Danna McKitrick News

Attorney Misty Watson Discusses Air Travel for Persons with Disabilities

2013-05-16T20:10:40Z

With all of its security precautions, flight delays, connecting flights, etc., air travel for any passenger is stressful. Just imagine the difficulties of air travel for persons with special needs.

Attorney Misty Watson discusses the legal rights of passengers with disabilities with Christine Buck on KPLR11-TV.

Watch the video:

For more information on travel for persons with special needs, read Misty’s blog post “Lessening the Stress of Travel for Travelers with Disabilities.”

KPLR 11 News – Making Travel Easier For People With Disabilities
Click here to read 2013 Special Needs Community Newsletter

James Heffner Gets Mention for Helping with Success of One of St. Louis’ Fastest Growing Companies

2013-04-23T22:12:41Z

Innovative Construction and Roofing has been named St. Louis’ second fastest growing company for 2013 by the St. Louis Business Journal. Innovative was one of 25 companies recognized as St. Louis’ Fastest Growing Companies for 2013. Each privately-owned company was evaluated for growth based on revenue increases over the past three years.

Since its inception in 2008, Innovative Construction and Roofing has never stopped growing. Revenue growth over three years is 248.03%. According to Patrick McNichols, who is an owner/principal along with Christian Larson and Brian Benson, Innovative’s growth is the result of planning (infrastructure and job management), marketing and referrals.

McNichols gave the key to Innovative’s success:

The principals stay in communication and work through the planning process…. Attorney James Heffner with Danna McKitrick PC has been helpful in that process, as well as customers in different industries who lend ideas. Other customers include Habitat for Humanity and area churches, including parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Read the full article here.

Misty A. Watson Honored at 2013 International Women’s Day Celebration

2013-04-16T15:36:59Z

Misty A. Watson
Attorney at Law

St. Louis, Mo. – April 16, 2013 – Danna McKitrick, P.C. Attorney Misty A. Watson has been recognized by the Washington University Women’s Law Caucus as an International Women’s Day 2013 Honoree. The Women’s Law Caucus celebrated its 40th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day by recognizing Watson and eight others for their volunteer work in the legal community and their contributions to the advancements of women in law.

Watson was honored for her work as a volunteer lawyer at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM). Watson is the co-founder of the Guardianship and Older Adult Life Planning Project (GOAL Planning Project), a new project offered by LSEM in conjunction with Washington University School of Law. The GOAL Planning Project provides legal assistance for those seeking guardianship over another individual and assists individuals age 60 and above with preparing life planning documents, such as wills, living wills, or durable powers of attorney, and medical care directives. Individuals must qualify financially for assistance through LSEM.

Past honorees include: Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, U.S. Supreme Court; Jean Carnahan, former U.S. Senator; Robin Carnahan, former Missouri Secretary of State; and Hon. Catherine Perry, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri.

Watson, an estate planning attorney, focuses her practice on estate planning, administration, and probate. She counsels individuals, families, and business owners in the creation of trusts, wills, financial and health care powers of attorney, guardianships, and conservatorships. She also guides trustees through the complexities of the trust administration process.

An active volunteer, Watson is a board member of the Young Friends of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. She is a Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition junior board member and a member of the PROMO Governor’s Council. She is also an active member of the St. Louis ARC Young Friends.

A graduate with a B.S.W. from East Central University, Watson earned both her LL.M. in Taxation and J.D. from Washington University School of Law. She is a member of the Estate Planning Council, The Women Lawyer’s Association of Greater St. Louis, the American Bar Association, The Missouri Bar and the Bar Association of St. Louis. Watson is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Illinois.

