Top defense wins in 2013

The value of a defense win is based on the amount of the plaintiffs’ last pre-trial demand or, if that was not available, the amount sought at trial. Defense verdicts where a value could not be determined were excluded from this analysis.

2. $13 million verdict    
Premises liability    
Marchosky v. St. Luke’s Health Corp.  
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: Timothy J. Gearin, David G. Ott, Maureen O. Bryan
Firm: Armstrong Teasdale
Opposing counsel: John Simon, Tim Cronin, Erich Vieth
Firm: The Simon Law Firm

3. $8.3 million verdict
Medical malpractice
Smith v. St. John’s Regional Health Center    
Greene County
Winning attorneys: Scott E. Bellm, Bethany G. Parsons
Firm: Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton
Opposing counsel: Roy B. True
Firm: True & Associates

4. $7.79 million verdict
Business/commercial
Smithville 169 v. Citizens Bank & Trust Co.
U.S. District Court, WDMO
Winning attorneys: Robert M. Pitkin, Ryan C. Westhoff
Firm: Levy Craig Law Firm
Opposing counsel: John M. Duggan, Thomas J. Hamilton
Firm: Duggan, Shadwick, Doerr & Kurlbaum

5. $4.3 million verdict    
Insurance
Continental Cement Co. v. Starr indemnity & Liability Co.
U.S. District Court, EDMO
Winning attorneys: James K. Mondl, Courtney Stirrat
Firm: Tonkin & Mondl
Opposing counsel: Alan Goldstein, Neal Settergren, Theresa Mohin
Firm: Goldstein and Price

6. $3.05 million verdict
Eminent domain
Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission v. White
Stone County
Winning attorneys: Robert Denlow, Paul G. Henry
Firm: Denlow & Henry
Opposing counsel: B. Regan
Firm: Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch & Champion

7. $2.5 million verdict
Wrongful death
Rapier v. Prairie Farms Dairy Inc.
Cole County
Winning attorneys: Bharat Varadachari, David Deterding
Firm: HeplerBroom
Opposing counsel: Dan Hunt; Michael Holder
Firm: Bandré Hunt & Snider; Holder Susan Slusher Oxenhandler

8. $2.3 million verdict
Medical malpractice
Gilvin v. Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis
Winning attorneys: Russell L. Makepeace, Alexander B. Bean
Firm: Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard
Opposing counsel: Mark E. Goodman, Amy L. Fehr; Michael J. Kruse
Firm: Capes, Sokol, Goodman & Sarachan; Kruse Law Office

9. $2.12 million verdict
Eminent domain
Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission v. Hometel Management Group
Jackson County
Winning attorneys: Ward Brown, Robb Denney
Firm: Withers, Brant, Igoe & Mullennix
Opposing counsel: Kim Reid, Jason Saey
Firm: Missouri Department of Transportation

10. $2 million judgment
Defamation
Marathon Reprographics Inc. v. Lane
Jackson County
Winning attorneys: Shane C. Mecham
Firm: The Levy Craig Law Firm
Opposing counsel: Daniel D. Lane
Firm: Daniel Lane Law Firm

11. $1,950,000.00 verdict
Medical malpractice
Harper v. Kirkwood Medical Group  
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: James P. Reinert, Timothy F. McCurdy
Firm: Gonnerman Reinert
Opposing counsel: Mark T. McCloskey, Patricia N. McCloskey
Firm: McCloskey, P.C.

12. $1,900,000.00 verdict
Business/commercial
Independence Hospitality Services v. Bank of Blue Valley
Jackson County
Winning attorneys: Stewart M. Stein, Kristle A. Lee
Firm: Stinson Morrison Hecker
Opposing counsel: Robert J. Bjerg
Firm: Colantuono Bjerg Guinn

13. $1,650,000.00 verdict
Business/commercial
American Puzzle Co. v. Walter Wurdack
St. Louis
Winning attorneys: Dean C. Nichols, Chris Meyer
Firm: Pitzer Snodgrass
Opposing counsel: Jay Kanzler; Herb Giorgio
Firm: Witzel, Kanzler, Dimmitt, Kenney & Kanzler; Bryan Cave

