I broke some pretty serious news to my wife right near our first wedding anniversary. She was pregnant with our first child and finally feeling well enough to go out. At that dinner, I told her I was quitting my job and didn’t know if I would have another job. It was either stay where I was and find a way to be content or see what I could make of it.
I knew I wasn’t happy at my current job though it was a great opportunity—I was representing insurance companies but trying to tell myself I was helping individuals. I was only helping myself. The job almost doubled my previous salary and gave me benefits I only dreamed about (a secretary and an expense account). It took a lot of pressure off of my monthly student loan payment. I quit.
At that point, I didn’t care if I never got paid. I figured there was a way to make it. So I jumped in. I put up my own site (it failed miserably). I tried hustling tickets. I tried criminal defense cases and worker’s compensation. I took more small claims cases to trial than anyone I knew (I also found out there is a limit on how many small claims cases you can file).
My first settlement was a $20,000 case from a client way down in Doniphan, Missouri. My next one was a $1.25 million dollar case that jump-started it all for me. A truck driver was way over hours, omitted log times, and was on his phone at the time he rammed my client from behind in a construction zone. My client ended up dying several months after the settlement—his end-stage renal disease got him. He was a super nice guy who died happily. When I got to the funeral, I saw his wife. She had brand new teeth. She flashed me a huge smile.
There have been plenty of $500 cases littered throughout where we lost money. I have lost trials for clients that people told me I should not have taken and I have won eight-figure judgments for clients. It has been up and down but authentic the entire time. And I have been given access to plenty of mentors who have provided lots of encouragement, including my dad and brother.
Since leaving that big firm, we have helped all kinds of people. Immigrants from Africa, Mexico, Bosnia, etc…. We have helped wealthy people and poor people. We have helped people whose loved ones’ hearts will never beat again to people with sore backs. All of them have needed assistance and we are lucky enough to be able to provide it. Our staff has grown and includes the most capable, efficient, and friendly people we could have. We are proud of what we do for the individuals and families that come to us.
Without a doubt, I know we can help you—by pointing you in the right direction or even by sending you to another lawyer. Our mission is to make sure you get Justice. Whatever that means in your case, our goal is to help you find it.
We have cases where we are up against 10 or more lawyers on the other side. But we only take cases we believe in and help clients we believe in. We have no regrets about the people we help.
If you are interested to see if we can help you, please let us know. We are grateful for every opportunity to help someone in need.
Practice Areas
- Accident Law
- Premise Liability
- Brain Injury
- Childcare/Daycare Injury Attorney
Education
- Saint Louis University School of Law J.D. (2010) | Law
- Washington University BA (2006) | Political Science
Jurisdiction
- Missouri
Memberships & Professional Associations
- Missouri State Bar #62888
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
- American Bar Association
- Lawyers Association of St. Louis
- American Association for Justice
- Brain Injury Association of America
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
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2021-2022 Board of Governors, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
Awards
- National Association of Distinguished Counsel – Nationals Top 1%, 2015
- Rising Star – Super Lawyers, 2015
- Best Attorneys of America – Rue Ratings, 2015
- Up & Coming Lawyer – Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2015
- Daniel J. Hensler Award in Trial Advocacy – St. Louis University School of Law, 2010
Presentations
- Presenter – An Inside View of the Insurer from a Former Defense Attorney – Washington State Association for Justice – WSAJ 2020 Insurance Law CLE May 5, 2020
- Presenter – Emotional Exposure: Dare to be Vulnerable in the Courtroom – Missouri Association Of Trial Lawyers – MATA 62nd Annual Convention Get in (the virtual) Game
- Presenter – Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation – South Carolina Bar CLE Division, 09/28/2021
- Presenter – The Power of Balanced Mind: Preparing to Stay Present and Primed in Trial – Kentucky Justice Association – Auto Summit CLE June 1-2, 2023
- Co-Presenter – Case Analysis Button v. Gerleman $750k Verdict – Trial Lawyers University Webinar, Chris Finney & Alex Ledbetter – 01/26/2022
- Co-Presenter – Voire Dire: What’s the Point? – The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis – BAMSL Bench and Bar Conference 2022, CLE – June 2, 2022
- Co-Presenter – Schultz v. Great Plains Trucking, et al. – Truck Crash Wrongful Death Case – Trial Lawyers University – TLU Live Vegas 2022
- Co-Presenter – Mindfulness, Practical Tools, Staying Present & Prime in Trial – Kentucky Justice Association 2023 KJA Annual Convention & Seminar – September 7, 2023
- Co-Presenter – Lessons from Recent Trials and How Did You Ask for the Money – Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys – 2023 Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys Annual Symposium
Publications
Contributing Author – Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation –South Carolina Bar CLE Division
Videos
Podcasts
- Best Practices with Kenny Berger, Episode 6, Quality Over Quantity: Using Before & After Witnesses to Strengthen Your Case
- $0 Offer to $20M Verdict: Inside a Wrongful Death Trial | Attorneys Chris Finney, Toni Schlapprizzi, & Craig Schlapprizzi | S3 Ep. 3
- Chris Finney – Trust Your Gut and Know Your Case’s Worth | Trial Lawyers University