Russell F. Watters

Principal

636-798-0571   |   rwatters@wwbhlaw.com

Russ Watters focuses his practice as a trial lawyer in successfully representing insurance and business clients in trial, arbitrations and the appellate courts throughout Missouri and Illinois concentrating on insurance law, business disputes, catastrophic injury and death cases.
photo of attorney Russell F. Watters

Overview

Russ Watters has spent his entire career as a trial lawyer, trying over 200 cases to conclusion and handling more than 100 appeals at state and federal levels.  He is involved in high-profile complex cases as lead trial and appellate counsel, and he has obtained defense verdicts in cases involving eight figure amounts in dispute.  In addition, he has a vast number of reported appellate cases setting precedent in both Missouri and Illinois.  He has successfully represented commercial businesses, insurance carriers and individuals in a variety of areas, including the areas of insurance contracts, business disputes, premises liability, product liability and construction disputes. Mr. Watters’ numerous awards include twice receiving the annual “No. 1 Trial Defense Verdict” in Missouri awarded by Missouri Lawyers Weekly, and his successes have led to his membership to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum for the multiple verdicts he has obtained for his clients in excess of a million dollars.  He has received the Wall Street Journal Lawyer of the Year – St. Louis Award and “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation. In addition, Mr. Watters is considered one of the nation’s leading authorities in the field of insurance law, including complex coverage issues and bad faith litigation.   Since 2012, he has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America as one of the Best Lawyers in Missouri in Insurance Law, and for a number of years, he has been awarded the prestigious “Insurance Law Lawyer of the Year” designation by Best Lawyers in America.  Chambers & Partners has listed him as a “Band 1” Missouri Insurance lawyer, and since 2005, he has been selected by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers as a Super Lawyer in the area of insurance coverage.  His expertise in insurance law has included his assistance in drafting insurance reform legislation and testifying before the Missouri State Legislature leading to the reformation of the Missouri Revised Statute Sections 435.415 and 537.065.  He has also been retained by several national insurance carriers to assist in the drafting of their insurance policies for submission to state regulatory authorities.

