Russell Watters is a shareholder and one of the founding members of Brown & James. He concentrates his practice in the areas of complex business and insurance litigation and catastrophic injury and death cases. He frequently lectures to both professional and industry organizations on litigation topics.
He is considered one of the leading authorities in the field of business and insurance law, personal injury and products liability litigation having tried over 200 cases to conclusion and over 100 appeals throughout the State and Federal levels. He is retained by a number of the national home offices of many of the largest companies throughout the United States. He is continually named a Super Lawyers by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyer Magazine and has been awarded the annual “No 1 Trial Defense Verdict in Missouri” honor twice by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. He has also been inducted into the Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum®.
Articles and Presentations:
Featured regional and national speaker of the Property Loss Research Bureau
Frequent Speaker at Local and State Bar Trial Practice Seminars
Missouri State Bar Conference Speaker (2007, 2008, 2009)
Author, "Arson, Fraud And The First Party Insurance Contract," Journal of Missouri Bar (1988)
Author, "Tortious Wrongful Discharge vs. Employment At Will," St. Louis Bar Journal (1989)
Author, "Arson, Fraud And First Party Insurance, A Guide To Property Insurance Law and Procedures in Missouri And Illinois," published 1994 (2nd edition 2001)
Editor, The Firm Inquiry, Brown & James quarterly newsletter
Author and Featured Speaker, "Bad Faith Litigation In Missouri," IBI Institute (2004)
Reviewer, "Insurance Practice" Fifth Edition, Vol. I and II, The Missouri Bar (2004)
Central Claims Executives Association Conference: "Class Actions, Plaintiff's Attorney's Dream Insurance Carrier's Nightmare" (2008)
Missouri Claims Managers Conference, "Bad Faith Insurance, How to Defend"
Annual Conference of the Council on Litigation Management (CLM): "Class Actions: Plaintiff's Attorney's Dream, Insurance Carrier's Nightmare" (2010)
Notable Achievements:
Awarded "No. 1" Defense Verdict in State of Missouri, 2001 by Missouri Lawyers Weekly
Awarded "No. 7" Largest Plaintiff's Verdict, 2005 by Missouri Lawyers Weekly
Super Lawyer, Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Magazine, Insurance Litigation, 2004-2008
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®
Awarded "No. 1" Defense Verdict in State of Missouri, 2009 by Missouri Lawyers Weekly
Professional Affiliations:
Illinois State Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Property Law Research Bureau
Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers, past director
Council on Litigation Management
Council on Ethical Billing Management
Bar Memberships:
Missouri
Illinois
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
Representative appellate and reported cases setting precedent in Missouri and Illinois:
Mitzan v. Western Heritage Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2009 WL 995140 (E.D.Mo. April 13, 2009)
Sherrell v. Brown, Slip Copy, 2009 WL 531051 (Mo. App. E.D., March 2, 2009)
Peerless Ins. Co. v. Roedder, Slip Copy, 2009 WL 211921 (E.D.Mo., January 23, 2009)
Wright v. Country Club of St. Albans, 269 S.W.3d 461 (Mo. App. E.D. 2008)
Lanham v. Sandberg Trucking, Inc., Slip Copy, 2008 WL 3982013, (E.D.Mo., August 22, 2008)
North American Specialty Ins. Co. v. Correctional Medical Services, Inc., 527 F.3d 1033 (10th Cir. 2008)
Stark v. Manes, Slip Copy, 2008 WL 1732697 (W.D.Mo., April 10, 2008)
R.E.I. Transport, Inc. v. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., 519 F.3d 693 (7th Cir. 2008)
Charter Oak Fire Ins. Co. v. Holthaus, Slip Copy, 2008 WL 509557 (E.D.Mo., February 22, 2008)
McWeeney v. Missouri Historical Society, Slip Copy, 2007 WL 3311429 (E.D.Mo., November 5, 2007)
Kirsch v. Sakabu, 233 S.W.3d 234 (Mo. App. E.D. 2007)
Weger v. City of Ladue, 500 F.3d 710 (8th Cir. 2007)
Auto-Owners Ins. Co. v. Ennulat, 231 S.W.3d 297 (Mo. App. E.D. 2007)
Hytek Investments, Inc. v. Northland Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2007 WL 1407056 (E.D.Mo., May 9, 2007)
