Practice Focus

Tom began his legal career as law clerk to Judge Kathryn H. Vratil, former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.

Since that time, Tom’s practice has focused on trying cases in Kansas and Missouri state and federal courts.  Tom has served as lead trial counsel in business, real estate, and general civil litigation disputes in both judicial and administrative proceedings.  His practice is devoted to assisting clients in resolving a wide range of business and financial disputes.  His representations include financial institutions, business owners, municipalities, real estate developers, contractors, creditors, debtors, employers, and individuals in state and federal courts.

Tom also represents Missouri and Kansas family-law clients in divorce proceedings, child support and maintenance disputes, and modification matters.

In addition to being licensed in Missouri and Kansas, Tom is authorized to practice in the United District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, the Bankruptcy Courts for the Western District of Missouri and the District of Kansas, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Tom is also a certified mediator, who mediates all manner of state and federal matters, in addition to pre-litigation disputes and domestic cases.

Practice Areas

• Commercial litigation
• Business and real estate disputes
• Mediation
• Appellate practice
• Family law

Clerkship

Law Clerk to the Honorable Kathryn H. Vratil, United States District Court for the District of Kansas.

Education:

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, J.D., 2008

• Law Review, Member
• Urban Lawyer, Case Note and Review Editor
• Cum Laude
• CALI Awards for Torts, Administrative Law, Labor Law, and Preservation Law

Villanova University, M.S. Educational Leadership, 2001

James Madison University, B.A., 1999

• Magna Cum Laude, with Distinction in History

Bar Admissions:

• Missouri (2008)
• Kansas (2009)
• United States District Court, Western District of Missouri
• United States Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Missouri
• United States District Court, District of Kansas
• United States Court of Appeals - Eighth Circuit
• United States Court of Appeals - Tenth Circuit

Recent Representative Cases

Braden v. Wasson (lender/real estate dispute) Case No. 16AF-CC01237

Lead trial counsel, obtained actual and punitive damages awards on behalf of private lender in Missouri state court.

Haden v. Mayville (commercial property/financing dispute) Case No. 17SN-CC00033

Lead counsel in obtaining jury trial award of nearly a half-million dollars in favor of former owner and lender for commercial real estate in Stone County, Missouri.

Branson Hills Master Assoc. v. Lifestyle Contractors, LLC (development dispute) Case No. 1846-CC00197

Lead counsel in defeating association’s efforts to enjoin developer from proceeding with commercial real estate project.

Integrity Commercial Loans, LLC v. Edwards-Eagle River Devco, LLC (commercial real estate broker dispute) Case No. 19-05042-CV-SW-BP

Defeated defendant’s summary judgment motion in advance of favorable settlement for commercial real estate broker client in Missouri federal court.

Dunton & Associates, LLC v. A&J Printing, Inc., et al (breach of contract and malpractice dispute) Case. No. 1031-CV09328-01

Lead trial counsel in successfully defending accounting firm against $2 million malpractice claim.

Densmore v. Palace View Place Property Owners Assoc. (home owners association dispute) Case No. 1746-CC00190

Negotiated damages settlement for condominium owner and obtained revision to condominium declaration in favor of client and other residents.

• Litigation
• Business and Real Estate Disputes
• Mediation
• Appellate Practice
• Administrative Law
• Construction Law
• Business Transactions
• Family law