Recent Results

Past Results

Representative Appellate and Reported Cases Setting Precedent in Missouri and Illinois
  • Scottsdale Insurance Company v. American Detective Services, et al., United States District Court Western District of Missouri, 5:22-cv-06049-BP (August 2023). In August of 2023, WWBH attorneys Russ Watters, Lucas Ude, John Cooney and Mike Maguire obtained summary judgment in favor of their insurer client in coverage litigation involving a class action arbitration award and judgment in excess of $54,000,000.00. Within the Order, the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri enforced the language of the policy and concluded that the willful and intentional conduct described in the arbitration award fell outside of the coverage afforded by the insurer’s policies, including the errors and omissions coverage part included therein. The Court additionally rejected arguments raised by the insured and the claimant that the insurer should be estopped from denying coverage for any reason not expressly listed in a prior reservation of rights letter issued by the insurer. This opinion is a significant victory for WWBH’s insurer client that was simultaneously being pursued in a separate garnishment case.
  • Axis Surplus Ins. Co. v. TriStar Co. LLC, 2023 WL 1927237 (E.D. Mo. 2023)
  • Nationwide Insurance Company of America v. Six, 652 S.W.3d 278 (Mo.Ct. App. W.D. 2022)
  • Amco Ins. Co. v. Columbia Maintenance Co., 2021 WL1298018 (E.D.Mo. 2021) (affirmed) 2022 WL 288144 (8th Cir. 2022)
  • AMCO Ins. Co. v. Masiakiewicz, 2022 WL 1640298 (E.D. Mo. 2022)
  • Brazil v. Auto-Owners Insurance Company, 3 F.4th 1040 (8th Cir. 2021)
  • Everest Indemnity Ins. Co. v. Jake’s Fireworks, Inc., 501 F.Supp.3d 1158 (D. Kan. 2020).
  • Nationwide Ins. Co. of America v. Swyers, 471 F.Supp.3d 915 (E.D.Mo. 2020)
  • Naert v. GEICO Casualty Ins. Co., 2020 WL 2130096 (E.D.Mo. 2020).
  • Moore v. Esurance Property & Casualty Ins. Co., 2020 WL 2064042 (E.D.Mo. 2020)
  • GEICO Casualty Co. v. Walker, 788 Fed.Appx. 420 (8th Cir. 2019)
  • Zurich Am. Ins. Co. v. Ins. Co. of N. Am., 392 F. Supp. 3d 1033 (E.D. Mo. 2019)
  • CPR Plus, LLC v. Div. of Employment Sec., 572 S.W.3d 96 (Mo. Ct. App. W.D. 2019)
  • State ex rel. Gen. Credit Acceptance Co., LLC v. Vincent, 570 S.W.3d 42 (Mo. banc 2019)
  • Austin v. Hanover Ins. Co., 720 F. App’x 319 (8th Cir. 2018)
  • Forsman v. Burgess, 552 S.W.3d 667 (Mo. Ct. App. W.D. 2018)
  • Depositors Ins. Co. v. NEU Constr. Servs., Inc., 305 F. Supp. 3d 1011 (E.D. Mo. 2018)
  • Nationwide Affinity Ins. Co. v. Laderoute, 293 F. Supp. 3d 870 (W.D. Mo. 2017)
  • Acuity v. Rex, LLC, 296 F. Supp. 3d 1105 (E.D. Mo. 2017)
  • GEICO Cas. Co. v. Clampitt, 521 S.W.3d 290 (Mo. App. E.D. 2017)
  • International Environmental Management, Inc. v. United Corporate Service, Inc., 858 F.3d 1121 (8th Cir. 2017)
  • GEICO Indemnity Co. v. Dodd, Slip Copy, 2017 WL 2289277 (S.D. Ill. May 25, 2017)
  • Owners Ins. Co. v. Craig, 514 S.W.3d 614 (Mo. banc 2017)
  • Empire Fire and Marine Ins. Co. v. Fraction, 515 S.W.3d 820 (Mo. App. E.D. 2017)
  • Owners Ins. Co. v. Parkison, 517 S.W.3d 608 (Mo. App. E.D. 2017)
  • Allied Property and Cas. Ins. Co. v. Stuart, 230 F.Supp.3d 969 (E.D. Mo. January 27, 2017)
  • Williams v. Employers Mut. Cas. Co., 845 F.3d 891 (8th Cir. 2017)
  • Allied Property and Cas. Ins. Co. v. Bartold, Slip Copy, 2016 WL 7369885 (E.D. Mo. December 20, 2016)
  • Empire Fire and Marine Ins. Co. v. Scheibler, Slip Copy, 2016 WL 6524341 (E.D. Mo. November 3, 2016)
  • Taylor v. Owners Ins. Co., 499 S.W.3d 351 (Mo. App. W.D. 2016)
