Getting the Picture

n VOLUME 33 NUMBER 43 WWW.MOLAWYERSMEDIA.COM OCTOBER 28, 2019 n $8.50 EXPERTLY FOCUSED. WIDELY ACCLAIMED. NATIONAL AND STATE NEWS, PHOTO AND DESIGN WINNER Cases test claims for out-of-state workers By Nicholas Phillips [email protected] Does the Missouri Human Rights Act protect an employee from discrimination by a Missouri company if he or she lives and works outside of the state? It is a question of first impression for the Missouri Supreme Court that animated two separate oral arguments held Oct. 23. The first case involved Dobbs Tire & Auto, which is headquartered in High Ridge but has locations across the river in Illinois. An Illinois employee, Dwight Tuttle, alleged that Dobbs and its represen- tatives, David and Dustin Dobbs, con- structively discharged him because of his Attorney and photographer John Rollins in his office at The Rollins/Kavanaugh Law Firm in Kansas City. Behind him are prints of some of his images — along with age and in retaliation for his involvement photographs of two of his dogs. To see more examples of Rollins’ photos, see pages 8-9. Photo by Scott Lauck in an MHRA investigation. The second case involved St. Louis-based brewer Anheuser-Busch, which was sued Getting the picture [SEE WORKERS ON PAGE 12] Wildlife photography hobby takes KC attorney around the world Former lawmaker By Jessica Shumaker • [email protected] named as judge hen Kansas City Services, at 1608 Locust St. in attorney John Kansas City. Alaris will host a Rollins isn’t in reception for the show on in St. Louis court, he is just Dec. 6. By Scott Lauck Was likely to be on an adven- Rollins said his photogra- [email protected] ture in the icy landscape of phy work stems from begin- the Arctic or in the jungles of ning to travel more exten- Former Democratic Africa as he is in his office. sively outside of the U.S. In State Rep. Michael In the last six years, 2005, during a trip to Peru Colona has wanted to Rollins, who practices in the and Bolivia, he was in awe of be a judge for years. It area of personal injury and his surroundings. was a Republican gov- medical-malpractice at the “I saw all these just incred- ernor who made it Rollins/Kavanaugh Law For more information: ible, amazing things that I happen. Firm, has invested in his side Rollins’ work can be found online at had never imagined before On Oct. 18, Gov. passion of wildlife and travel www.johnrollinsphotography.com, and I knew that none of my Mike Parson appoint- Colona photography. on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ friends had, and tried to take ed Colona as an asso- That passion has in turn johnrollinsphotography and on Instagram at some photographs,” he said. ciate circuit judge in St. Louis. Colona will instragram.com/johnrollinsphotography. led to the publication of his “I had this first-generation fill the vacancy created by Parson’s recent photos in international news point-and-shoot, 2-megapixel elevation of Judge Madeline Orling outlets, and to a number of camera. The memory card Connolly to the circuit bench. awards, including recognition as one of National held maybe 20 or 25 photos, and I didn’t know what I Colona currently is the managing attor- Geographic’s Travel Photographers of the Year in 2016. was doing with it anyway.” ney of Colona & Gentle in St. Louis. He Rollins’ work will be on display alongside that of He said the experience was his first step in deciding served in the Missouri House from 2008 to additional artists in December at Alaris Litigation 2016, where he was in the minority party’s [SEE WILDLIFE ON PAGE 8] [SEE JUDGE ON PAGE 11] INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION Sunshine penalty AG candidate Western District weighs judgment against city for withholding records. Former U.S. prosecutor is second n Democrat trying to unseat Schmitt. Page 12 n Page 2 2 October 28, 2019 | Missouri Lawyers Weekly Finneran announces bid for attorney general Courthouse By Scott Lauck ing a fraud scheme role with the firm while he runs for office. [email protected] that drained millions Finneran is the second entrant into the employees of dollars of the Democratic race. Elad Gross, an attorney Rich Finneran, an attorney with Bryan assets intended to in St. Louis, announced his intention to expected back as Cave Leighton Paisner and a former fed- cover consumers’ run for the office last year. Finneran said eral prosecutor, announced Oct. 22 that prepaid funeral ser- he believes his biography and prosecuto- he plans to seek the 2020 Democratic vices. Six people rial experience makes him a better chal- repairs continue nomination for Missouri Attorney Gen- landed in federal lenger to Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a eral. Finneran prison for their roles Republican appointed to the position By Jessica Shumaker “As a former prosecutor, I