14. (tie) $1,500,000.00 verdict
Wrongful death
Watson v. Oak Tree Associates
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: Jon R. Sanner, Laurie A. Loeschner
Firm: Brinker & Doyen
Opposing counsel: Lynette Stone; Anthony D. Gray
Firm: Kelley Witherspoon; Johnson Gray

14. (tie) $1,500,000.00 verdict
Contracts
Millwood Golf & Racquet Club Inc. v. SimplexGrinnell
Greene County
Winning attorneys: Charles Eblen, Kristi Burmeister
Firm: Shook, Hardy & Bacon
Opposing counsel: Russ Watters, Brad Hansmann
Firm: Brown & James

15. $1,250,000.00 verdict
Motor vehicle collision
Elder v. Lomax
Platte County
Winning attorneys: Michael E. McCausland, Mark D. Chuning
Firm: McCausland Barrett & Bartalos
Opposing counsel: Mandy M. Shell; James D. Walker Jr.
Firm: Law Office of Mandy M. Shell; James D. Walker Law

16. $1,200,000.00 verdict
Medical malpractice
Perry v. Washington University
St. Louis
Winning attorneys: Philip Willman, Angela Pozzo
Firm: Brown & James
Opposing counsel: Anastasia Brubaker
Firm: Curtis, Heinz, Garrett & O’Keefe

17. (tie) $1,000,000.00 verdict
Premises liability
Watson v. Cleaver Co.
Jackson County
Winning attorneys: Leonard R. Frischer, Mark B. Schaffer
Firm: Frischer & Schaffer
Opposing counsel: Norman E. Siegel; Eric L. Dirks
Firm: Stueve Siegel Hanson; Williams Dirks

17. (tie) $1,000,000.00 verdict
Wrongful death
Saunders v. Highway Trailer Sales Inc.
St. Louis
Winning attorneys: Jamie L. Boyer, Joy C. Syrcle    Stinson
Firm: Morrison Hecker
Opposing counsel: Erik Walker, Kyle Dingman, Matthew Rigney; Nate Mudd, Casey Cira
Firm: Hissey Kientz; Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd Law

17. (tie)  $1,000,000.00 verdict
Medical malpractice
Miller v. West County Surgical Specialists Inc.
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: James P. Reinert, William J. Magrath
Firm: Gonnerman Reinert
Opposing counsel: Paul J. Passanante, Anna E. Bonacorsi
Firm: Paul J. Passanante P.C. & Associates

17. (tie) $1,000,000.00 verdict
Medical malpractice
Schiller v. Wessling
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: James P. Reinert, William J. Magrath
Firm: Gonnerman Reinert
Opposing counsel: Eugene H. Fahrenkrog Jr.
Firm: Eugene H. Fahrenkrog Attorney at Law

18. $900,000.00 verdict
Personal injury
Swee v. USA Swimming Inc.  
Jackson County (Independence)
Winning attorneys: Michael E. McCausland, Daphne Halderman
Firm: McCausland Barrett & Bartalos
Opposing counsel: Daniel J. Baylard, Christina M. Knopke
Firm: Mullins & Baylard

19. (tie) $750,000.00 verdict
Medical malpractice
Renick v. Patel
Jefferson County
Winning attorneys: J. Thaddeus Eckenrode
Firm: Eckenrode-Maupin
Opposing counsel: Kurt Wolfgram
Firm: Wolfgram Law

19. (tie) $750,000.00 verdict
Medical malpractice
Dupriest v. The Bishop Spencer Place Inc.  
Jackson County
Winning attorneys: Matthew M. Merrill
Firm: Brown & Ruprecht
Opposing counsel: Brett A. Williams, Ben Mook
Firm: Peterson & Associates

19. (tie) $750,000.00 verdict
Negligent prosecution
Coy v. Eichorn
Ozark County
Winning attorneys: David P. Bub, J.C. Pleban
Firm: Brown & James
Opposing counsel: John O. Russo
Firm: Bailey & Russo

20. $737,767.00 verdict
Conversion, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty
Angelo v. Gierer
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: Gary M. Siegel
Firm: Gary M. Siegel LLC
Opposing counsel: Edwin Roussin
Firm: The Roach Law Firm

