Morrow Willnauer Church, LLC is pleased to announce that, after 23 years as a Circuit Judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit, Judge John Torrence is stepping down from the bench and joining the firm of counsel.
Judge Torrence will be engaged in general trial practice, arbitration, mediation, and special masterwork.
Morrow Willnauer Church, LLC is pleased to announce the addition of Randy J. Willnauer to the firm.
Mr. Willnauer is a 2022 graduate of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. Mr. Willnauer will concentrate his practice in the area of civil litigation and workers compensation in Kansas.
Please join Morrow Willnauer Church, LLC in congratulating our managing member, James C. Morrow, on his induction as a Fellow into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. This honor was recently bestowed upon him at the 2023 IATL Annual Meeting in Killarney, Ireland.
The IATL is a group of truly elite trial lawyers. Fellowship is by invitation only after an extremely rigorous vetting process. Only lawyers exhibiting superior skill and ability in trial practice, promoting the best interests of the legal profession with the highest standards and techniques of advocacy, and possessing excellent character, professionalism and absolute integrity are considered. Membership is limited to 500 Fellows from the United States. Mr. Morrow joins Fellows from nearly 40 countries throughout the world.
Jim is an alumnus of the University of Missouri School of Law and has been practicing law for 40 years though the firm’s Kansas City, St. Louis, and Omaha offices.
Morrow Willnauer Church, LLC is proud to announce that Aaron Schuman has become a Partner of the firm in its Kansas City office.
Mr. Schuman earned a B.S. in Political Science and Criminology from Missouri State University in 2010, and is a 2014 graduate of the University of Missouri – Kansas City, School of Law. He worked as a Missouri Assistant Public Defender in the Kansas City Trial Office before joining Morrow Willnauer Church as an associate attorney in 2017. He focuses his practice in the area of general civil litigation defense, personal injury, professional liability, and criminal defense throughout courts in the States of Missouri and Kansas.
Morrow Willnauer Church, LLC is pleased to announce Connor A. DeWitt as an attorney with the firm.
Mr. DeWitt is a 2021 graduate of the Washburn School of Law. Mr. DeWitt will concentrate his practice in the area of civil litigation and worker’s compensation in Missouri and Kansas.
Morrow Willnauer Church, LLC is pleased to announce Bradley M. Harris as an attorney with the firm.
Mr. Harris is a 2014 graduate of the University of Maryland. Mr. Harris will concentrate his practice in the area of civil litigation in Missouri and Kansas.
Morrow Willnauer Church, LLC is pleased to announce the addition of Carrie K. Gaines to the firm.
Ms. Gaines is a 2001 graduate of The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois. Ms. Gaines will concentrate her practice in the area of civil litigation and workers compensation in Nebraska, Iowa and Indiana.
Morrow Willnauer Church, LLC is pleased to congratulate Dan Church, Member, for being recognized again this year in the 23rd Edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his outstanding work in the practice area of Railroad Law. We commend you on being acknowledged by your peers since 2005 and for being a 2022 “Lawyer of the Year”. Mr. Church’s Best Lawyers profile can be viewed at the link below.
https://www.bestlawyers.com/lawyers/daniel-f-dan-church/43291
Morrow Willnauer Church, LLC is pleased to announce the addition of Brittain E. McClurg to the firm.
Mr. McClurg is a 2019 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law. Mr. McClurg will concentrate his practice in the area of civil litigation in Missouri and Kansas.
From: Thomas Munsell and Sarah Sachs
Re: Howard Johnson III v. U.S. Food Service and American Zurich Insurance Co. Case No. 117,725
Date: January 12, 2021
On Friday, January 8, 2021, the Kansas Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in Howard Johnson III v. U.S. Food Service (KS 117,725). This decision clarifies the assessment of permanent partial impairment under the 2015 amendment to the Kansas Workers’ Compensation Act (the “Act”) which states that assessment of permanent partial disability shall be “based on the sixth edition of the American Medical association guides to the evaluation of permanent impairment, if the impairment is contained therein.” K.S.A. § 44-510e(a)(2)(B). As discussed below, the claimant argued that the 6th Edition of the Guides did not provide him with an adequate remedy for his accidental injury and, therefore, the imposition of the 6th Edition by the Legislature was unconstitutional. On appeal, the Kansas Court of Appeals agreed with the claimant and held that the amendment was unconstitutional. However, the Kansas Supreme Court reversed the Kansas Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court held the use of the AMA Guides 6th Edition is constitutional because K.S.A. § 44-510(e)(a)(2)(B) actually provides that an impairment rating to be “established by competent medical evidence.” The Court advised the 6th Edition is simply a “starting point” in assessing functional impairment. This conclusion can have a significant impact on PPD in your claims.
Read more »