Armstrong Teasdale Named in Four of the Largest 2011 Missouri Defense Verdicts

ST. LOUIS (February 14, 2012) - Armstrong Teasdale congratulates its lawyers for their roles in four of the 2011 largest defense verdicts recognized by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. Two of those verdicts, which were listed in a special section appearing in the newspaper’s Jan. 30, 2012, edition, ranked in the top ten.

The largest defense verdict in 2011 went to the legal team representing tobacco companies in City of St. Louis et al v. American Tobacco Co. The team included Armstrong Teasdale attorneys Frank Gundlach and Matthew Shorey, who served as local counsel for three of the defendants. This claim was filed by dozens of hospitals seeking payment for medical care provided to smokers. The plaintiffs’ lawyers demanded billions of dollars before trial and asked the jury for verdicts totaling $455 million.

The seventh largest defense verdict, valued at $1.75 million, was in Coleman v. Long Elevator Machine Co., a negligence case that was won by partner Karen Baudendistel and associate Theresa Lynch.

Partner Robert Kaiser and associate Narcisa Symank, won the 21st largest verdict ($750,000 value) in the employment case DeRouen v. Centene Management Co. et al. It was the highest ranked defense verdict among employment claims. The 28th largest verdict ($450,000 value) was won by partner Timothy Gearin and associate Anna Selby in a medical negligence case Reifeiss et al v. St. Luke’s Episcopal-Presbyterian Hospitals.

About Armstrong Teasdale: Armstrong Teasdale LLP, with more than 250 lawyers in offices across the U.S. and China and double-digit revenue growth in 2011, has a demonstrable track record of delivering sophisticated legal advice and exceptional service to a dynamic client base. Whether an issue is local or global, practice area specific or industry related, Armstrong Teasdale provides each client with an invaluable combination of legal resources and practical advice in nearly every area of law. The firm is a member of Lex Mundi, a global association of 160 independent law firms with locations in more than 100 countries, and the United States Law Firm Group, a network of 18 law firms headquartered in major U.S. cities. For more information, please visit www.armstrongteasdale.com.