News
Devoti Acknowledges 75 Years of Lawyers Association
01-27-10
Matt Devoti recently wrote a column celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Lawyers Association of St. Louis. The Association is St. Louis' local association of trial lawyers. The Association was founded in November 1934 to provide an association for all lawyers in good standing - without regard to race, color, creed or type of practice. Click here to read Matt's column.
Newsletter Vol. 3
01-20-10
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HAPPY NEW YEAR! Casey & Devoti would like to wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010. The Casey & Devoti "Family" Expands Matt Casey and Reiad Khouri had much to be thankful for this past year.
Success in the Courtroom
The jury found that Drury failed to appropriately act to remove the water from the floor. The jury held that the value of the woman’s injury was $300,000. Matt Casey represented the woman at trial.
The jury entered a verdict in favor of the woman in the amount of $115,000. The jury found that the young man assaulted the woman and that his parents failed to take appropriate actions to protect her from him. The jury heard testimony that the young man had previously assaulted another young woman. Matt Devoti represented the woman at trial. Please Support HB 1418 As many of our clients know, one of the most frustrating aspects of a workers’ compensation claim is the fact that Missouri law permits the employer to choose the doctor to treat the employee’s injuries. Many of our clients tell us that they are not happy with the care they receive from the doctors chosen by their employer. It is natural that under this scheme a doctor may have a bias towards the person that sends him a stream of patients and pays his bills, the employer. In that regard, it is not surprising that many of the injured workers we represent are not happy with the care they receive. Recently, Missouri State Representative Joseph Fallert, Jr. introduced a bill (HB 1418) to change this law. Representative Fallert’s bill, if passed, would allow the employee, not the employer, to choose his own doctor when treating a work related injury under the workers’ compensation laws. The bill is in the very early stages of the lawmaking process. Casey & Devoti strongly urges all of you to write, e-mail or call your Missouri State Representative in support of this bill. The enactment of HB 1418 would help all injured workers in Missouri get the proper healthcare they deserve. You can find out who your State Representative is and his or her contact information at this website: http://www.senate.mo.gov/llookup/leg_lookup.aspx. Finally, to read more about HB 1418 follow this link http://house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills101/sbjndx/sbj160.htm Be Careful of Slips & Falls!
First, be aware of the current weather conditions. Obviously, if it snowing or icy outside be careful when walking outside and pay particular attention to the condition of the ground on which you are walking. Also, it is important to be mindful that the weather can be tracked into buildings. If snow or water is tracked into a building, its inside can become slippery. Second, wear weather-appropriate shoes. Rubber-soled flat shoes and boots help prevent falls in times of inclement weather. Do not wear “dress” shoes in bad weather. Bring them with you and change once you are at your destination. Third, pay particular attention to any warning signs. Most facilities do a fairly good job of placing warning signs at or near a slippery or dangerous condition. Heed such signs and walk around or away from the dangerous area. Despite the advice above, slips and falls do occur. If you are injured in a slip and fall incident, the owner of the property on which you fell may share some blame for the fall. Owners of public places have a duty to use ordinary care to protect their guests from dangerous conditions on their properties. The unnatural accumulation of ice and snow is a dangerous condition. If you are injured in a fall, please feel free to give us call for a free consultation. Supreme Court Appoints Devoti to Disciplinary Committee On December 22, the Missouri Supreme Court appointed Matt Devoti as a member of the Disciplinary Committee for Region XI. The Committee reviews complaints made by clients against lawyers practicing in the City of St. Louis. Lawyers obligate themselves to uphold the law and to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct governing members of The Missouri Bar when they enter the practice of law in Missouri. The purpose of attorney discipline is to protect the public and the administration of justice from attorneys who have not discharged their professional duties to clients, the public, the legal system, and the legal profession. For more information about the Committee, visit the Missouri Bar’s website at: www.mobar.org and click the “Public” tab. Devoti began his service on the Committee on January 1. The Supreme Court appointed Devoti to a position on the Committee previously held by Matt Casey. Casey’s term expired on December 31 Our Contact Information Do you, a family member or friend need help? Please feel free to contact us at: By Telephone By E-mail We are happy to meet with you for an initial consultation free of charge.
