Jeff primarily practices trial and appellate litigation, with a concentration in the area of real estate litigation involving land use, zoning, condemnation, contract, and lease and title disputes on behalf of residential and commercial developers, lessors, brokers and homeowner associations. His practice includes the prosecution and defense of business fraud actions, as well as contract enforcement. He represents insurance companies, financial institutions, title companies and individuals. Additionally, Jeff's trial practice includes the defense of products liability and toxic tort cases.
Throughout his practice, Jeff has tried, arbitrated and mediated a variety of disputes involving state, federal and regulatory claims.
Jeff has lectured at numerous seminars on the topics of fraudulent non-disclosure, broker-agent liability and various commercial and residential contract, lease and development issues. He also taught a real estate law course in the paralegal studies program at Maryville University in St. Louis.
Awards & Recognitions
· Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2005
· St. Louis County Bar Association, Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, 2001
Professional Associations & Memberships
· American Bar Association
· The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Bench and Bar Committee, 1998-present
· Illinois State Bar Association
· The Missouri Bar
· Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers, 2003-present
· St. Louis County Bar Association, President, 2004; President-Elect, 2003; Secretary, 2002; Treasurer, 2001; Executive Committee, 1995-2005
Civic Involvement
· Maryville University of St. Louis, School of Paralegal Studies, Board of Trustees
· The Wellness Community of Greater St. Louis, Board of Directors
Experience
· Successfully pursued appeals in both the Eastern and Southern Districts of the Missouri Court of Appeals, shaping the law on employer misrepresentations with regard to the "at-will" employment doctrine in O'Neal v. Stifel Nicolaus & Co., 996 S.W.2d 700 (Mo. pp. E.D. 1999) and calibrating the statute of limitations on actions to recover life insurance benefits in Curnes v. Equitable Life Assurance Soc'y, 6 S.W.3d. 175 (Mo. App. S.D. 1999).