 [Boys ranch found not liable for murder of plaintiff's mother by 2 boys who ran away from the ranch-7.6 to 21MM in actual damages requested.] #3 TOP DEFENSE VERDICT IN 2018 -
- ArsonMike Halloran is a trial attorney defending individuals, businesses and insurance companies in a wide variety of matters. In his 35 years of practice, Mr. Halloran has tried cases involving personal injury, business liability, construction defects, uninsured motorists claims, alleged improper vehicle repairs, underinsured motorist claims and first party claims involving arson and alleged thefts in Kansas and Missouri, both in the Kansas City metropolitan area and throughout the states. Mr. Halloran has successfully argued before the Missouri and Kansas Court of Appeals and the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Business Formation
- Business DisputesMs. Smith has extensive trial and litigation experience in the defense of a wide variety of cases, including professional negligence, construction defect, premises liability, products liability, toxic torts, wrongful death, and vehicular collisions. She has successfully argued appellate cases in the Missouri Court of Appeals, United States District Court, and the Missouri Supreme Court. She also has significant experience litigating environmental matters and suits stemming from exposure to asbestos, silica, mold and lead paint, as well as defending employers against Title VII claims and other civil rights cases. Ms. Smith also regularly represents clients in computer software and other business disputes.
- Trade SecretsMr. Whitney attended Southern Illinois University School of Law. During law school, Mr. Whitney competed on the trial team and led multiple student organizations. Mr. Whitney discovered a passion for trial advocacy and negotiation by participating in coursework focused on those areas. While earning his Juris Doctorate, he worked as a law clerk for a local litigation firm and served as a research assistant for the Trade Secrets Protection Index. After law school, Mr. Whitney served as a Judicial Law Clerk in the 16
- Intellectual Property
- Workers CompensationUnited Fire & Casualty Company v. Advantage Workers Compensation Insurance Company and Patriot Risk Services (United States District Court, W.D. Missouri) 2017 WL 2984274
- Employment DiscriminationDefending a motorcycle manufacturer against employment discrimination complaints filed with the Kansas Human Rights Commission by former employees. At the conclusion of the investigations, the Kansas Human Rights Commission investigating commissioner made determinations of no probable cause in both cases.
- Employment Litigation
- Real Estate LitigationMrs. Rose proudly represents individuals and companies who/which have been sued for personal injury or other damages, in a variety of circumstances, including allegations of malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, products liability, construction issues, real estate matters, employment, and harassment. She is licensed to practice law in Missouri, with admission into the Western District and Eastern District Courts. She has argued before many Courts in the state at the trial and appellate levels. Mrs. Rose is also licensed to practice law in Arkansas.
- Premises LiabilityMr. Brackman is an experienced trial attorney who practices in the area of civil litigation with an emphasis in insurance defense. He has significant experience in the areas of bad faith/vexatious refusal insurance coverage, premises liability, trucking and automobile litigation, and products liability.
- Construction LitigationChris is the chair of the firm’s Coverage, Bad Faith, and Extra-Contractual Liability practice group and specializes in insurance coverage, bad faith, and extra-contractual liability litigation in addition to practicing all aspects of insurance defense, commercial litigation, construction litigation, and complex, multi-party litigation. Mr. Harper is a member of The Missouri Bar, The Kansas Bar Association, and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.
- Real Estate TransactionsJoan Sheridan has significant experience defending national hotel chains, residential treatment centers, and religious organizations in wrongful death, sexual and physical abuse, and bodily injury claims throughout Missouri and Kansas. Joan’s jury trial experience includes a recent defense verdict in Johnson County, Kansas in a case involving claims of negligent misrepresentation and violations of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act arising out of a real estate transaction.
- Property DamageIn 2004 and 2006, Mr. Nielsen was recognized by Missouri Lawyers Weekly as bringing to verdict one of the top 10 defense verdicts in each year. In 2004, Mr. Nielsen represented an ice machine installer who was alleged to have improperly wired an ice machine causing electrocution injuries. Prior to trial, the plaintiff demanded $750,000.00, and the defense offer was $375,000. After less than 30 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a defense verdict. In 2006, Mr. Nielsen represented an installer of a wood burning fireplace. The installer admitted at trial the installation was not according to manufacturer’s guidelines. Plaintiffs demanded $970,000.00, the total amount of property damage incurred when one mansion completely burned to the ground, and the home next door was damaged in the firefighting efforts. Despite the admissions of faulty installation, Mr. Nielsen argued that there was no evidence of causation. The jury deliberated less than two hours, and returned a defense verdict.
- Personal InjuryMrs. Rose has been named to Missouri Super Lawyers - Rising Stars each of the last nine years. She was also voted by her peers into Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants in 2018. This prestigious award is given to those attorneys who represent the top 5% of private practice attorneys, nationwide. She has again received this award every year since her first receipt.
- Medical MalpracticeSlapak v. United States – Confidential settlement in FTCA medical malpractice suit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
- Auto Accidents
- Bankruptcy