Patrick T. Hinrichs and Emery A. Reusch Join Danna McKitrick’s Litigation Practice

2013-04-02T20:41:54Z

Firm’s Insurance Defense Practice Continues Growth with Addition of Two Litigators

St. Louis, Mo. – April 2, 2013 – The law firm of Danna McKitrick, P.C. has announced that Patrick T. Hinrichs and Emery A. Reusch have joined its litigation practice group. Their additions continue a trend of growth in the firm’s litigation defense practice in 2013, beginning in February when Matthew R. Fields joined the firm as a principal, moving his toxic tort and insurance defense litigation practice to the firm. Hinrichs and Reusch will focus their practices primarily on insurance defense, toxic tort litigation, products and premises liability, and workers’ compensation.

“With the expansion of our insurance defense practice, especially in the area of toxic tort litigation, Emery and Patrick are great additions to our team. Emery has had a long standing desire to become a trial attorney. Given his enthusiasm, work ethic, and encyclopedic knowledge of the rules of evidence, we are confident that he will be an asset to our firm,” said David Bohm, principal with the firm and head of the litigation practice group. “Patrick brings experience representing employers and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation claims and adds additional litigation depth to our team.”

Patrick T. Hinrichs
Attorney at Law

Hinrichs previously worked for a regional defense firm, where he represented employers and insurance carriers in Missouri and Illinois in workers’ compensation claims in hearings, drafted briefs at both the trial level and appellate level, and conducted depositions of employees, employers and medical experts. During law school, Patrick clerked for the Honorable Judge Sherri B. Sullivan in the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District.

Hinrichs earned his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law (2010), with a concentration in Tax Law, where he also received a Certificate in Employment Law from the Wefel Center for Employment Law, and was an officer for the Employment Law Association. He graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri in Columbia with a B.S.B.A. in banking and finance (2007). Admitted to practice law in Missouri and Illinois, Hinrichs is a member of the American Bar Association and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.

Emery A. Reusch
Attorney at Law

Reusch earned his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2012, where he received the Everett J. Hullverson Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy and Trial Practice and was a captain on the Trial Advocacy Team. Reusch received an Academic Award in Negotiations as well as the Vincent C. Immel Scholarship and Dean’s Scholarship.

While in law school, Reusch worked as a clerk at the Social Security Administration Office of Disability Adjudication and Review where he drafted decisions in disability appeal cases.

Reusch graduated with a B.A., cum laude, in political science and a minor in philosophy from Saint Louis University in 2009; he also earned a Certificate in Legal Studies. He received an award for Excellence in Advocacy from the Saint Louis University Pre-Law Program, and was honored at mock trial competitions as an Outstanding Regional Attorney and an Outstanding Intercollegiate Attorney. Reusch is admitted to practice law in Missouri, and is a member of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.

Read People in the St. Louis Business Journal …

Attorney Matthew R. Fields Moves Practice to Danna McKitrick

2013-03-06T16:24:43Z

St. Louis Law Firm Expands Insurance Defense Practice, Adds Toxic Tort Defense

Matthew R. Fields
Attorney at Law

St. Louis, Mo. – March 5, 2013 – The law firm of Danna McKitrick, P.C. has announced that Matthew R. Fields has joined the firm as its newest principal. Fields joins Danna McKitrick’s litigation practice, where he focuses on toxic tort litigation, defending claims of harm to health or damage to property allegedly caused by product exposure, particularly asbestos.

Fields’ practice includes insurance defense and commercial litigation. His trial experience includes jury trials to verdict in favor of his clients. He also has tried successful multimillion dollar cases involving issues such as personal injury, contractual disputes, and fraud.

“Danna McKitrick is proud to have Matt Fields join our litigation team,” said Dan Tobben, principal and head of the litigation practice. “The work he is doing in the area of toxic tort litigation expands our litigation practice into a new service area. We have a strong insurance defense team, and Matt’s experience will add even greater depth.”

Due to his extensive tort litigation and insurance defense experience, Fields has become a frequent speaker and author on topics relating to tort litigation as well as managing complex insurance coverage cases and mastering the art of effective depositions.

