Danna McKitrick Media

Danna McKitrick Attorneys Jeff Schmitt & Misty Watson Named to 2017 Missouri Rising Stars

2017-11-08T15:58:06Z

Jeffrey R. Schmitt
Attorney at Law

Jeffrey R. Schmitt and Misty A. Watson, attorneys with the Danna McKitrick, P.C. law firm, have been selected to the 2017 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers & Rising Stars list.

This is the seventh consecutive year that Schmitt, a litigation attorney, has been named to the Rising Star list (2011-2017). He practices in the areas of banking and finance, real estate, litigation, pensions, and retirement plans.

Watson, an estate planning attorney, is receiving the honor for the third consecutive year (2014-2017). Her practice focus is estate-related: planning, administration, and probate. She creates trusts, wills, financial and health care powers of attorney, guardianships, and conservatorships.

Misty A. Watson
Attorney at Law

Up to 2.5 percent of attorneys in Missouri 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less are selected annually by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multi-phase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.

Judge: Former St. Louis Excise Commissioner Robert Kraiberg Should Be Reinstated

2017-11-01T13:54:22Z

In March 2016, the City of St. Louis fired Robert Kraiberg from his position as excise commissioner. Kraiberg was fired without being provided a statement of cause, as required by the civil service provisions of the city charter. Kraiberg’s firing was upheld by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). The CSC decision was reversed on October 2, 2017 in a judgment issued by St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Robert Dierker, who ordered that Kraiberg be reinstated, with back pay and benefits.

According to David Bohm, attorney for Kraiberg, “This is a vindication of Mr. Kraiberg, with Judge Dierker finding that the city wrongfully failed to follow the civil service provisions of the charter and civil service rules when it fired Mr. Kraiberg without cause. This is a victory not only for Mr. Kraiberg, but also for civil service protections and the rule of law, generally.”

Judge Dierker further found that it was improper for political appointees of the former administration to attempt to influence the “quasi-judicial” decisions of the excise commissioner regarding license applications in “back room” meetings.

Finally, the judge found that it was an improper conflict of interest for the city counselor to be present in closed meetings of the CSC at which Kraiberg’s appeal was decided (and at which Kraiberg and his attorney were not allowed to be present), given that the city counselor’s office had represented the director of public safety at the hearing before the commission’s hearing officer.

Bohm added, “It is hoped that the city will turn a new page, reinstate Mr. Kraiberg, and scrupulously comply with civil service requirements in the future, rather than attempting an end run around these provisions, as did the previous city administration.”

St. Louis Post-Dispatch article – 10/4/17
Riverfront Times article – 10/4/17

Keith Unger Joins Danna McKitrick Litigation Team

2017-11-01T13:47:04Z

Danna McKitrick, P.C. has announced the addition of Keith P. Unger to the firm as an associate in the litigation department. He concentrates his practice on defending employers and insurers in workers’ compensation claims.

Keith P. Unger
Attorney at Law

Unger has additional experience assisting corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and other business organizations with business transactions and related issues.

Unger graduated from the University of Missouri- Columbia with a B.S. in accounting. He earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law where he was a member of the UMKC Law Review and The Urban Lawyer law journal. Unger is licensed to practice law in Missouri.

Danna McKitrick Continues to Support the Mission of the Missouri Physicians Health Program

2016-12-16T19:43:59Z

(l-r) David Bohm, attorney, with Robert Bondurant and Mary Fahey with Missouri Physicians Health Program

Danna McKitrick, P.C. continues to support the mission of the Missouri Physicians Health Program (“MoPHP”) with a contribution to fund services provided by MoPHP to medical residents who could not otherwise afford to participate.

MoPHP is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization which provides assistance and monitoring services to physicians and medical residents who are impaired as a result of alcohol or substance abuse, or who suffer from psychological problems, so that they may overcome their impairment and safely practice medicine.

Danna McKitrick Attorneys Jeff Schmitt & Misty Watson Named to 2016 Missouri Rising Stars

2016-12-01T19:48:39Z

Jeffrey R. Schmitt
Attorney at Law

Jeffrey R. Schmitt and Misty A. Watson, attorneys with the Danna McKitrick, P.C. law firm, have been selected to the 2016 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers & Rising Stars list. Up to 2.5 percent of attorneys in Missouri 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less are selected annually by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.

This is the sixth consecutive year that Schmitt has been named to the Rising Star list (2011-2016). He practices in the areas of banking and finance, real estate, litigation, pensions, and retirement plans. He was previously recognized by The Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section as a “Young Lawyer You Should Know.”

Misty A. Watson
Attorney at Law

Watson is receiving the honor for the third consecutive year (2014-2016). Her practice focus is estate-related: planning, administration, and probate. She creates trusts, wills, financial and health care powers of attorney, guardianships, and conservatorships.