  • Villages Condo., Association, Inc. v. Barsto Construction, Inc., 2016 WL 1090652 (W.D. Mo. March 21, 2016)
  • Maso v. Farmers Ins. Co., Inc., 158 F.Supp.3d 793 (E.D. Mo. January 27, 2016)
  • Martin v. Auto Owners Ins. Co., 486 S.W.3d 390 (Mo. App. W.D. 2016)
  • Grinnell Mut. Reinsurance Co. v. Rambo, 626 Fed.Appx. 660 (8th Cir. 2016)
  • Mason v. Entertainment Consulting International, LLC, Slip Copy, 2015 WL 12835698 (W.D. Mo. November 18, 2015)
  • Sparks Constructors, Inc. v. Hartzell Hardwoods, Inc., 2015 WL 7075964, 98 Fed. R. Evid. Serv. 1316 (E.D. Mo. November 13, 2015)
  • AIG Agency, Inc. v. Missouri General Insurance Agency, Inc., 474 S.W.3d 222 (Mo. App. E.D. 2015)
  • Simmons v. Farmers Ins. Co., Inc., 479 S.W.3d 671 (Mo. App. E.D. 2015)
  • Ferguson v. Short, 2015 WL 4877539 (W.D. Mo. August 14, 2015)
  • Schafer v. MacMillan, 2015 WL 4715247 (W.D. Mo. August 7, 2015)
  • McDonald v. GEICO Gen. Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2015 WL 4393880 (E.D. Mo. July 16, 2015)
  • GEICO Indem. Co. v. Cowden, 2015 WL 3774453 (S.D. Ill. June 16, 2015)
  • Akers v. Auto-Owners (Mut.) Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2015 WL 3714595 (W.D. Mo. June 15, 2015)
  • Hayes-Schneiderjohn v. GEICO Gen. Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2015 WL 1611334 (E.D. Mo. Apr. 10, 2015)
  • Webster v. Ace Am. Ins., 463 S.W.3d 810 (Mo. E.D. App. 2015)
  • Willows Condo. Owners Ass’n, Inc. v. Kraus, 467 S.W.3d 312 (Mo. App. S.D. 2015)
  • Williams v. Employers Mut. Cas. Co., 2015 WL 892556 (E.D. Mo. Mar. 2, 2015)
  • Dixon v. City of Sedalia, Mo., 2015 WL 328353 (W.D. Mo. Jan. 26, 2015)
  • Fincher v. Century Sur. Co., 2014 WL 3894586 (E.D. Mo. Aug. 8, 2014)
  • United Fire & Cas. Co. v. Titan Contractors Serv., Inc., 751 F.3d 880 (8th Cir. 2014)
  • Chicago Ins. Co. v. Archdiocese of St. Louis, 740 F.3d 1197 (8th Cir. 2014)
  • Tinker v. Acuity, a Mut. Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2013 WL 1345862 (E.D. Mo. 2013)
  • Ullrich v. Owners Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2013 WL 2111667 (W.D. Mo. 2013)
  • Hullverson Law Firm, P.C. v. Liberty Ins. Underwriters, Inc., Slip Copy, 2013 WL 3802517 (E.D. Mo. 2013)
  • Affirmative Ins. Co. v. Broeker, 412 S.W.3d 314 (Mo. App. E.D. 2013)
  • Nack v. Walburg, Slip Copy, 2013 WL 4860104 (E.D. Mo. 2013)
  • Owners Ins. Co. v. Hughes, 712 F.3d 392 (8th Cir. 2013)
  • March v. Midwest St. Louis, L.L.C., 417 S.W.3d 248 (Mo. banc 2012)
  • Assurance Co. of Am. v. Secura Ins. Co., 384 S.W.3d 224 (Mo. App. E.D. 2012)
  • DeRousse v. GEICO Gen. Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2012 WL 1945979 (E.D.Mo. 2012)
  • McCoy v. Schubert, Slip Copy, 2011 WL 6140678 (E.D.Mo. 2011)
  • Essex Ins. Co. v. Harris, Slip Copy, 2011 WL 4600689 (E.D.Mo. September 30, 2011)
  • Brackney v. Farmers Ins. Exchange, Slip Copy, 2011 WL 3678822 (W.D.Mo. August 22, 2011)
  • Kingsland Investments, L.P. v. Schaefer Group, Inc., 349 S.W.3d 380 (Mo. App. E.D. 2011)
  • Hawkeye-Security Ins. Co. v. Bunch, 643 F.3d 646 (8th Cir. 2011)
  • Owners Ins. Co. v. Warren Funeral Chapel, Inc., Slip Copy, 2011 WL 2634204 (W.D.Mo. July 5, 2011)
  • Miles ex rel. Miles v. Rich, 347 S.W.3d 477 (Mo. App. E.D. 2011)
  • Dorris v. Kohl, 337 S.W.3d 107 (Mo. App. W.D. 2011)
  • Owners Ins. Co. v. AMCO Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2011 WL 504055 (E.D.Mo. February 10, 2011)
  • Brinker v. Capital Restoration & Painting Co., 332 S.W.3d 222 (Mo. App. E.D. 2010)
  • Smith v. Calhoun, 330 S.W.3d 147 (Mo. App. E.D. 2010)
  • Tate v. One Beacon Ins. Co., 328 S.W.3d 262 (Mo. App. E.D. 2010)
  • Hartford Acc. and Indem. Co. v. Doe Run Resources Corp., Slip Copy, 2010 WL 1687623 (E.D.Mo. April 26, 2010)