21. (tie) $600,000.00 verdict
Motor vehicle collision
McCusker v. First Student Inc.
St. Louis
Winning attorneys: Thomas J. Magee, Kate A. Aplington
Firm: HeplerBroom
Opposing counsel: Gregory T. Mueller
Firm: Mueller Law Practice

21. (tie) $600,000.00 verdict
Medical malpractice
Wynne v. Cassat
Franklin County
Winning attorneys: Ryan J. Gavin, Mandy J. Kamykowski
Firm: Greensfelder Hemker & Gale
Opposing counsel: Matthew Padberg, Michael Corrigan
Firm: Padberg Corrigan & Appelbaum

22. (tie) $500,000.00 verdict
Premises liability
Smith v. Livingston Construction
Boone County
Winning attorneys: Glen R. Ehrhardt, James R. Howard
Firm: Rogers, Ehrhardt, Weber & Howard
Opposing counsel: Ernie S. Ueligger, L.G. Copeland
Firm: The Copeland Law Firm

22. (tie) $500,000.00 verdict
Medical malpractice
Hursman v. Duckworth
Pettis County
Winning attorneys: Scott M. Adam, Sean T. McGrevey
Firm: Adam & McDonald
Opposing counsel: Eddie Schmidt; Max Mitchell
Firm: Law Office of Eddie Schmidt; Max E. Mitchell

22. (tie) $500,000.00 verdict
Wrongful death
Davis v. Vivona
Jackson County
Winning attorneys: Diane Chirnside, Patrick Baird
Firm: Missouri Attorney General’s Office
Opposing counsel: Andrew Protzman; Brad Kuhlman
Firm: The Protzman Law Firm; Kuhlman & Lucas

23. $490,000.00 verdict
Employment
Blackwell v. Calvert’s Express Auto Service and Tire
Jackson County (Independence)
Winning attorneys: Kevin D. Case, Randi L. Tangney
Firm: Case Linden Cagney Cascio
Opposing counsel: Kirk D. Holman, Thomas F. Ralston
Firm: Holman Schiavone

24. $480,000.00 verdict
Product liability
Argall v. Terry Farm Supply
Ozark County
Winning attorneys: Bradley R. Hansmann, John D. Cooney
Firm: Brown & James
Opposing counsel: Timothy P. Gammon

25. $410,477.00 verdict
Contracts
Scheck Industrial Corp. v. Tarlton Corp.
St. Louis
Winning attorneys: Philip Christofferson; Kenneth L. Schmidt
Firm: Cockriel & Christofferson; Tarlton Corp.
Opposing counsel: Geoffrey A. Bryce, Tina M. Paries; Kurtis B. Reeg; Timothy A. McGuire
Firm: Bryce Downey & Lenkov; Reeg Lawyers

26. $390,000.00 verdict
Motor vehicle collision
Burch v. McCleary
Newton County
Winning attorneys: Cara Rose
Firm: Wallace Saunders Austin Brown & Enochs
Opposing counsel: Scott Vorhees
Firm: Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci

27. $356,058.28 verdict
Medical malpractice
Rice v. Lester E. Cox Medical Centers
Greene County
Winning attorneys: Randy R. Cowherd, Catherine A. Reade
Firm: Haden, Cowherd & Bullock
Opposing counsel: Leland F. Dempsey, Austin Bradley
Firm: Dempsey & Kingsland

28. $350,000.00 verdict
Civil rights
Frazier v. City of Kansas City
Jackson County
Winning attorneys: Diane Chirnside, Patrick Baird; Steven Diegel
Firm: Missouri Attorney General’s Office; Kansas City Attorney’s Office
Opposing counsel: Laurie Del Percio
Firm: The Horn Law Firm

29. $340,000.00 judgment
Business/commercial
Choice Escrow and Land Title v. BancorpSouth Bank
U.S. District Court, WDMO
Winning attorneys: Rod H. Nichols, John E. Price
Firm: Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell & Brown
Opposing counsel: Bruce McCurry, Jeff McCurry
Firm: Chaney & McCurry

30. $330,000.00 verdict
Premises liability
Walter Douglas v. St. Louis Cold Drawn Inc.
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: Thomas J. Magee, Kathleen S. Hamilton
Firm: HeplerBroom
Opposing counsel: Zane Cagle, Andrew Mundwiller
Firm: The Cagle Law Firm