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On December 16, a St. Louis County jury returned a verdict in favor of a firm client and against Drury Inns. The woman injured her back when she slipped on water on the floor in the lobby just inside the hotel entrance. The woman alleged that Drury failed to place rubber-backed mats on the lobby floor despite inclement weather and hotel policy requiring the placement of mats. Eventually, the woman underwent surgery for her back injury.
On October 30, a St. Charles County jury found in favor of a woman in a sexual assault case. The woman had filed suit against the young man which injured her as well as the young man’s parents. The woman alleged that the young man touched her in a sexually inappropriate manner in the man’s family home while the two studied for a final examination. The two attended the same high school on the date of the assault.
With winter now upon us, we see an increase in calls from people who have been injured when they slip and fall on ice or snow. There are several things you can do to prevent slipping, falling and injuring yourself. Some of these tips may seem obvious, but it is worth mentioning if it might help prevent an injury. Devoti Wins Sexual Assault Case
11-17-09
On October 30, a jury in St. Charles County returned a verdict in favor of a young woman represented by Matt Devoti. Matt represented the woman in a sexual assault case brought against the young man who assaulted her and his parents. Click here to review a report of the verdict published in Missouri Lawyers Weekly. Click here to review a column commenting on the case.
City Sidewalks Remain In Disrepair Two Years After Lawsuit
11-11-09
Almost two years after Casey & Devoti obtained a verdict against the City St. Louis for the death of Lisi Bansen, the city sidewalks which were found to have caused her death remain in disrepair. On November 4, 2005, Lisi Bansen was killed when she was struck by a car as she navigated her wheelchair in the street. Ms. Bansen was forced into the street because the city sidewalks were in such a broken condition that she was unable to maneuver her wheelchair over them. Despite having lost the the Bansen lawsuit nearly two years ago, the City of St. Louis has failed to completely repair the sidewalks which were found to have contributed to cause Ms. Bansen's death.
See the KSDK news report about the failure of the City of St. Louis to repair the sidewalks by clicking here.
Devoti Writes Column for Lawyers Association
09-24-09
Matt Devoti is the president of the Lawyers Association of St. Louis. The Lawyers Association is the local bar association whose membership consists of trial lawyers and judges. The September newsletter of the Association features the "President's Column" written by Matt.
Click here to read Matt's column.
Devoti Speaks at Insurance Litigation Seminar
06-05-09
On June 4, 2009, Matt Devoti spoke at a seminar addressing issues confronted by lawyers during the litigation of insurance coverage disputes. Matt spoke to fellow lawyers about fundamental concepts underlying all insurance cases as well as practical issues that must be addressed during the trial of these cases.
Click here to view materials.
Newsletter Vol. 2
05-29-09
Missouri Courts Are Under Attack Our courts are under attack in the Missouri General Assembly. Nearly 70 years ago, Missouri voters passed a constitutional amendment which vastly changed the manner in which Missouri judges are selected. The Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan provides for the selection of judges based on merit rather than political affiliation and influence. Prior to the Plan, judges at every level of the judicial system were selected via elections. Under the Plan, non-partisan commissions meet to review applications, interview candidates and select a panel of three individuals to be considered for appointment to the judiciary by the governor. The commissions are composed of lawyers elected by members of the Missouri Bar Association, citizens appointed by the governor and a sitting judge. Independent commissions exist that consider appointments to the Supreme Court, each of the three appellate districts and various circuit (or local) courts. Today, judges on the Supreme Court, the three Courts of Appeals and six circuit courts are chosen through the use of the Non-Partisan Court Plan. The Plan is used to select trial judges in both the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County. And, just this past November, voters in Greene County (Springfield) voted to extend the Plan to that county’s judges. The Plan, referred to as “the Missouri Plan” throughout the country, is the model for judicial selection procedures in place today in as many as 30 different states.