  • Lanham v. Sandberg Trucking, Inc., 2010 WL 1531168 (E.D.Mo. April 16, 2010)
  • Mengwasser v. Anthony Kempker Trucking, Inc., 312 S.W.3d 368 (Mo. App. W.D. 2010)
  • Molder v. Trammell Crow Services, Inc., 309 S.W.3d 837 (Mo. App. W.D. 2010)
  • Parmalee v. Standard Fire Ins. Co., 697 F.Supp.2d 1069 (E.D.Mo. 2010)
  • Huff v. J&M House Builders, Inc., 298 S.W.3d 546 (Mo. App. E.D. 2009)
  • Hartford Acc. and Indem. Co. v. Doe Run Resources Corp., 663 F.Supp.2d 771 (E.D.Mo. 2009)
  • Auto-Owners Ins. Co. v. Mid-America Piping, Inc., Slip Copy, 2009 WL 3012321 (E.D.Mo. Sept. 16, 2009)
  • Auto-Owners Ins. Co. v. Biegel Refrigeration and Elec. Co., 659 F.Supp.2d 1050 (E.D.Mo. 2009)
  • Stancombe v. Davern, 298 S.W.3d 1 (Mo. App. S.D. 2009)
  • Mitzan v. Western Heritage Ins. Co., 623 F.Supp.2d993 (E.D.Mo. April 13, 2009)
  • Sherrell v. Brown, 284 S.W.3d 164 (Mo. App. E.D., March 2, 2009)
  • Peerless Ins. Co. v. Roedder, Slip Copy, 2009 WL 211921 (E.D.Mo., January 23, 2009)
  • Wright v. Country Club of St. Albans, 269 S.W.3d 461 (Mo. App. E.D. 2008)
  • Lanham v. Sandberg Trucking, Inc., Slip Copy, 2008 WL 3982013, (E.D.Mo., August 22, 2008)
  • North American Specialty Ins. Co. v. Correctional Medical Services, Inc., 527 F.3d 1033 (10th Cir. 2008)
  • Stark v. Manes, Slip Copy, 2008 WL 1732697 (W.D.Mo., April 10, 2008)
  • R.E.I. Transport, Inc. v. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., 519 F.3d 693 (7th Cir. 2008)
  • Charter Oak Fire Ins. Co. v. Holthaus, Slip Copy, 2008 WL 509557 (E.D.Mo., February 22, 2008)
  • McWeeney v. Missouri Historical Society, Slip Copy, 2007 WL 3311429 (E.D.Mo., November 5, 2007)
  • Kirsch v. Sakabu, 233 S.W.3d 234 (Mo. App. E.D. 2007)
  • Weger v. City of Ladue, 500 F.3d 710 (8th Cir. 2007)
  • Auto-Owners Ins. Co. v. Ennulat, 231 S.W.3d 297 (Mo. App. E.D. 2007)
  • Hytek Investments, Inc. v. Northland Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2007 WL 1407056 (E.D.Mo., May 9, 2007)
  • Simpson v. Thomure, 484 F.3d 1081 (8th Cir. 2007)
  • Wood v. Foremost Ins. Co., 477 F.3d 1027 (8th Cir. 2007)
  • Wood v. Foremost Ins. Co., 471 F.3d 931 (8th Cir. 2006)
  • Kirsch v. Sakabu, 201 S.W.3d 572 (Mo. App. E.D. 2006)
  • Law v. Vigilant Insurance Co., 193 S.W.3d 773 (Mo. App. E.D. 2006)
  • East End Transfer & Storage, Inc. v. Travelers Indem. Co. of Illinois, 211 S.W.3d 103 (Mo. App. E.D. 2006)
  • Wood v. Foremost Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 585558 (E.D.Mo., Mar 09, 2006)
  • Weger v. City of Ladue, Slip Copy, 2006 WL 571986 (E.D.Mo., Mar 08, 2006)
  • North American Specialty Ins. Co. v. Correctional Medical Services, Inc., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 208635 (E.D.Mo., Jan 26, 2006)
  • Hanover Ins. Co. v. TMP Intern., Inc., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 176105 (E.D.Mo., Jan 24, 2006)
  • Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Scott, Slip Copy, 2006 WL 146225 (E.D.Mo., Jan 19, 2006)
  • National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA v. Interstate Brands Corp., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 148744 (E.D.Mo., Jan 18, 2006)
  • Hanover Ins. Co. v. TMP Intern., Inc., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 13120 (E.D.Mo., Jan 03, 2006)
  • Travelers Indemnity Co. v. Vas-Nes, Slip Copy, 2005 WL 3107697 (W.D.Mo., Nov 18, 2005)
  • Weber v. McBride & Son Contracting, Co., 182 S.W.3d 643 (Mo. App. E.D. 2005)
  • Anderson v. Kohler Co., 170 S.W. 3d 19 (Mo. App. E.D. 2005)
  • Finnigan v. KNG Investments, Inc., 158 S.W.3d 808 (Mo. App. S.D. 2005)
