Results

Automobile Collision - $550,000 Settlement

Wrongful Death - $1.5 Million Judgment

Criminal: Man Acquitted of Murder by Jury

My client was charged with Murder in the 1st Degree and Armed Criminal Action as a result of a shooting in rural Scotland County, Missouri. Many of the facts were undisputed, with my client acknowledging that he shot the individual multiple times. After a three day trial and four hours of deliberation, my client was acquitted of Murder 1st, Murder 2nd, and Involuntary Manslaughter 1st, being convicted of only a Class D Felony of Involuntary Manslaughter in the 2nd Degree and the Armed Criminal Action Charge. This was an exceptional victory and relief for my client who was only 22 years old at the time.

Accidental Shooting: Hunter shot during Turkey Season - $750,000 Judgment

The Court actually awarded this judgment following a Motion to Enforce Judgment we filed along with a Motion for Sanctions. This case is a reminder to anyone who hunts or owns a gun that any mistake with a weapon is always serious and has the potential to be fatal. My client in this case was merely turkey hunting when another hunter on an adjoining piece of property shot him because he “thought he was a turkey.”

Criminal: Man Acquitted by Jury of Forcible Rape and Armed Criminal Action

My client was charged with Forcible Rape and Armed Criminal Action as a result of allegations made by a young female. Looking at a potential life imprisonment on both charges, and a guaranteed 85% prison term on the Forcible Rape charge, my 31 year old client decided that he would take his chances with a jury trial. After a three day trial, the jury acquitted my client of all charges. In a rare decision, the Court also awarded my client a judgment in the amount of his costs associated with the trial against the State of Missouri.

Criminal- Man Acquitted of Attempting to Kill Officers by Jury

Two Sheriff’s Deputies accused my client of trying to kill them by allegedly grabbing one of the deputy’s service pistol and “attempting to dislodge it from the holster in order to shoot them.” The two (2) felonies were Class A Felony charges, carrying a range of punishment of up to 30 years or life in prison on each charge, a grim outlook for a 26 year old man with a fiancé and a six week old baby at the time of trial. Unwilling to accept any plea offer, my client wanted a jury trial. After two days of jury trial and having heard 15 witnesses testify for the State and for my client, the jury acquitted my client of the felonies. He went home to his family that night, and ultimately received misdemeanor probation.

Vicious Animal - $14,000 Settlement

My client was bitten by a neighbor’s dog. According to my client’s statements, the dog’s owner failed to maintain the dog as required by the city ordinance in the town where this occurred. Though not one of the more significant settlements I have reached for a client, it was very significant for the fact that the actual medical bills were only $800.00.

Vexatious Refusal Damages v. Insurance Company

This was my first jury trial, and it was over about $4,000.00. I represented a company that owned a truck that was insured by the partner that drove the truck. The partner was driving down the highway during a storm when a power line pole fell across the truck. The insurance company offered to pay $4,000.00 to settle the claim originally, then decided that it would not for various reasons, claiming my client was trying to pull one on them by insuring the vehicle under a different name than the owner. In pursuing this case, we sued for “vexatious refusal” damages – essentially punitive damages against an insured’s insurance company –, for the damage to the truck, and for attorney fees. The jury awarded my client close to $9,000.00, finding that the insurance company had wrongfully denied the claim without a justifiable reason. My client would have settled for less than the original offer.

Mobile Home Sales – Unfair Practices

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office actually got involved in one of these cases after we were able to convince the mobile home dealer to settle with my client. The cases that I have handled are pretty similar: a person puts down money on a mobile home, then is unable to purchase the home. The mobile home company then claims that their contract allows them to keep any monies that were deposited, sometimes very substantial sums, even though they still have the mobile home sitting on their lot ready to sell to another buyer.

Criminal – Man Acquitted by Jury

The State had alleged that my client had ridden to another individual’s house, got out of the car, and damaged one of the vehicles sitting on the property. He was charged with destruction of property and trespassing. The State actually dismissed one of these charges before trial and tried to prove my client was an accomplice on the other charge, and therefore should be convicted. The jury acquitted him after an hour of deliberation.

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