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The attorneys of Rynearson, Suess,
Schnurbusch & Champion are in the court room every day.
We would like you to know the type of cases we are handling
and the outcomes we have gotten for our clients. All
information contained below is contained in the public
record of the courts in which the matters were tried
or otherwise disposed of. Past results afford no guarantee of future results and every case is different and must be judged on its own merits.
Weekly v. St. Louis Cardinals LLP.
Defendant’s verdict.
Kevin Schnurbusch obtained a defendant’s verdict for the St. Louis Cardinals in a case before Judge Donald McCullin in the City of St. Louis. Plaintiff’s seat broke during a baseball game when he leaned back on it to let his wife down the aisle. He received back injuries resulting in two surgeries and approximately $48,000 in medical bills. He claimed to be permanently disabled from his occupation as a drywall delivery truck driver. Defendant argued that the event was unusual and they had no notice that the seat was going to break. The plaintiff asked the jury for $4 million. The jury returned a verdict for defendant.
Winkelmeyer v. Araighi.
Defendant’s verdict.
This rearend collision accident
was defended by Jeff Suess in the City of St. Louis. Defendant rearended plaintiff who
was stopped at a stoplight. Plaintiff claimed soft tissue
injuries. Medical expenses totaled $7,000 and plaintiff
further claimed $11,200 in lost wages. Defendant, while
acknowledging fault for the accident claimed the impact
was insufficient to cause the claimed injury. The jury
returned a verdict for the defendant.
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Kim v. JC Penney.
Defendant’s verdict.
Debbie Champion tried this products liability case
in St. Clair County, Illinois. Plaintiff claims personal
injuries after cutting her right hand on a glass display
case. She presented with $15,000 in specials and had
an original demand of $50,000. Defendant made no offer.
After a one day trial, a jury rendered a verdict in
favor of defendant JC Penny.
Garrone v. Shop ’n Save.
Defendant’s verdict.
Sam Rynearson tried this premises liability
case in St. Louis County, Missouri. Plaintiff tripped
on a display pallet within the Shop and Save store and
twisted his knee. Plaintiff required a total knee replacement,
had one knee surgery and required two future knee surgeries
as testified to by plaintiff’s expert. Medical specials
were $48,000 based upon the expert testimony presented
at trial. After a trial on the merits, a jury found
in favor of defendant Shop and Save.
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Chadd, et al v. Hilliard.
Defendant’s verdict.
John Kemppainen tried this auto
case involving (3) plaintiffs, all claiming personal
injuries as a result of a rear end auto accident in
Farmington, MO. The damages were minor and the plaintiffs
presented with chiropractic treatment. The combined
settlement demand from plaintiffs prior to trial was
$24,500. Mr. Kemppainen did not dispute negligence,
however strongly argued the nature and extent of the
damages. The case began at 8:00 am and the jury went
out for deliberations at 8:00 pm. After approximately
an hour and a half of deliberations, the jury returned
a verdict on all (3) claims in favor of defendant.
Parker v. Frits Trucking.
Compensation Denied.
Mike Margherio tried this
case before Chief Administrative Law Judge Jack Knowlan,
Jr. at the Division of Workers' Compensation in Rolla,
Missouri with the ruling being handed down on May 4,
2004. Claimant alleged that he suffered a heart attack
due to the physical exertion and stress associated with
his duties as a truck driver. Two medical experts testified
on behalf of the claimant that he in fact suffered a
heart attack and that his work duties were a substantial
factor in bringing it on. Employer's expert testified
that plaintiff actually suffered an episode of acute
angina an that the origin was an extensive history of
heart problems coupled with high risk factors for heart
attack. The ALJ found that the claimant's job activities
or stress were not a substantial factor in bringing
about the claimant's heart episode and also found that
it was not clearly shown to be a heart attack. Compensation
was denied.
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Stokes v. Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission.
Defendant’s Verdict.
Kevin Schnurbusch
obtained a defendants’ verdict before a jury in the
City of St. Louis for the Missouri Highway and Transportation
Commission. The case was tried over 3 days in Division
11 before Judge Donald McCullin. The plaintiff was a passenger in a car driven by her husband
that lost control on Interstate 70 in the City of St.
Louis between West Florrisant and Shreve Avenues. The
car went through a fence and struck a tree on a maintenance
yard owned by MoDOT. Plaintiff alleged that the tree
was too near the traveled portion of the roadway. Defendant
contended that the tree was not on the highway right
of way and conformed with current highway design standards.
Plaintiff suffered a crush injury to her ankle requiring
three surgeries and medical specials of $60,000.00.
Stevens v. State Farm.
Defendant’s Verdict.
Debbie Champion tried this Uninsured Motorist case for State Farm Insurance in the City of St. Louis before the Hon. Mark Neill. Plaintiff claimed a phantom vehicle forced him off the road, causing his dump truck to roll over. After four (4) days of trial, the jury found in favor of defendant State Farm.
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Johnson
v. State Farm.
Defendant’s verdict.
Jeff Suess tried this vexatious refusal claim
in St. Charles County. The plaintiff brought suit for
coverage under his auto policy and for vexatious refusal
to pay after State Farm Insurance denied coverage based
upon the plaintiff’s failure to pay premiums. After
a trial before the Court, a judgment was rendered in
favor of State Farm.