Federal Judge Rules in Favor of PSL Owners in Lawsuit Against the Rams

2016-09-23T16:44:16Z

A federal judge in St. Louis has ruled that persons who had purchased Personal Seat Licenses (PSLs) and continued to purchase season tickets through the end of the team’s tenure in St. Louis are entitled to compensation or to purchase season tickets in LA, depending upon the PSL agreement which they had entered into.

David R. Bohm
Attorney at Law

Two contracts exist: one with FANS Inc. and the other with the Rams.

PSL owners who purchased from FANS Inc. will receive a refund. The Court held that by moving to LA, the Rams had terminated the PSL agreement with those PSL holders who entered into an agreement with FANS, Inc., but not with fans who had entered into an agreement with the Rams.

The Court held that the PSL agreement with the Rams had not terminated when the team moved, and those who had entered into a PSL agreement directly with the Rams are entitled to buy season tickets in Los Angeles.

“We are pleased with the judge’s decision recognizing that the Rams owe a duty to all PSL holders,” said David Bohm, attorney with Danna McKitrick, P.C. who represents several clients with Rams contracts.

Media:

AP Big Story – Associated Press and AP national feed picked up by dozens of local, regional, and national news sites including:

David Crane Recognized in 2017 “Best Lawyers in America©”

2016-08-30T14:14:42Z

The law firm of Danna McKitrick P.C. is pleased to announce that David D. Crane has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2017. Crane is recognized in field of Insurance Law. He was also selected to the 2014, 2015, and 2016 lists.

David D. Crane
Attorney at Law

Crane has represented numerous fidelity and surety companies, owners, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in claims, mechanic’s liens, trials and appeals. He concentrates his practice in areas of construction, insurance, and real estate.

Crane is admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth, Seventh and Eighth Circuits, and the U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, District of Colorado, and Southern District of Illinois. He earned his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law and is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis.

In addition to his litigation practice, Crane is a former chair of the Missouri Air Conservation Commission. He was appointed and served as a municipal judge for the cities of Clayton and Frontenac, Missouri.

Best Lawyers® is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.

Jim Baalmann Honored as Missouri Lawyers Media 2016 “Unsung Hero”

2016-08-10T15:14:17Z

Congratulations to Jim Baalmann, Director of Administration at Danna McKitrick, on being honored by Missouri Lawyers Media (MLM) as a 2016 “Unsung Hero” for his work in Firm Administration at the firm.

James G. Baalmann, Jr.
Director of Administration

MLM recognized 21 Unsung Hero honorees in the July 18 edition of Missouri Lawyers Weekly in these categories: accounting, legal education, firm administration, IT, legal marketing, legal secretary, and paralegal.

According to MLM, Unsung Heroes are “those employees who attorneys rely on day-in and day-out to consistently support their efforts.”

Click here to learn more about Jim and the other Unsung Hero honorees.

Jeff Schmitt on Considerations for Short-term Rentals via Internet Outlets

2016-07-29T16:47:34Z

Jeff Schmitt, real estate attorney with Danna McKitrick, P.C., spoke with Dan Gray on the KTVI Fox2 News about important considerations regarding using online outlets such as AirBnB and VRBO to rent your home or condo on a short-term basis and advice for renters as well.

Watch the full interview here – starting at the 2:00 mark:

For additional information on short-term rentals, including tips for homeowner and condominium associations, read the following articles by Jeff Schmitt:

Michael Cherba Joins Danna McKitrick Litigation Team

2016-07-29T14:56:42Z

Danna McKitrick, P.C. has announced the addition of Michael R. Cherba to the Danna McKitrick litigation team. He will primarily concentrate his practice on insurance-related, business, probate, and civil litigation matters.

Michael R. Cherba
Attorney at Law

Cherba received his Juris Doctorate degree from Washington University in 2007. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Missouri Attorney General’s office, where his practice included consumer protection, administrative/professional licensing, and a wide variety of other types of cases. While with the Attorney General, Cherba litigated more than 50 bench trials and defended 20 administrative decisions in judicial review actions before the circuit court. He also briefed and argued six cases in the Missouri Court of Appeals. Cherba was also part of a team in the Attorney General’s office which successfully defended ballot language related to efforts to repeal Missouri’s Non-Partisan Court Plan.

Prior to his career as an attorney, Cherba served in two federal positions in Washington, D.C. He was Special Assistant to the Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and a Staff Assistant/Caseworker in The White House, Office of Agency Liaison.

Cherba is an active volunteer as board secretary with Young Friends of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, and president of the board of directors for Willows Way, Inc. He is also a leisure activity program volunteer for St. Louis Arc.