31. $325,000.00 verdict
Medical malpractice
Warren v. Lecorps
Carter County
Winning attorneys: Jeffrey E. Atkinson, James P. Reinert
Firm: Gonnerman Reinert
Opposing counsel: Daniel T. Moore, Stephen E. Walsh
Firm: Moore, Walsh & Albright

32. (tie) $300,000.00 verdict
Employment
Brooks v. Cass County
Johnson County
Winning attorneys: Matthew J. Gist
Firm: Ensz & Jester
Opposing counsel: Taylor Fields
Firm: Fields & Brown

32. (tie) $300,000.00 verdict
Premises liability
O’Barr v. Cobble
Jefferson County
Winning attorneys: Steven P. Kuenzel Jr, Steven P. Kuenzel Sr.
Firm: Eckelkamp Kuenzel
Opposing counsel: Kevin Dolley
Firm: Law Offices of Kevin J. Dolley

33. $288,000.00 verdict
Contracts
Vo-Data Solutions Inc. v. Panera
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: Joe D. Jacobson
Firm: Green Jacobson
Opposing counsel: Thomas E. Bauer
Firm: Bauer Law Office

34. (tie) $250,000.00 verdict
Medical malpractice
Cross v. Chien
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: Gregory J. Minana, Sarah C. Hellmann
Firm: Husch Blackwell
Opposing counsel: Alan Mandel, Brian Sanger
Firm: Mandel & Mandel

34. (tie) $250,000.00 verdict
Wrongful death
Layton  v. P.Q. Corp.
Cooper County
Winning attorneys: Scott T. Jansen, J. Kent Lowry
Firm: Armstrong Teasdale
Opposing counsel: T. Drew Schauffler
Firm: A.W. Smith Law Firm

34. (tie) $250,000.00 verdict
Premises liability
Franklin v. Bromley
Jackson County (Independence)
Winning attorneys: Michael E. McCausland, Anthony M. Knipp    McCausland
Firm: Barrett & Bartalos
Opposing counsel: John E. McKay, Mav Mirfasihi
Firm: McKay & Byerley

35. $196,000.00 verdict
Real estate and construction
Eagle Road Real Estate v. Ewing
Taney County
Winning attorneys: Russ Schenewerk; Craig F. Lowther; Daniel G. Menzie; Joseph W. Allen, Jessica Martin
Firm: Russ Schenewerk & Associates; Lowther & Johnson; Law Office of Daniel G. Menzie
Opposing counsel: Robert M. Sweere

36. $191,000.00 verdict
Insurance
Young v. Allstate Insurance Co.
U.S. District Court, EDMO
Winning attorneys: Ellen J. Brooke, Katherine Smith
Firm: Reeg Lawyers
Opposing counsel: Ken Ryno
Firm: UAW-GM Legal Services Plan

37. (tie) $175,000.00 verdict
Premises liability
Tapee v. Jay Ram Inc.
Boone County
Winning attorneys: Glen Ehrhardt, James Howard
Firm: Rogers, Ehrhardt, Weber & Howard
Opposing counsel: Thomas Diehl; Andrew Nantz, Scott Hunter
Firm: Ralston, Pope & Diehl; Hunter & Nantz Law Office

37. (tie) $175,000.00 verdict
Personal injury
Weiskircher v. Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: Stephen J. Fields, Allison J. Schulz
Firm: Brinker & Doyen
Opposing counsel: W. Edwin Roussin
Firm: The Roach Law Firm

38. (tie) $150,000.00 verdict
Insurance
Kaskutas v. Alston
St. Louis
Winning attorneys: Robert J. Luder
Firm: Long & Luder
Opposing counsel: Stephen M. Glassman, Maria C. Sanchez
Firm: The Glassman Law Firm

38. (tie) $150,000.00 verdict
Contracts
Hill & Lake Properties v. Schneider Services Co.
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: Thomas J. Magee, Lindsay T. Leible
Firm: HeplerBroom
Opposing counsel: Eldon J. Shields, Ross Boden
Firm: Gates, Shields & Ferguson

39. $133,000.00 verdict
Insurance
Tinker v. Acuity
U.S. District Court, EDMO
Winning attorneys: Brendon Sanders, Brad Hansmann
Firm: Brown & James
Opposing counsel: Andrew Koor
Firm: Suddarth & Koor