“As my toxic tort litigation practice has grown, I found my clients could benefit from the resources of a larger firm,” said Fields. “Danna McKitrick’s reputation as a strong insurance defense firm, as well as offering its full range of services, offers both my clients and me the support and resources we need to be successful. For me, joining a top 20 St. Louis law firm is an honor, and it will allow me to expand my practice while providing my clients with the continued high quality service they expect and deserve.”

Fields is admitted in Missouri and Illinois, as well as U.S. District Courts, Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, and Southern District of Illinois. He has appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute.

A graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a B.A. degree in political science and pre-law, he earned his J.D. degree from Saint Louis University School of Law. An active member in his community, he serves on the board for the Shamrock Scramble and is a member of the major grants committee and former board member of the Webster Groves School District Foundation.

Read “People” in St. Louis Business Journal

Read “Business” in St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Kevin E. Myers is Newly Elected Principal at Danna McKitrick, P.C.

2013-02-12T16:39:46Z

Law Firm Promotes Insurance Lawyer

St. Louis, Mo. – February 12, 2013 – The law firm of Danna McKitrick, P.C., is pleased to announce the election of Kevin E. Myers to the position of principal, effective February 1, 2013. Myers advises and represents clients in matters involving insurance coverage and disputes over policy analysis. He also represents individuals, insurers and businesses in tort and contract matters throughout Missouri and Illinois, with a concentration in insurance coverage, extra-contractual and bad faith litigation.

“Kevin is an excellent lawyer,” said Dan Tobben, principal and head of litigation at the firm. “Kevin is very bright and hard working. He is committed to zealously representing his clients, and understands the need to do so in a cost-effective manner. These traits, along with his extensive experience in representing insurance companies and tort defendants, help Kevin to consistently obtain the best results possible for his clients. We are extremely pleased and proud that he has agreed to become a principal in our firm.”

When asked why he joined Danna McKitrick, Myers stated,

“I like the challenge of examining complex issues from many angles and finding solutions in areas of law that are constantly changing, which I regularly get to do at Danna McKitrick. I’ve found that close attention to detail and rigorous logical analysis have been the two most important tools in my practice, whether in advising a client as to the rights and duties under a contract or insurance policy or in formulating an argument for a brief in a trial or appellate court,” said Myers. “Working at Danna McKitrick provides the opportunity to test my opinions, analyses and strategies by collaborating with a number of attorneys bringing multiple perspectives to an issue and come to the best conclusion for the client.”

Prior to joining Danna McKitrick, Myers practiced at a litigation firm in St. Louis. He is admitted to the bar in Missouri and Illinois, as well as the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Eighth Circuits, and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Northern and Southern Districts of Illinois. He is a member of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, the Missouri Bar, the St. Clair County Bar Association, and the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers.

Myers earned his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law, where he was the executive editor of the Saint Louis University Public Law Review. He graduated summa cum laude from Saint Louis University with a B.A. in Russian studies and political science.

Successful Legal Malpractice Litigation Leads to Award for Attorneys Dan Tobben and Kara Helmuth

2013-01-28T16:51:55Z

In recognition of receiving a summary judgment and prior dismissal on claims worth $28 million, Missouri Lawyers Weekly honored Danna McKitrick, P.C. Attorneys Daniel G. Tobben and Kara D. Helmuth, along with the rest of the defense team, as “Missouri Attorneys Securing the Largest Defense Verdicts in 2012” at the 2013 Missouri Lawyers Awards.

In June 2012, Tobben and Helmuth were part of a team that successfully represented an attorney against a legal malpractice lawsuit brought by Coin Acceptors, Inc.

In Coin Acceptors Inc. (“Coinco”) v. Haverstock, Garrett & Roberts et al., Judge Robert H. Dierker Jr. granted summary judgment in favor of the lawyers and law firms on the claims related to one of the disputed patents where the attorneys involved had allegedly mishandled patent infringement litigation. The claims related to alleged malpractice concerning a different patent were previously dismissed by Judge Dierker due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Collectively the claims were for $28 million against the attorneys and law firms who represented Coinco in the original litigation, which began in 1990, and involved multiple Mars Inc. patents on two coin acceptor designs. Coinco ultimately lost its patent-infringement case, paying Mars a total of $27.7 million.