Paige v. Klein.
Defendant’s Verdict.
John Kemppainen defended this case in Ste. Genevieve, MO, before the Hon. Sandra Martinez. Plaintiff was pulling out of a private drive and pulled directly into the path of the defendant. The plaintiff sued claiming neck and back injuries as a result of the accident and made a pre-trial demand of $25,000. The jury returned a verdict in favor of defendant.
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Collier v. Missouri Highway & Transportation Commission.
Defendant's Verdict.
Kevin Schnurbusch obtained a defendant's verdict before a jury in Div. 23 of the City of St. Louis, before the Honorable Donald McCullin. The case was
tried over 3 days and resulted in a defendant's verdict with the jury deliberating for less than 10 minutes. Plaintiff sued MoDOT after his Jeep was forced from the road by another driver crossing the center line of Lemay Ferry Road just north of the Meramec River bridge. He went down a steep embankment and struck a tree when he was ejected from his vehicle, suffering serious injuries that resulted in special damages in excess of $60,000. He claimed that the road should have been protected by a guardrail or clear zone in accordance with AASHTO guidelines. Defendant contended that the roadway met
all relevant standards at the time it was designed and constructed in 1934 and even under modern best practices the road did not need a guardrail.
Renaissance Communications/First Cellular v. Pike.
Commercial Litigation Verdict.
Debbie Champion represented the plaintiff, Renaissance Communications, arising out of a contract dispute in Williamson County, IL. The plaintiff and defendant had contracted for the construction of a cell phone tower. Shortly thereafter, the defendant tried to back out of the deal. Renaissance sued to recover its costs associated with moving the tower. After a trial on the merits, Ms. Champion recovered a verdict in favor of her client in the amount of $163,000.
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Flint v. Hubbard.
Defendant's Verdict
Jeff Suess defended this rear-end automobile
collision in St. Louis County. The insured rear-ended
a police officer at a stoplight. The officer claimed
soft tissue neck and back injuries and inability to
work a secondary job. Medical special were approximately
$5,000. Pre-trial demand was $15,000. Defendant made
no offer arguing that the minimal impact could not have
caused injury. After (2) days of trial the jury found
in favor of defendant.
Abernathy, et al v. Missouri Highway & Transportation Commission, et al.
Defendant’s Verdict
Kevin Schnurbusch obtained a defendant’s
verdict for the Missouri Highway and Transportation
Commission in this wrongful death action tried before
Judge Timothy Patterson in Division 1 in Jefferson County,
Missouri. Decedent was a passenger in an automobile
driven by her husband that rear ended a Jefferson County
Sheriff’s Deputy who had stopped at an intersection
where the traffic lights had been knocked down the night
before. Plaintiff’s alleged that MoDot failed to follow
their own policy manual in setting up temporary stop
signs at the scene. Defendant argued that the intersection
was made as reasonably safe as possible under the circumstances
confronted by the MoDot repair crew.
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Dent v. Puricelli.
Defendant’s Verdict.
John Kemppainen defended this auto case in St. Louis County. Plaintiff was a passenger in a car which was rear-ended by the defendant. Plaintiff sustained soft tissue neck and back injuries, with chiropractic treatment. After several days of trial, the jury found in favor of defendant and the plaintiff recovered nothing.
Anderson v. Bratco, Inc., et al.
The case was tried over (5) weeks in the City of St. Louis Circuit Court. The suit was brought by the heirs of two of four people who died of carbon monoxide
poisoning on a yacht on Lake of the Ozarks over Memorial Day weekend in 1999. The source of the CO was a rusted through metal exhaust pipe on the Kohler electric generator on board. The generator was
serviced and overhauled a few months before the incident by a marina in Oklahoma that we represented. The boat manufacturer, the generator distributor, and the company that surveyed the boat when it
was sold settled prior to verdict. A verdict for actual damages was rendered against the marina and Kohler Company who manufactured the generator. Because of set offs for the prior settlements our client
owed nothing after trial. The jury also entered a punitive damage verdict against Kohler only for $25 million. The case was tried on behalf of the marina by Kevin Schnurbusch and John Kemppainen of our
office.
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Price v. The May Dept. Stores.
Jeff Suess and John Kemppainen tried this premises liability case for
the May Department Stores Company in the City of St.
Louis. Plaintiff claimed she fell at the Northwest Plaza
Famous Barr store sustaining a traumatic brain injury
with right sided hemiparesis, loss of memory and personality
changes, together with soft tissue neck and back complaints.
Medical specials at trial were $43,000 with future medical
expenses estimated at $150,000. Plaintiff's pre-trial
demand was $450,000. Defendant, while acknowledging
serious soft tissue injuries, contested the existence
of a brain injury. After (8) days of trial the jury
awarded the plaintiff only $31,000.
Gause v. The May Dept. Stores Co.
John Kemppainen defended this case in the City of St. Louis as a result of an accident where a mannequin fell on the plaintiff while she was shopping in a Famous Barr store. Plaintiff claimed to have suffered a herniated disc as a result of the accident. Defendant contested notice and argued the nature and extent of the damages. The pre-trial demand was $225,000. After a three (3) day trial, the jury awarded the plaintiff only $25,000.
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