  • Hartford Ins. Co. of the Midwest v. Wyllie, 396 F.Supp.2d 1033 (E.D. Mo. 2005)
  • Stickler v. Foremost Signature Inc. Co., 150 S.W.3d 314 (Mo. App. S.D. 2004)
  • Watters v. Travel Guard Intern., 136 S.W. 3d 100 (Mo. App. E.D. 2004)
  • Employers Fire Ins. Co. v. Power Model Supply Co., 279 F.Supp.2d 1060 (E.D.Mo. 2003)
  • Godefroid v. Kiesel Co., 2003 WL 22399710 (Mo. App. E.D. 2003)
  • In Re Popkin & Stern, 340 F.3d 709 (8th Cir. 2003)
  • Capitol Indem. Corp. v. 1405 Associates, Inc., 340 F.3d 547 (8th Cir. 2003)
  • Jerome Group, Inc. v. Cincinnati Ins. Co., 257 F.Supp. 2d 1217 (ED. Mo. 2003)
  • Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Meramec Valley Bank, 259 F.Sup. 2d 922 (E.D. Mo. 2003)
  • Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Television Engineering Corp., 265 F.Supp. 2d 1078 (E.D. Mo. 2003)
  • Wilkes v. St. Paul Fire and Marine Ins. Co., 92 S.W.3d 116 (Mo. App. S.D. 2002)
  • Kruger v. Pulitzer, Inc., 85 S.W. 3d 61 (Mo. App. E.D. 2002)
  • Lee v. Pulitzer Pub. Co., 81 S.W. 3d 625 (Mo. App. E.D. 2002)
  • Heffernan v. Reinhold, 73 S.W. 3d 659 (Mo. App. E.D. 2002)
  • St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Lippincott, 287 F.3d 703 (8th Cir. 2002)
  • Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Estate of Turks, 206 F.Supp. 2d 968 (E.D. Mo. 2002)
  • Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. German St. Vincent Orphan, 54 S.W. 3d 661 (Mo. App. E.D. 2002)
  • Caples v. Earth Grains Co., 43 S.W. 3d 444 (Mo. App. E.D. 2001)
  • Hess v. Craig, 43 S.W. 3d 457 (Mo. App. E.D. 2001)
  • Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Venetian Terrazzo Inc., 198 F.Supp. 2d 1074 (E.D. Mo. 2001)
  • Reed v. Kelly, 37 S.W. 3d 274 (Mo. App. E.D. 2000)
  • Boulevard Inv. Co. v. Capitol Endem. Corp., 27 S.W. 3d 856 (Mo. App. E.D. 2000)
  • Creative Walking, Inc. v. American States Ins. Co., 25 S.W. 3d 682 (Mo. App. E.D. 2000)
  • Hunt v. Capitol Indem. Corp., 26 S.W. 3d 341 (Mo. App. E.D. 2000)
  • Capitol Indem. Corp. v. Haverfield, 218 F. 3d 872 (8th Cir. 2000)
  • Kilmer v. Mun, 17 S.W. 3d 545 (Mo. banc 2000)
  • State ex rel. River King, Inc. v. Calvin, 11 S.W.3d 602 (Mo. 2000) (en banc)
  • St. Paul Fire and Marine Ins. Co. v. Warren, 87 F.Supp.2d 904 (E.D. Mo. 1999)
  • Process Controls Intern, Inc. v. Commercial Union Ins. Companies, 16 S.W.3d 593 (Mo. App. E.D. 1999)
  • Wood v. Centermark Properties, Inc., 984 S.W. 2d 517 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
  • Schilling v. Human Support Services, 978 S.W.2d 368 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
  • Smith v. Wausau Underwriters Inc., Co., 977 S.W.2d 291 (Mo. App. W.D. 1998)
  • State ex rel. Leigh v. Dierker, 974 S.W.2d 505 (Mo. 1998)
  • United Capitol Ins. Co. v. Hoodco, Inc., 974 S.W.2d 572 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
  • Detter v. Schnuck Markets, Inc., 974 S.W.2d 605 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
  • Atlas Intermodal Trucking Services, Inc. v. United Fire & Cas. Co.,, 973 S.W.2d 174 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
  • Lang v. Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 970 S.W.2d 828 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
  • Vatterott v. Hammerts Iron Works, Inc., 968 S.W.2d 120 (Mo. 1998) (en banc)
  • McKichan v. St. Louis Hockey Club, L.P., 967 S.W.2d 209 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
  • Citizens Ins. Co. of America v. Leiendecker, 962 S.W.2d 446 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
  • Massachusetts Bay Ins. Co. v. Vic Koenig Leasing, Inc., 136 F.3d 1116 (7th Cir. Ill. 1998)