know how in the fraud. Mis- after Josh Hawley was elected to the U.S. [email protected] important it is that politics never get in souri Lawyers Weekly honored Finneran Senate. Schmitt, formerly the state’s trea- the way of enforcing the law fairly and as a Legal Champion in 2014 for his role surer and a state senator, is currently A group of displaced Jackson County equally. And that’s especially true when it in that case. unopposed. Circuit Court employees could return to comes to the office of Missouri Attorney He also prosecuted Martin Sigillito, a Gross, a former assistant attorney gen- the downtown courthouse as early as next General,” Finneran said in a statement. “I St. Louis-area attorney convicted in eral, said he knows Finneran from Wash- month, according to Presiding Judge David believe that the Attorney General’s Office 2012 of orchestrating a massive real ington University, where Gross got his law M. Byrn. should serve the people, not the politi- estate scheme that sought investors, degree in 2014. Finneran serves as an At the court’s Oct. 18 court en banc cians in Jefferson City.” supposedly for land development deals adjunct professor at the School of Law meeting, Byrn said work is nearing com- Finneran served as an assistant U.S. in Britain. and earned his law degree there in 2008. pletion on the building’s third floor offices Attorney for the Eastern District of Mis- Finneran joined Bryan Cave’s white- “We’re still going to be meeting people, and that court administration could be souri from 2010 to 2017. He handled a collar defense and investigations group in making sure out government works for back in the building by Thanksgiving or number of significant cases there, includ- 2018. He said he has taken an of-counsel us,” Gross said. sooner. Court administration employees have been displaced from the courthouse since February, when a pipe burst and flooded the building, damaging five courtrooms and offices on the east side of the building. While their offices were closed, employ- Judges named in southern ees have been working from a nearby Missouri circuits rented space. Neighborhood Aid Byrn said the county is also preparing Gov. Mike Parson has made two for construction in courtrooms and offices appointments to elected judgeships in on the fourth, fifth and sixth floors, noting southern Missouri. that some demolition and mitigation work Parson named Associate Circuit Judge has already started. Kevin Selby as a circuit judge for the 40th The building’s elevators were damaged Judicial Circuit in southwestern Missouri. after a separate large underground pipe The Missouri General Assembly leading to the courthouse burst a few days created the judgeship in 2018. The before the pipe on the upper floors burst. circuit comprises Newton and McDonald Currently, only two of the four public ele- counties. vators in the building are functional, and Selby, a Republican, was elected as an outages of the remaining elevators have associate circuit judge for Newton County strained the court’s relationship with the in 2002. He earned his law degree from county. the University of the Pacific McGeorge On Oct. 23, in an effort to further reduce School of Law in Sacramento, California. elevator use, the court temporarily relo- Parson also appointed Scott J. cated its protection order unit, formerly Schrum as an associate circuit judge known as the adult abuse office, to the for Iron County. The vacancy within the Dan Glazier, executive director of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, speaks with St. Louis Mayor criminal records department in the Albert Lyda Krewson at a press conference on Oct. 21. LSEM announced that a two-year, $316,361 Pro 42nd Judicial Circuit was created by the Riederer Community Justice Complex at Bono Innovation Fund Grant from the Legal Services Corporation will be used to expand volun- retirement of Judge Randall L. Head. teer lawyer involvement for LSEM’s Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative to better serve four high- 1315 Locust St. Schrum, of Belleview, is currently a vacancy St. Louis neighborhoods. Krewson’s office, the St. Louis Development Corporation and Byrn said the county has received one partner at Marler Schrum Law. He earned the law firms of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Husch Blackwell, Stinson and Thompson Coburn bid for elevator work, from the Schindler his law degree from Saint Louis University. are assisting with the effort. Photo by Chuck Ramsay for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri Elevator Corporation. The county is in contract discussions with them and offi- Jamison, Reno to retire cials hope the contract to be finalized soon, from St. Louis County bench Following public interviews with the municipal judge in several municipalities he said.

Load more