Use of Fireman's Rule rejected

The Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District has upheld a $27 million verdict against a company for allegedly manufacturing faulty breathing equipment that led to a firefighter's death. This family portrait from before the fatal accident in 2002 features St. Louis City firefighter Derek Martin, his wife Angela and his children Jordan, Denzel and Kayla.

Tagged with: Brown & James firefighter Jerome Schlichter Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District Schlichter Bogard & Denton

A medical malpractice lawsuit against a doctor with a history of drug and alcohol abuse settled on Tuesday after two hours of opening arguments. John Campbell sued Dr. Michael Impey and his employer, Des Peres Medical Specialists, alleging that the doctor botched his colonoscopy and tore a hole in his colon while under the influence of oxycodone.

Tagged with: Brown & James John Campbell Paul Passanante

Under the stage lights, Courtney LaBelle’s lipstick gleams bright red. Clad in sequins and fishnet stockings, she spins and slinks across the stage as Lola, the sultry sidekick to the Devil himself. As a contract lawyer for a downtown St. ...

Tagged with: Brown & James Off Hours

Chicago Insurance Co. filed a lawsuit this week asking the federal court in St. Louis to say it doesn’t have to reimburse the Archdiocese of St. Louis for a settlement in a lawsuit related to alleged sexual abuse by a ...

Tagged with: Archdiocese of St. Louis Brown & James Carol E. Jackson lawsuit sexual abuse

A St. Louis jury has cleared the Boys Scouts of all wrongdoing in a lawsuit against the organization after a boy was bitten by a snake at a Boy Scouts’ campground. In September 2003, Luke Pecoraro and his parents, Anthony ...

Tagged with: Brown & James St. John's Mercy Medical Center

Among the many factors to consider when determining damages in a wrongful death suit: Was there pain and suffering? Were there any unusual circumstances to consider? How old was the deceased? In one of our featured cases this week, a ...

Tagged with: Brown & James car accident Missouri Department of Transportation Platte County wrongful death

Every time Michael Forster hears the news about another midsized firm merging into a big one, the Sandberg, Phoenix & von Gontard managing partner wonders, “Are we being left behind?” The answer is “no,” Forster said. There’s still a place ...

Tagged with: Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice Brown & James Bryan Cave Carmody MacDonald Evans & Dixon Lashly & Baer Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard Senniger Powers

When Ken Vuylsteke offered to pay the cost of a free lunch for anyone who wanted to come talk about the St. Louis Circuit Court’s new motion practice procedure in civil cases, he figured about 20 people would show up. ...

Tagged with: Brown & James Lawyers Association of St. Louis Robert H. Dierker Jr. St. Louis Circuit Court

St. Louis-based Brown & James wielded considerable weight in the ranking of top defense verdicts. The defense firm reeled in the most defense verdicts this year at 11 defense wins, and Brown & James principal Russell F. Watters topped the ...

Tagged with: Brown & James medical malpractice Saint Louis University St. Louis City Circuit Court