BSCR Firm News/Blogs Feed

Scott Kreamer Elevated to President-Elect of Lawyers for Civil Justice

16 May 2024

Scott Kreamer, Managing Member of Baker Sterchi, was elevated to President-Elect of Lawyers for Civil Justice (LCJ) during the recent Spring Membership Meeting held in Washington, D.C.

LCJ, a coalition of defense bar organizations, law firms and corporations, focuses on initiatives such as enhancing multi-district litigation reforms, establishing expert evidence standards, allocating discovery costs effectively, modernizing privilege log requirements and safeguarding the right to file documents under seal.

Recently, LCJ advocated for the amendment of Federal Rule of Evidence 702, governing expert testimony in federal courts. The resulting amendment, effective December 1, 2023, introduced significant changes aimed at enhancing the standards for the admissibility of expert testimony. Specifically, the amendment emphasizes that expert testimony may only be admitted if the proponent demonstrates to the court that the proffered testimony is more likely than not to meet the admissibility requirements set forth in the rule.

Kreamer’s practice focuses on commercial, construction, financial services, insurance and product liability matters. In addition to his role with the LCJ, he is an active member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC) and DRI, having previously served as chairman of the board and president for FDCC, and as a member of the Board of Directors for DRI. He is also a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, having tried more than 30 cases in state and federal courts.

Baker Sterchi Welcomes Jennie Simons in St. Louis

16 May 2024

Baker Sterchi welcomes Jennie Simons as a senior attorney in the firm’s St. Louis office. Her practice encompasses various practice areas, including insurance coverage, personal injury, premises liability and product liability. Simons has represented both individuals and corporate clients in over 50 jury trials.

Simons obtained her law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas. She is licensed to practice law in Missouri, Illinois and Florida.

Alena Johnston Joins Baker Sterchi in St. Louis

15 May 2024

Alena Johnston has joined Baker Sterchi’s St. Louis office as an associate, with a practice focused on premises liability, personal injury and insurance coverage. While in law school, she served on the American Bar Association Journal of Labor and Employment Law. Johnston also participated in the Saint Louis University Criminal Defense Clinic, gaining valuable experience representing clients in both state and federal courts.

Johnston earned her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree from Saint Louis University. She is admitted to practice in Missouri.

Baker Sterchi Sponsors NAWIC Construction Industry Celebration

15 May 2024

Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice proudly sponsored the 2024 Construction Industry Celebration held at CPKC Stadium on May 14. CPKC Stadium, located in Kansas City, Missouri, holds the unique distinction as the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a professional women’s sports team.

Hosted by the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), the Construction Industry Celebration is an annual event that honors individuals and organizations for their noteworthy achievements and impact in the construction sector.

This year's event included a discussion on unconscious bias, facilitated by Michelle Akers, a distinguished advocate for equality and equal pay. Akers, widely recognized as one of the greatest female soccer players in history, was a member of the inaugural women’s national team FIFA and was named FIFA Female Player of the Century.

Representing Baker Sterchi at the event were Members Megan Sterchi-Lammert and Megan Stumph-Turner. Since its formation in 1965, NAWIC has provided educational, leadership and community service opportunities for its members throughout the community.

Baker Sterchi is honored to support initiatives like the Construction Industry Celebration that promote diversity, recognition, and excellence within the construction industry and beyond.

Laura Beasley Appointed to ADTA Board of Directors, Class of 2027

13 May 2024

Baker Sterchi Member Laura Beasley has been appointed to the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA) Board of Directors, Class of 2027. In addition to her new role, she serves as co-vice chair of the Women of the ADTA Committee and is a member of the ADTA CLE/Webinar Committee.

Beasley is an experienced trial lawyer in the firm’s Belleville, Illinois office, with a practice focused on civil defense litigation. She is a past president of the Illinois Defense Counsel and currently serves on its Diversity & Inclusion Committee. She also holds board positions with the East St. Louis and St. Clair County Bar Associations, as well as with the DRI State and Local Defense Organization. Beasley earned her law degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and is admitted to practice in Illinois and Missouri.