Simpson v. Thomure, 484 F.3d 1081 (8th Cir. 2007)
Wood v. Foremost Ins. Co., 477 F.3d 1027 (8th Cir. 2007)
Wood v. Foremost Ins. Co., 471 F.3d 931 (8th Cir. 2006)
Kirsch v. Sakabu, 201 S.W.3d 572 (Mo. App. E.D. 2006)
Law v. Vigilant Insurance Co., 193 S.W.3d 773 (Mo. App. E.D. 2006)
East End Transfer & Storage, Inc. v. Travelers Indem. Co. of Illinois, 211 S.W.3d 103 (Mo. App. E.D. 2006)
Wood v. Foremost Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 585558 (E.D.Mo., Mar 09, 2006)
Weger v. City of Ladue, Slip Copy, 2006 WL 571986 (E.D.Mo., Mar 08, 2006)
North American Specialty Ins. Co. v. Correctional Medical Services, Inc., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 208635 (E.D.Mo., Jan 26, 2006)
Hanover Ins. Co. v. TMP Intern., Inc., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 176105 (E.D.Mo., Jan 24, 2006)
Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Scott, Slip Copy, 2006 WL 146225 (E.D.Mo., Jan 19, 2006)
National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA v. Interstate Brands Corp., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 148744 (E.D.Mo., Jan 18, 2006)
Hanover Ins. Co. v. TMP Intern., Inc., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 13120 (E.D.Mo., Jan 03, 2006)
Travelers Indemnity Co. v. Vas-Nes, Slip Copy, 2005 WL 3107697 (W.D.Mo., Nov 18, 2005)
Weber v. McBride & Son Contracting, Co., 182 S.W.3d 643 (Mo. App. E.D. 2005)
Anderson v. Kohler Co., 170 S.W. 3d 19 (Mo. App. E.D. 2005)
Finnigan v. KNG Investments, Inc., 158 S.W.3d 808 (Mo. App. S.D. 2005)
Hartford Ins. Co. of the Midwest v. Wyllie, 396 F.Supp.2d 1033 (E.D. Mo. 2005)
Stickler v. Foremost Signature Inc. Co., 150 S.W.3d 314 (Mo. App. S.D. 2004)
Watters v. Travel Guard Intern., 136 S.W. 3d 100 (Mo. App. E.D. 2004)
Employers Fire Ins. Co. v. Power Model Supply Co., 279 F.Supp.2d 1060 (E.D.Mo. 2003)
Godefroid v. Kiesel Co., 2003 WL 22399710 (Mo. App. E.D. 2003)
In Re Popkin & Stern, 340 F.3d 709 (8th Cir. 2003)
Capitol Indem. Corp. v. 1405 Associates, Inc., 340 F.3d 547 (8th Cir. 2003)
Jerome Group, Inc. v. Cincinnati Ins. Co., 257 F.Supp. 2d 1217 (ED. Mo. 2003)
Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Meramec Valley Bank, 259 F.Sup. 2d 922 (E.D. Mo. 2003)
Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Television Engineering Corp., 265 F.Supp. 2d 1078 (E.D. Mo. 2003)
Wilkes v. St. Paul Fire and Marine Ins. Co., 92 S.W.3d 116 (Mo. App. S.D. 2002)
Kruger v. Pulitzer, Inc., 85 S.W. 3d 61 (Mo. App. E.D. 2002)
Lee v. Pulitzer Pub. Co., 81 S.W. 3d 625 (Mo. App. E.D. 2002)
Heffernan v. Reinhold, 73 S.W. 3d 659 (Mo. App. E.D. 2002)
St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Lippincott, 287 F.3d 703 (8th Cir. 2002)
Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Estate of Turks, 206 F.Supp. 2d 968 (E.D. Mo. 2002)
Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. German St. Vincent Orphan, 54 S.W. 3d 661 (Mo. App. E.D. 2002)
Caples v. Earth Grains Co., 43 S.W. 3d 444 (Mo. App. E.D. 2001)
Hess v. Craig, 43 S.W. 3d 457 (Mo. App. E.D. 2001)
Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Venetian Terrazzo Inc., 198 F.Supp. 2d 1074 (E.D. Mo. 2001)
Reed v. Kelly, 37 S.W. 3d 274 (Mo. App. E.D. 2000)
Boulevard Inv. Co. v. Capitol Endem. Corp., 27 S.W. 3d 856 (Mo. App. E.D. 2000)
Creative Walking, Inc. v. American States Ins. Co., 25 S.W. 3d 682 (Mo. App. E.D. 2000)
Hunt v. Capitol Indem. Corp., 26 S.W. 3d 341 (Mo. App. E.D. 2000)
Capitol Indem. Corp. v. Haverfield, 218 F. 3d 872 (8th Cir. 2000)
Kilmer v. Mun, 17 S.W. 3d 545 (Mo. banc 2000)
State ex rel. River King, Inc. v. Calvin, 11 S.W.3d 602 (Mo. 2000) (en banc)
St. Paul Fire and Marine Ins. Co. v. Warren, 87 F.Supp.2d 904 (E.D. Mo. 1999)
Process Controls Intern, Inc. v. Commercial Union Ins. Companies, 16 S.W.3d 593 (Mo. App. E.D. 1999)
Wood v. Centermark Properties, Inc., 984 S.W. 2d 517 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
Schilling v. Human Support Services, 978 S.W.2d 368 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
Smith v. Wausau Underwriters Inc., Co., 977 S.W.2d 291 (Mo. App. W.D. 1998)
State ex rel. Leigh v. Dierker, 974 S.W.2d 505 (Mo. 1998)
United Capitol Ins. Co. v. Hoodco, Inc., 974 S.W.2d 572 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