We believe that the changes to the Plan proposed by our legislators would be ill-advised. When we appear before a judge in the City of St. Louis or argue a case before the Supreme Court we are confident that we stand on an equal footing before the judge as that of our opponent. We do not have to wonder whether defense counsel or her client donated more money to an election campaign than us. That cannot be said about many courts in places throughout this country, including just across the river in Illinois. For information about the Plan, visit: www.courts.mo.gov. And, please call your local legislators. Tell them what you think about changing the Missouri Plan. -Matt Devoti US Fidelis Companies that sell extended automobile service warranties have been the subject of multiple media reports in recent weeks. For some time, our firm has been investigating the sale of these products by a St. Charles company, US Fidelis. US Fidelis is one of the largest sellers of extended automobile warranties in the United States. The company is also known as Dealer Services and National Auto Warranty Services. This past April, our firm filed suit on behalf of multiple consumers against US Fidelis. The suit alleges that the company violated the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, a state consumer protection law. In the suit, the consumers allege that US Fidelis uses misrepresentations and omissions of material fact to deceive consumers in the sale of the warranties. For more information, please visit: www.caseydevoti.com/warrantysuit.php. Underinsured Motorist Coverage Our practice includes the representation of people injured in motor vehicle collisions. From time to time, the motorist that caused the collision does not have enough insurance coverage to fairly compensate our client – the injured person. Unfortunately, we are seeing this situation more and more often as the price of medical care escalates, health insurance plans become more aggressive in attempting to recover benefits paid on behalf of the injured person and motorists cut their level of coverage to try to save a few dollars off their monthly insurance premium. Fortunately, you can act to protect yourself. Many insurers offer a type of protection called “underinsured motorist coverage”. This coverage refers to coverage intended to provide a source of recovery for someone who has been injured by a negligent motorist whose own liability coverage is insufficient to fully compensate the injured person for the damages they suffered. In this circumstance, the injured person makes a claim against their own insurance company. To make an underinsured motorist claim, the injured person must have purchased underinsured motorist coverage before the date of their injury. This coverage may be purchased from the insurance company that provides your motor vehicle liability coverage. Please do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions about underinsured motorist coverage or if you require help in making a claim against the motorist that caused a collision or your insurer. Devoti Assumes Presidency of Local Trial Bar; Casey Secretary
Our Contact Information Do you, a family member or friend need help? Please feel free to contact us at: By Telephone By E-mail We are happy to meet with you for an initial consultation free of charge.
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Tom Casey Speaks at Memorial Service
05-15-09
Tom Casey recently delivered the keynote address at a memorial service hosted by the Lawyers Association of St. Louis. The service recognized those lawyers who died this past year. Tom's address discussed the practice of law as a profession and public service.
To see a copy of Tom's speech, click here.
Devoti Speaks at Automobile Insurance Seminar
04-03-09
On April 2, 2009, Matt Devoti spoke at a seminar addressing complex issues that often exist in uninsured and underinsured motorist cases. The seminar was sponsored by National Business Institute.
Click here to view materials.
Casey & Devoti Files Class Action Against US Fidelis
04-01-09
Casey & Devoti files a class action lawsuit against US Fidelis, one of the largest sellers of extended automobile warranties in the country, alleging violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, a state consumer protection law. In the suit, Plaintiffs allege that US Fidelis uses misrepresentations and omissions of material fact to deceive consumers in the sale of extended automobile warranties.
Click here to see a copy of the class action lawsuit filed by Casey & Devoti.
See the St. Louis Post Dispatch article referencing the lawsuit by clicking here.