  • American States Ins. Co. v. Creative Walking, Inc., 16 F.Supp.2d 1062 (E.D. Mo. 1998)
  • United Fire & Casualty Co. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 1998 U.S. Dist. WL 995346 (E.D. Mo. 1998)
  • Borgard v. Integrated Nat. Life Ins. Co., 954 S.W.2d 532 (Mo. App. E.D. 1997)
  • U.S. Fidelity & Guar. Co. v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 943 S.W.2d 640 (Mo. 1997)
  • Hougland v. Pulitzer Pub. Co., 939 S.W.2d 31 (Mo. App. E.D. 1997)
  • Stewart v. Carron, 938 S.W.2d 636 (Mo. App. E.D. 1997)
  • Budding v. Garland Floor Co., Inc., 939 S.W.2d 419 (Mo. App. E.D. 1996)
  • Schuh Catering, Inc. v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 932 S.W.2d 907 (Mo. App. E.D. 1996)
  • Ems v. Shelter Mutual Insurance Co., 927 S.W.2d 514 (Mo. App. E.D. 1996)
  • Weinberg v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Illinois, 913 S.W.2d 59 (Mo. App. E.D. 1995)
  • State ex rel. Chase Resorts, Inc. v. Campbell, 913 S.W.2d 832 (Mo. App. E.D. 1995)
  • Transamerica Ins. Co. v. Pennsylvania Nat. Ins. Companies, 908 S.W.2d 173 (Mo. App. E.D. 1995)
  • Koeller By and Through Koeller v. Unival, Inc., 906 S.W.2d 744 (Mo. App. E.D. 1995)
  • Gutting v. Shelter Mut. Ins. Co., 905 S.W.2d 550 (Mo. App. S.D. 1995)
  • Richardson v. Farm Bureau Town & Country Ins. Co., 899 S.W.2d 119 (Mo. App. E.D. 1995)
  • Tucker v. Wibbenmeyer, 901 S.W.2d 350 (Mo. App. E.D. 1995)
  • Interstate Indem. Co. v. Utica Mut. Ins. Co., 867 F.Supp. 1355 (S.D.Ill. 1994)
  • Hicks v. Prudential General Ins. Co., 887 S.W.2d 819 (Mo. App. E.D. 1994)
  • Lemmons v. Prudential Property & Cas. Ins. Co., 878 S.W.2d 853 (Mo. App. E.D. 1994)
  • Walker v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 879 S.W.2d 596 (Mo. App. E.D. 1994)
  • Hoodco, Inc. v. United Capitol Ins. Co., 875 F.Supp. 541 (S.D.Ill. 1994)
  • Chase Resorts, Inc. v. Safety Mut. Cas. Corp., 869 S.W.2d 145 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
  • S & P Oyster Co., Inc. v. U.S. Fidelity and Guar. Co., 865 S.W.2d 145 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
  • State ex rel. Schnuck Markets, Inc. v. Koehr, 859 S.W.2d 696 (Mo. 1993)
  • George Weis Co. v. Dwyer, 867 S.W.2d 520 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
  • Gabler v. McColl, 863 S.W.2d 340 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
  • Mattingly v. Costello, 850 S.W.2d 125 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
  • Cook v. Holcomb, 854 S.W.2d 78 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
  • Palmer v. Hobart, 849 S.W.2d 135 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
  • Wilson v. St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, 845 S.W.2d 568 (Mo. App. E.D. 1992)
  • Uhle v. Sachs Elec., 831 S.E.2d 774 (Mo. App. E.D. 1992)
  • Transamerica Insurance Co. v. Carter Century State Bank, 794 F.Supp. 324 (E.D. Mo. 1992)
  • Wilson v. Boy Scouts of America, 784 F.Supp. 1422 (E.D. Mo. 1991)
  • Electro Battery Mfg. Co. v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 762 F.Supp. 844 (E.D. Mo. 1991)
  • Parker v. Midwest Distribution, Ins., 797 S.W.2d 721 (Mo. App. E.D. 1990)
  • Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Fleming, 750 F.Supp. 996 (E.D. Mo. 1990)
  • Hanover Ins. Co. v. Cameron Country Mut. Ins. Co., 730 F.Supp. 998 (E.D. Mo. 1990)
  • Conroy v. Solon Gershman, Inc., 767 S.W.2d 381 (Mo. App. E.D. 1989)
  • State ex rel. Pidgeons v. Ryan, 759 S.W.2d 837 (Mo. 1988)
  • U.S. Fire Ins. Co. v. Coleman, 754 S.W.2d 941 (Mo. App. E.D. 1988)
  • Haynes v. Hanover Ins. Companies, 783 F.2d 136 (8th Cir. Mo. 1986)
  • Valiant v. American Family Mutual Ins. Co., 698 S.W.2d 584 (Mo. App. E.D. 1984)

