Phone:	(816) 531-2224
Fax:	(816) 531-2147
Email:	Contact Us

Fred began his legal career in 1974 as a criminal defense attorney who wanted to try cases to a jury. The experience he gained from trying those cases and many others in the civil arena in the years since, has proven invaluable to him and his clients.

He has tried a wide variety of civil matters, including serious personal injury cases, important employee rights claims, freedom of speech and other constitutional issues and a wide variety of other types of litigation. Some representative types of cases have involved:

• A sex discrimination claim brought on behalf of the first female cable splicer in Sedalia, Missouri.
• A case against an employer for firing a trucker who protested unsafe work conditions.
• A suit against a nursing home for a family whose mother died from overdose of medication.
• Another nursing home suit for a family whose father died from fall while unattended.
• A claim on behalf of the family of Down Syndrome developmentally disabled habilitation home resident who died of pneumonia due to negligent supervision by attendants and treating doctor.
• A case on behalf of the parents of young diabetic college graduate who passed away from shower scald burns due to a defective water heater.
• A free speech case brought on behalf of Bike-A-Thon for Choice activists denied use of a park for free expression.
• A case involving a union painter who lost his job because of intra-union political activity.
• A case brought on behalf of some Topeka, Kansas, Police Officers who were punished for reporting drug theft cover-ups.

Fred knows he owes it to his clients to do what it takes to achieve a fair result through negotiation, if possible, including mediation. With negotiation, his clients maintain control of their cases. Negotiation obviously requires the cooperation of the opposition. Fred's underlying philosophy is geared towards preparing and presenting his client's claim in such a way as to convince his opponent of its likely success at trial. He therefore approaches all his cases with a view toward trying them to a jury and prepares them with that expectation in mind.

Fred enjoys his work and his relationships with his clients. He also firmly believes that life and work are enhanced by according the other side the same respect and dignity he would expect of them for his clients and himself.

Fred also acts as a mediator, helping other lawyers and their clients to come together to resolve their cases. He views this, too, as very satisfying work.

Bar Admissions

• Missouri, 1974
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
• U.S. Federal Court, 1974
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1980

Education

• University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Kansas City, Missouri, 1974
  J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
  
  
• Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, 1969
  B.A., Bachelor of Arts
  
  

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
  Member
  
  
• National Lawyers Guild Member
  
  
• National Employment Lawyers Association, Kansas City
  Member
  
  
• National Association of Consumer Advocates
  
  
• Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
  
  

Birth Information

• September 10, 1946, Waco, Texas, United States of America