Newsletter Vol. 1
03-16-09
Welcome Welcome to our firm’s inaugural newsletter. The purpose of the newsletter is to keep in touch with current and former clients as well as to discuss legal issues that may affect you and to provide news to you about our firm and its members. We continue to focus our practice on situations in which a person has been killed or injured as the result of the action of another. Of course, we also represent people injured at work through no fault of their own. Further, with the recent addition of Reiad Khouri, we also assist small and mid-size companies in commercial disputes. As many of you know, we do not accept every case that is offered to us. Rather, we accept only cases that we believe are meritorious. One of our goals is to discuss with you on a regular basis a timely legal topic that may be present in your life or come about in the future. Please contact one of us should you have any questions about a subject discussed in the newsletter, want to talk with one of our lawyers about a legal matter in your life or would like us to address a particular topic in the newsletter in the future. We trust all is well with you and your family and look forward to speaking with you soon. -Matt Devoti The Missouri Bar Recognizes Tom Casey The Missouri Bar recently honored Tom Casey. Tom was given the James T. Britt Memorial Award in connection with his work with the Missouri Lawyers Assistance Program. The Missouri Lawyers Assistance Program is a professional, confidential counseling program for members of the Missouri Bar, their families and law students. Through a variety of free services, MOLAP helps individuals overcome personal problems such as depression, substance abuse, stress and burnout. The Bar honored Tom for his efforts over many years to advance the cause of relief and recovery for impaired attorneys. Reiad Khouri Joins Casey & Devoti
Workers’ Compensation Update We are often asked what an employee should do when she is injured at work. As many of you know, Missouri law gives injured employees certain rights. Those rights include: But, an injured employee does possess one very important responsibility. The employee must promptly tell her employer that she has been injured. That responsibility is called “the notice requirement”. Missouri law requires that the injured employee promptly inform her employer that she has been injured, how she was injured and what body part she injured. Notice should be given as directed by company rules or any employee handbook. If no rule exists or the handbook does not give a specific direction, notice may be properly provided to the employee’s supervisor, the business owner or a company doctor or nurse. When she provides “notice”, the employee should request medical treatment by requesting for a referral to a doctor. Please don’t hesitate to contact us should you have any questions about when or how to provide notice of an injury to your employer. We Have Moved We recently moved our offices. Our offices remain in downtown St. Louis just north of Busch Stadium. The office is now located on the 8th floor of the Equitable Building at 10 South Broadway. Our telephone remains the same: (314) 421-0763. Please visit our website at: www.caseydevoti.com. Our Contact Information Do you, a family member or friend need help? Please feel free to contact us at: By Telephone By E-mail We are happy to meet with you for an initial consultation free of charge.
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US Fidelis Lawsuits
02-18-09
Casey & Devoti is currently investigating and accepting cases against US Fidelis. US Fidelis is a Missouri company that sells extended auto warranties. The company has been accused by many consumers and state's attorney generals of unethical and misleading practices in the sale of the warranties. The company is also known as Dealer Services and National Auto Warranty Services. If you purchased an extended warranty from US Fidelis, Dealer Services or National Auto Warranty Services, please contact us for a free consultation.
Tom Casey Awarded Britt Memorial Award
12-15-08
Thomas J. Casey was awarded the James T. Britt Memorial Award at the annual Missouri Lawyers Assistance Conference, held October 10 and 11, 2008 in
Devoti Speaks at Seminar on Uninsured Motorist Claims
06-12-08
On June 11, 2008, Matt Devoti spoke at a seminar on uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance claims sponsored by the National Business Institute. In his career, Matt has handled numerous uninsured and underinsured cases at both the trial and appellate levels.
Click here for a copy of Matt's handout at the seminar.
Devoti Wins Case in MO Supreme Court
06-11-08
On June 10, 2008, the Missouri Supreme court unanimously ruled in Casey & Devoti's favor in a police chase case resulting in the death of two women. The Supreme Court held that, although the individual police officers involved in the crash are immune from suit, the city that employed them can still be held liable for the police officers' actions if a jury finds their actions to be negligent.
See the article in the Park Hills Daily Journal article here and the Supreme Court opinion here.
Casey & Devoti Welcomes Reiad Khouri
03-31-08
| Casey & Devoti is pleased to announce that Reiad Khouri has joined the firm. Reiad previously practiced with the litigation group at Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, PC, a large St. Louis defense firm. At Casey & Devoti, Reiad will concentrate his practice in personal injury and commercial litigation. |
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Casey & Devoti Wins Lawsuit Against City
12-06-07
Casey & Devoti wins lawsuit against the City of St. Louis for the death of a wheelchair bound pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle in the street due to dangerous and impassable sidewalks.
See the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Articles here and here.