Detter v. Schnuck Markets, Inc., 974 S.W.2d 605 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
Atlas Intermodal Trucking Services, Inc. v. United Fire & Cas. Co.,, 973 S.W.2d 174 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
Lang v. Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 970 S.W.2d 828 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
Vatterott v. Hammerts Iron Works, Inc., 968 S.W.2d 120 (Mo. 1998) (en banc)
McKichan v. St. Louis Hockey Club, L.P., 967 S.W.2d 209 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
Citizens Ins. Co. of America v. Leiendecker, 962 S.W.2d 446 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)
Massachusetts Bay Ins. Co. v. Vic Koenig Leasing, Inc., 136 F.3d 1116 (7th Cir. Ill. 1998)
American States Ins. Co. v. Creative Walking, Inc., 16 F.Supp.2d 1062 (E.D. Mo. 1998)
United Fire & Casualty Co. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 1998 U.S. Dist. WL 995346 (E.D. Mo. 1998)
Borgard v. Integrated Nat. Life Ins. Co., 954 S.W.2d 532 (Mo. App. E.D. 1997)
U.S. Fidelity & Guar. Co. v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 943 S.W.2d 640 (Mo. 1997)
Hougland v. Pulitzer Pub. Co., 939 S.W.2d 31 (Mo. App. E.D. 1997)
Stewart v. Carron, 938 S.W.2d 636 (Mo. App. E.D. 1997)
Budding v. Garland Floor Co., Inc., 939 S.W.2d 419 (Mo. App. E.D. 1996)
Schuh Catering, Inc. v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 932 S.W.2d 907 (Mo. App. E.D. 1996)
Ems v. Shelter Mutual Insurance Co., 927 S.W.2d 514 (Mo. App. E.D. 1996)
Weinberg v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Illinois, 913 S.W.2d 59 (Mo. App. E.D. 1995)
State ex rel. Chase Resorts, Inc. v. Campbell, 913 S.W.2d 832 (Mo. App. E.D. 1995)
Transamerica Ins. Co. v. Pennsylvania Nat. Ins. Companies, 908 S.W.2d 173 (Mo. App. E.D. 1995)
Koeller By and Through Koeller v. Unival, Inc., 906 S.W.2d 744 (Mo. App. E.D. 1995)
Gutting v. Shelter Mut. Ins. Co., 905 S.W.2d 550 (Mo. App. S.D. 1995)
Richardson v. Farm Bureau Town & Country Ins. Co., 899 S.W.2d 119 (Mo. App. E.D. 1995)
Tucker v. Wibbenmeyer, 901 S.W.2d 350 (Mo. App. E.D. 1995)
Interstate Indem. Co. v. Utica Mut. Ins. Co., 867 F.Supp. 1355 (S.D.Ill. 1994)
Hicks v. Prudential General Ins. Co., 887 S.W.2d 819 (Mo. App. E.D. 1994)
Lemmons v. Prudential Property & Cas. Ins. Co., 878 S.W.2d 853 (Mo. App. E.D. 1994)
Walker v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 879 S.W.2d 596 (Mo. App. E.D. 1994)
Hoodco, Inc. v. United Capitol Ins. Co., 875 F.Supp. 541 (S.D.Ill. 1994)
Chase Resorts, Inc. v. Safety Mut. Cas. Corp., 869 S.W.2d 145 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
S & P Oyster Co., Inc. v. U.S. Fidelity and Guar. Co., 865 S.W.2d 145 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
State ex rel. Schnuck Markets, Inc. v. Koehr, 859 S.W.2d 696 (Mo. 1993)
George Weis Co. v. Dwyer, 867 S.W.2d 520 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
Gabler v. McColl, 863 S.W.2d 340 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
Mattingly v. Costello, 850 S.W.2d 125 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
Cook v. Holcomb, 854 S.W. 2d 78 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
Palmer v. Hobart, 849 S.W.2d 135 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993)
Wilson v. St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, 845 S.W.2d 568 (Mo. App. E.D. 1992)
Uhle v. Sachs Elec., 831 S.E.2d 774 (Mo. App. E.D. 1992)
Transamerica Insurance Co. v. Carter Century State Bank, 794 F.Supp. 324 (E.D. Mo. 1992)
Wilson v. Boy Scouts of America, 784 F.Supp. 1422 (E.D. Mo. 1991)
Electro Battery Mfg. Co. v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 762 F.Supp. 844 (E.D. Mo. 1991)
Parker v. Midwest Distribution, Ins., 797 S.W.2d 721 (Mo. App. E.D. 1990)
Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Fleming, 750 F.Supp. 996 (E.D. Mo. 1990)
Hanover Ins. Co. v. Cameron Country Mut. Ins. Co., 730 F.Supp. 998 (E.D. Mo. 1990)
Conroy v. Solon Gershman, Inc., 767 S.W.2d 381 (Mo. App. E.D. 1989)
State ex rel. Pidgeons v. Ryan, 759 S.W.2d 837 (Mo. 1988)
U.S. Fire Ins. Co. v. Coleman, 754 S.W.2d 941 (Mo. App. E.D. 1988)
Haynes v. Hanover Ins. Companies, 783 F.2d 136 (8th Cir. Mo. 1986)
Valiant v. American Family Mutual Ins. Co., 698 S.W.2d 584 (Mo. App. E.D. 1984)
