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 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.”

Mr. Bentz spoke about the challenges and opportunities he sees for boards and the value provided by AHA Trustee Services.

Read the full interview here

Together with Thomson Reuters—a global analyst of legal talent—we congratulate eight of our lawyers selected for inclusion in 2022 Missouri-Kansas Super Lawyers: James Sanders, Angela Clark, Tim Finnerty, Schalie Johnson, Kip Kubin, Bryan Kelly, Ken Morton and Mark Ware. We especially recognize Mr. Sanders and Mr. Finnerty, both of whom have received this honor for 10 or more consecutive years and Mr. Kubin for 15 or more consecutive years. 

https://www.newstribune.com/news/2022/nov/10/bobby-bostic-supporters-celebrate-freedom-at/

During the first of their presentations, Mr. Confer and Ms. Blaylock provided the audience members with initial information that traditionally would be provided to claims specialists, information that would be learned throughout discovery, as well as last-minute evidence that may be uncovered at or shortly before trial (and subsequently admitted at trial). Conference attendees were divided into six sub-groups for them to discuss and assess the information as it was presented, which facilitated an ultimate discussion of why each sub-group did what it did in terms of each sub-group’s evaluation of the facts and monetary exposure and allowed for a conversation about how all of the provided material impacted those sub-groups’ case evaluation, as well as jury behavior, and jury verdict results in the real world.

Wallace Saunders attorneys Tom Hayes, Chris Confer, and Stephanie Blaylock recently attended the 27th Annual Railroad Liability Conference, which is put on by America’s leading short line railroads. This year’s conference was held in St. Louis, Missouri and was long awaited, as it was the first time the conference has taken place since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Because of their significant experience in railroad litigation, the above Wallace Saunders attorneys were asked to present at the conference with Asim S. Raza (Chief Legal Officer, Director of Corporate Affairs – Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis), Onna Houck (General Counsel – Iowa Interstate Railroad), and Kristin Bevil (General Counsel – Pioneer Lines) on the topic: “On Site Counsel – Lessons Learned.”

The Kansas Court of Appeals issued a published decision on March 18, 2022, in favor of our client, in Turner v. Pleasant Acres, No. 123,552, distinguishing federal case law that had been in place since 1981. The Court of Appeals held that, despite the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit’s opinion in Knight v. Insurance Company of North America, 647 F.2d 127 (10th Cir. 1981), the Kansas Workers Compensation Act, specifically K.S.A. §44-504(b), does not distinguish between the types of recovery to which a workers compensation lien attaches. Our client was thus granted a subrogation lien where one would have previously been denied, involving uninsured motorist benefits. This clears the way for Respondents to successfully assert statutory liens against settlements and judgments where a plaintiff/claimant attempts to recover duplicate damages through an uninsured motorist action and a workers compensation claim.

Congratulations to Tim Emerson in our Wichita office for his success on behalf of the client.

Wallace Saunders, together with the ACLU, provided pro bono services to Bobby Bostic and obtained a decision from the Missouri Department of Probation and Parole granting Bostic parole. Bostic had been sentenced to 241 years in prison for a robbery which he committed as a minor at the age of 16. At his sentencing, the Court advised Bostic that he would “die in the Department of Corrections.” Bostic has served 26 years of that sentence before this week’s decision.

Healthcare and Professional Liability Practice Group

Wallace Saunders announces the addition of Diane Waters—a well-known medical malpractice defense lawyer—to lead its practice group focusing on Healthcare and Medical Negligence Defense. Diane joined the firm on August 2, 2021, along with top-notch associate, Connor J. Pace. The highly sought-after skill set they provide to healthcare providers will complement the firm’s Professional Liability Defense Practice Group, which serves numerous professionals with high-stakes litigation and regulatory counseling.

At the request of the American Association of Railroads (“AAR”), Partner, Chris Confer, presented on the topic of “Recent Legal Developments” at the 32nd Annual AAR Claims School. This was his fifth time serving as a presenter at this conference. During the course of his presentation, Mr. Confer touched upon emerging technologies being actively utilized in railroad operations, as well as national case law that impacts the claims investigation and claims resolution processes that stand to impact AAR-members’ railroad claims departments. The AAR’s Claims School is usually held at the Johnson County Community College’s School of Railroad Sciences, however, this year, given COVID-19 concerns, the event was presented over Zoom. This virtual presentation helped underscore the changing and prevalence of technology the AAR members’ railroads’ claim agents must negotiate. When asked about the subject of his presentation, Mr. Confer commented, “I love the opportunity to help shape young claim agents’ understanding of the interrelationship between the railroad claims investigation process and railroad claims litigation team. The AAR is a fantastic organization, and I am very pleased to have had such a long relationship with it and its member railroads.” Mr. Confer has also been asked to speak at the AAR’s Claims School – Advanced, to be held next month.

After a weeklong jury trial, veteran trial lawyers Mike Brown and Alyssa Brockert delivered a hard-won victory for their client, a Westport club owner. Plaintiff claimed serious injury due to alleged wrongful detention after failing to pay his bill. The defense team showed that the injury was actually due to plaintiff resisting a lawful arrest. And the defense’s forensic analysis of plaintiff’s financial records established his failure to pay was no innocent mistake. The jury was out for 2 hours, and then exonerated defendants of all claims.

We handle serious claims involving the hospitality industry, protecting business owners against risk of reputational injury and potential asset loss.
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 913-888-1000.

Wallace Saunders wishes to congratulate Attorney Bryan Kelly on his graduation from Leadership Overland Park's Class of 2020. Leadership Overland Park, now in its 37th year, motivates, connects and develops leaders in the community to ensure a better future. We are extremely proud of your accomplishment, Bryan!

Baldwin City & Southern Railroad Company (“BC&S”), also known as the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad Company, has retained Thomas Hayes and Christopher Confer of the Wallace Saunders law firm of Overland Park, Kansas to serve as its General Counsel.

As coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to be an extremely dynamic event, Wallace Saunders is actively monitoring the situation to minimize the impact on its employees, clients, and our local communities. Currently, we have not experienced any significant disruption of our essential operations, but rest assured that we are taking appropriate steps to ensure that our resources and technology are in place to support our critical processes so we may continue providing excellent service to our clients.

To create and promote a dynamic culture of attorneys and staff who are part of a unified team regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.

INTRODUCTION

Currently, the United States is experiencing more and more individuals testing positive for the Coronavirus, or COVID-19. One question an employer might have is whether or not they may be liable under workers’ compensation if one of their employees contracts the virus. Our firm has reviewed Missouri and Kansas law to determine possible defenses that could be raised should a claim be brought regarding COVID-19.

Wallace Saunders is excited for the addition of these skilled and respectable attorneys and the firm looks forward to the years ahead.