The ADTA is a select organization that admits only one primary member for every one million people, promoting a diverse and distinguished group of civil defense trial attorneys. The ADTA's mission is to support its members through professional relationships, educational initiatives and business referrals, all while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and ethics.

Betsy Miller Assumes Role on Greater Kansas City Claims Association Board of Directors

10 May 2024

Baker Sterchi attorney Betsy Miller has been selected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Greater Kansas City Claims Association (GKCCA). The board, comprised of claims professionals and industry leaders in the Greater Kansas City area, plays a pivotal role in guiding the organization’s strategic direction.

Miller’s law practice focuses on employment discrimination, personal injury and product liability matters. She is actively involved in community service and pro bono work. She earned her law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and is licensed to practice in both Missouri and Kansas

Founded in 2012, the GKCCA is a non-profit organization committed to advancing the art and craft of claims handling as a profession.

Baker Sterchi Welcomes Max Mosley in Kansas City

03 May 2024

Baker Sterchi welcomes Max Mosley as an associate in the firm’s Kansas City office, where his practice is focused on personal injury, trucking, premises liability and education law. Before his legal career, Mosley was a tenured English as a Second Language teacher with the New York City Department of Education, where he worked with the Internationals Network for Public Schools.

Mosley earned his law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He earned his Master of Science in Education teaching English to speakers of other languages from Long Island University-Brooklyn and is licensed to practice in Missouri.

Andrew Snively Joins Baker Sterchi in Kansas City

02 May 2024

Andrew Snively has joined Baker Sterchi’s Kansas City office as an associate, with a practice focused on insurance coverage, bad faith claims and personal injury defense for clients across various industries, including banking, food and beverage, and insurance. As an attorney who embarked on a legal career later in life, he brings a wealth of experience to his practice, having previously served in the United States Air Force as a Financial Budget Analyst.

Snively earned his law degree from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree from Park University. Recently admitted to practice law in Missouri, Snively was a 2023 Baker Sterchi summer law clerk.

Michelle Meloche Appointed to Leadership of PLDF Healthcare Committee

24 Apr 2024

Baker Sterchi associate Michelle Meloche has been named co-vice chair of the Professional Liability Defense Federation (PLDF) Healthcare Malpractice Claims Committee.

Meloche has been a dedicated member of this Healthcare Committee since joining PLDF last year. In her new role, she will be contributing to publications, responding to member inquiries and presenting at PLDF’s annual meeting.

In addition to her role with PLDF, Meloche is actively engaged in several other healthcare and legal organizations. She is a member of the American Bar Association’s Health Law Section, the American Health Lawyers Association, and DRI’s Medical Liability and Health Care Law Committee.

As a civil litigation attorney, Meloche defends healthcare providers against medical malpractice claims. She earned her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law with a concentration in Health Law, and she holds an M.P.H. in Health Management & Policy from Saint Louis University. Meloche is licensed to practice in Missouri and Illinois.

PLDF’s mission is to enhance the stature and effectiveness of professional liability defense professionals through education, training and the exchange of information.

John Watt Accepted into Product Liability Advisory Council

23 Apr 2024

Baker Sterchi Member John Watt has been accepted as a Sustaining Member into the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC). Sustaining members, comprised of top regulatory, trial and appellate legal professionals from leading law firms worldwide, undergo thorough vetting by the organization's Board of Directors before receiving invitations to join.

Established in the 1980s, PLAC is dedicated to keeping product manufacturers and suppliers informed about industry-related issues and fostering collaboration with outside legal counsel to mitigate risk across the product life cycle. Corporate participants include individuals from the legal, regulatory, technical and risk departments of each member company.

Based in Kansas City, Watt defends businesses in multi-million-dollar litigation cases involving product liability, construction and toxic torts. With extensive experience as a lead attorney in trials at both state and federal levels, Watt has also conducted hundreds of expert witness depositions, presented arguments before appellate courts in Missouri and Kansas, and represented clients in arbitration and mediation proceedings.

As a steering committee member of ALFA International’s Construction Practice Group, Watt served as a co-chair for both the 2022 and 2023 ALFA Construction Practice Group Seminars. Additionally, he is a regular contributor to the Missouri and Kansas sections of ALFA’s Construction Law Compendium. Watt is recognized in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his Construction Law practice in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.