Michael A. Preston

Michael A. Preston

Mike Preston is a trial lawyer with deep experience, having practiced law nearly 40 years. He has handled claims involving condemnation, adverse possession, and nuisance. Mike has also defended professionals, including lawyers, doctors and nurses, as well as nursing homes and organizations for the disabled. Mike has also prosecuted claims for clients in cases involving covenants not to compete, unfair business practices and products liability.

Mike worked as a brakeman for the Missouri Pacific Railroad before and while attending law school. Not surprisingly, he’s gone on to represent railroads, defending numerous claims arising under the Federal Employers Liability Act or stemming from grade crossing accidents.

Mike has done considerable appellate work, too, authoring briefs and arguing before appellate courts in Missouri and Kansas, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Practice Groups

Healthcare

Quick advisers and zealous defenders for healthcare-based institutions and individuals, the Healthcare Group at Wallace Saunders offers something few healthcare groups can – all of our lawyers have been with the group for an average of 20 years. So you know you’re getting experienced healthcare counsel with long-standing client relationships.

Insurance

Insurance issues can escalate from simple to complex quickly, and you need attorneys able to handle it all. With Wallace Saunders, you can rest assured the attorneys in our Insurance Practice Group have a command of insurance law and litigation. In fact, the firm was founded more than 50 years ago with insurance at the core of our practice.

Litigation

Founded as a litigation firm in 1963, our attorneys carry on our tradition of substantial deposition and courtroom experience, with hands-on training that begins early in every attorney’s career. The litigation department is the largest practice area at Wallace Saunders, with more than half of our attorneys working under the Litigation Practice Area umbrella.

Professional Liability

Most professionals regularly handle situations where they cannot guarantee specific results for their clients or patients. This makes them vulnerable to professional liability lawsuits. Choosing the right attorney to defend such lawsuits is critical. Additionally, the best defense against professional liability claims begins before a claim ever gets filed.

Transportation: Railroad and Trucking

When it comes to trucking and railroading, our attorneys are with you from the start, emphasizing early response to losses. Our transportation attorneys are on call 24/7 to respond to serious accidents and emergencies by visiting accident scenes to gather and preserve evidence. This helps lay the groundwork for a careful investigation and vigorous claim defense. We have an established emergency response protocol, and will work with a team of accident reconstructionists, field investigators, and criminal defense attorneys, when needed, to immediately respond to trucking, railroading, and other transportation accidents and emergencies.

Personal

Mike is a proud alumnus of Baker University, which he and only he refers to as the “Harvard of the Midwest”.

Diligent • Loyal • Trusted

Education

Washburn University School of Law, Juris Doctor

Magna Cum Laude

Baker University, B.A., Sociology

Professional Practice

2019 to present: Wallace Saunders

Of Counsel

1999-2018: Yeretsky & Maher
1989-1999: Levy & Craig
1980-1989: McDonald & Dykes

Professional Licensure

Trial and appellate courts of Kansas and Missouri
U.S. District Court of Kansas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

Professional Accomplishments

Participated and has been the lead trial attorney on numerous jury trials, trials to the court, administrative hearings and arbitrations.
Member of the National Association Railroad Trial Counsel.

Civic Activities

Kansas Bar Association
The Missouri Bar
Johnson County Bar Association
Wyandotte County Bar Association
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association

News + Events + Alerts

Attorneys Chris Confer and Stephanie Blaylock return to present at AAR “Claims School”

The American Association of Railroads (“AAR”) recently held its annual “Claims School” – a training and education opportunity the AAR provides to claims representatives of various railroads. Last year, Mr. Confer and Ms. Blaylock presented at the Claims School, and because that presentation was so successful, the AAR invited Mr. Confer and Ms. Blaylock to give this presentation again to a new group of attendees.

Greg Bentz makes presentation at the American Hospital Association Annual Meeting in Washington D.C.

Greg Bentz made a presentation at the American Hospital Association Annual Meeting in Washington D.C. on April 23rd, 2023. The presentation was jointly made by Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin, The President and CEO of the Joint Commission, and Mr. Bentz. The topic was “Revitalize Your Board’s Focus on Quality and Patient Safety.”