Professional Affiliations

  • Claims & Litigation Management Alliance
  • Council on Ethical Billing Management
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers (Past Director)
  • Property Loss Research Bureau
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (Past Member)

Awards & Achievements

  • Best Lawyers - Arbitration, Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Best Lawyer of the Year- Insurance Law (2024)
  • Chambers & Partners, Missouri - Insurance, Band 1 (2020-2022)
  • Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star (2022)
  • Best Lawyers - Insurance Law, The Best Lawyers in America (2012-2022)
  • Super Lawyers - Insurance Coverage, Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers (2005-2021)
  • Lawyer of the Year - Insurance Law, The Best Lawyers in America (2013, 2018, 2020)
  • Wall Street Journal Lawyer of the Year Award for St. Louis (2018)
  • University of Missouri School of Law, Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution, Certification in Mediation Training for Civil Cases (2017)
  • Largest Reported Settlement in Missouri in 2015, Missouri Lawyers Awards 2016, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
  • Elected a Fellow in the American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel 2016
  • St. Louis' Best Lawyers - Insurance Law, St. Louis Magazine (2012-2018)
  • Awarded No. 1 Defense Verdict in State of Missouri, Missouri Lawyers Weekly 2009
  • Awarded No. 7 Largest Plaintiff's Verdict, Missouri Lawyers Weekly 2005
  • Awarded No. 1 Defense Verdict in State of Missouri, Missouri Lawyers Weekly 2001
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
   