40. $100,000.00 bench award
Insurance
Shelter Mutual Insurance Co. v. MacVittie
Callaway County
Winning attorneys: Thomas K. Riley
Firm: Riley & Dunlap
Opposing counsel: Christopher P. Rackers
Firm: Schreimann, Rackers, Francka & Blunt

41. $90,000.00 verdict
Premises liability
Contestabile v. Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: Joshua J. Engelbart
Firm: Buckley & Buckley
Opposing counsel: Jeffrey P. Gault
Firm: Law Offices of Jeffrey Gault

42. $75,000.00 verdict
Motor vehicle collision
Powell v. Dighero
Jasper County
Winning attorneys: Shawn Battagler, Megan Ray
Firm: Andereck, Evans, Widger, Johnson and Lewis
Opposing counsel: William Beadle
Firm: Tolbert, Beadle and Musgrave

43. $65,000.00 verdict
Contracts
Commonwealth Land Title Insurance v. Gateway Title Co.
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: Thomas J. Magee
Firm: HeplerBroom
Opposing counsel: Amy Ryan, Shawn Briner
Firm: Martin, Leigh, Laws & Fritzlen

44. $60,000.00 verdict
Premises liability
Abele v. City of Arnold
Jefferson County
Winning attorneys: Dean Stark
Firm: Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch & Champion
Opposing counsel: Shaun Falvey
Firm: Brown & Crouppen

45. $40,000.00 verdict
Motor vehicle collision
Swanson v. Lottmann
Gasconade County
Winning attorneys: John D. Cooney
Firm: Brown & James
Opposing counsel: Spencer E. Farris
Firm: S.E. Farris Law Firm

46. $25,000.00 verdict
Insurance
Burkett v. Safeco Insurance Co. of Illinois
Howell County
Winning attorneys: Gary E. Snodgrass, Deanna J. Brady
Firm: Pitzer Snodgrass
Opposing counsel: Dale Engelbrecht
Firm: Engelbrecht Law Firm

47. $25,000.00 verdict
Negligence
Fadler v. Tyler & Sons
Jefferson County
Winning attorneys: Jackie Kinder, Brendon Sanders
Firm: Brown & James
Opposing counsel: Justin Guerra
Firm: Holloran White Schwartz & Gaertner

48. $22,500.00 verdict
Premises liability
Moore v. Bada Bings St. Louis
Winning attorneys: Bradley R. Hansmann, Patrick T. Cody
Firm: Brown & James
Opposing counsel: Brian Stokes; Adam M. Goffstein
Firm: Stokes Law Offices; Goffstein Law

49. $20,000.00 verdict
Premises liability
Nobles v. Holy Trinity Catholic Church
St. Louis
Winning attorneys: Joshua J. Engelbart
Firm: Buckley & Buckley
Opposing counsel: Bryan Sanger
Firm: Mandel & Mandel

50. $20,000.00 verdict
Premises liability
Skeen v. Schellenger 
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: Thomas J. Magee
Firm: HeplerBroom
Opposing counsel: Dale Funk
Firm: Brown & Crouppen

51. $19,000.00 verdict
Medical malpractice    
Berry v. Brent
Jackson County
Winning attorneys: Tracy A. Cole
Firm: Gilliland & Hayes
Opposing counsel: Michael D. Townsend
Firm: Peddicord & Townsend

52. $16,000.00 verdict
Business/commercial    
Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District v. Mighty Mike Services Inc.
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: Russell F. Watters, Brendon Sanders
Firm: Brown & James
Opposing counsel: Kenneth D. Goins
Firm: Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District

53. $14,000.00 verdict
Business/commercial
J. Kirk Davis Consulting v. Marquetta Glass
Jackson County
Winning attorneys: Antwaun Smith
Firm: Smith Law Office
Opposing counsel: Gwendelyn Garcia, Dewanna Newman
Firm: Gallas & Schultz

54. $9,000.00 verdict    
Premises liability
Serfas v. Hidden Valley Golf and Ski
St. Louis County
Winning attorneys: Thomas J. Magee
Firm: HeplerBroom
Opposing counsel: Kathy Wisniewski; John Ammann
Firm: Thompson Coburn; Saint Louis University Legal Clinic