The federal court judge in the Mars v. Coinco case originally ruled in Coinco’s favor when he deemed the Mars’ patent invalid, thus finding no patent infringement by Coinco. However, following reargument, the judge changed his opinion on the validity and deemed the patent valid, which caused the patent infringement against Coinco to stand. By “correcting” his previous opinion, the judge ruled in favor of Mars and against Coinco.

In the malpractice lawsuit, Tobben, Helmuth and the rest of the defense team successfully argued that Coinco attorneys and its law firm are not liable to Coinco for the $27.7 million it paid out to Mars to settle the judgments in the underlying case.

According to an article published in Missouri Lawyers Weekly on the summary judgment in June 2012, Judge Dierker did not buy Coinco’s argument that “the federal judge would not have reversed himself had the lawyers not been negligent:”

“‘Judges, even federal judges, are presumed to know and follow the law, … and while judges may no doubt be misled by an attorney’s arguments, if a judge makes an error of law the source of that error can and must be the judge alone,’ he wrote in his 29-page judgment.”

Tobben’s assessment of the decision was straightforward: “‘If what you say happened didn’t cause the result, there’s no basis for a lawsuit.’”

James M. Heffner Elected Principal at Danna McKitrick, P.C.

2013-01-16T16:54:52Z

Real Estate and Banking Attorney Promoted by Law Firm

St. Louis, Mo. – January 16, 2013 – The law firm of Danna McKitrick, P.C., is pleased to announce the election of James M. Heffner to the position of principal, effective January 1, 2013. A transactional lawyer, Heffner concentrates his practice in banking and finance, corporate, and real estate law.

“James came to our firm as a law clerk, and it has been a great experience to work with him and watch him grow into such a strong lead attorney,” said Ron Danna, senior principal and co-founder of the firm. “His representation for his clients is thorough, thoughtful, and strategic. We are proud to have him as a member of our firm.”

In addition to his law practice, Heffner co-chairs the firm’s marketing committee and mentors younger attorneys in the firm.

“I am very pleased to be elected as a principal of Danna McKitrick. When I was given the opportunity as a law clerk to join the firm, I knew this was a firm where I would be able to gain the experience necessary to become the attorney I wanted to be,” said Heffner. “From day one, they have encouraged me to grow my practice, and have provided me with the indispensable resources, support and tools I needed.”

Admitted to the bar in Missouri and Illinois, Heffner is also admitted in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Missouri. He is a member of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, the Missouri Bar and the Illinois State Bar. Heffner is a frequent speaker for real estate law CLE’s and seminars.

Heffner serves on the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center Development Board and the Webster Groves Board of Adjustment. He is a graduate of Leadership Clayton and was the recipient of the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Corporate Achievers Leadership Award.

Heffner obtained his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law and his B.A., with honors, from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He also earned a German Proficiency Certificate from the Universität Tübingen.

Patrick Murphy, Attorney and CPA, on “Fiscal Cliff” Legislation

2013-01-09T22:40:14Z

Attorney and CPA Patrick J. Murphy updated KPLR News anchor Christine Buck on the “fiscal cliff” and what the last-minute legislation passed by the Senate and the House means to businesses and individuals – now and down the road.

Click below to watch the interview:

Attorney Misty Watson on Planning for the Care of Your Pets

2013-01-07T15:44:56Z

People love their pets, and often treat them as they would their own children.

However, as estate planning attorney Misty Watson has observed, difficulties arise when a pet owner is no longer able to care for a pet – and no legal provisions have been made for the care of the pet.

See below for recent interviews Watson provided on planning for the care of your pet if/when you are no longer able:

KMOX – TIAM Weekend – Pets in Your Will
KPLR 11 News – Planning for Pets in Your Estate