Publications

  • Missouri General Assembly Passes Fair Settlements Bill
  • Reviewer, Insurance Practice, Fifth Edition, Vol. I and II, The Missouri Bar (2004)
  • Editor, The Firm Inquiry, Brown & James quarterly newsletter
  • Author and Featured Speaker, "Bad Faith Litigation in Missouri," IBI Institute (2004)
  • Author, Arson, Fraud and First Party Insurance, A Guide to Property Insurance Law and Procedures in Missouri and Illinois, (1994, 2nd edition in 2001)
  • Author, "Tortious Wrongful Discharge vs. Employment at Will," St. Louis Bar Journal (1989)
  • Author, "Arson, Fraud and The First Party Insurance Contract," Journal of Missouri Bar (1988)

Speaking Engagements

  • Presenter, "Bad Faith and Missouri: Current Trends and Observations," Brown & James Insurance Law & General Defense Symposium, January 2021
  • Presenter, “Recent Trends in Plaintiffs' Attorneys' Tactics to Drive High Verdicts and Settlements from Voir Dire to Closing,” Brown & James General Defense & Insurance Law Symposium, January 2020
  • Presenter, "Navigating Multi-Party Claims," Brown & James General Defense & Insurance Law Symposium, January 2019
  • Presenter, "2017 Tort Reform Update," Brown & James General Defense & Insurance Law Symposium, January 2018
  • "Presenter, "Section 537.065 - The New Legislation and Its Impact on Claims Handling," Brown and James Tort Reform Seminar: A New Day in Missouri, September 2017
  • Presenter, "Highway to Hell: Maintaining Control When Faced With Third-Party Bad Faith Set-ups and Consent Judgments," DRI Insurance Bad Faith and Extra Contractual Liability Seminar, June 2017
  • Presenter, "Good & Bad Faith Claims,” 38th Annual Insurance Day (I-Day) for the Central Missouri Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) Society Chapter and the Insurance Professionals of Mid-Missouri (IPMM), September 2017
  • Presenter, "Section 537.065 - The New Legislation and Its Impact on Claims Handling," 2017 Brown & James Tort Reform Seminar: A New Day in Missouri, September 2017
  • Presenter, "Missouri's 537.065 Statute: The Good, the Bad, and is There Room for the Not So Ugly?" Brown & James General Defense & Insurance Law Symposium (January 2017)
  • Presenter, "Recent Trends in Bad Faith," Brown & James Law Symposium (January 2016)
  • Presenter, "The Ever-Evolving Co-Employee Liability Law - Have We Reached The End?" Brown & James Law Symposium (January 2013)
  • Presenter, "Class Actions: Plaintiff's Attorney's Dream, Insurance Carrier's Nightmare," Annual Conference of the Council on Litigation Management - CLM (2010)
  • Presenter, "Bad Faith Insurance, How to Defend," Missouri Claims Managers Conference
  • Speaker, Missouri State Bar conference (2007-2009)
  • Presenter, "Class Actions: Plaintiff's Attorney's Dream, Insurance Carrier's Nightmare," Central Claims Executives Association Conference (2008)
  • Featured regional and national speaker for the Property Loss Research Bureau
  • Frequent speaker at local and state bar trial practice seminars

Practices

Education

  • Saint Louis University School of Law (J.D.)
  • Southern Illinois University (B.A.)

Bar Admissions

  • Missouri
  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit