Christopher Lee Heigele

I began my trial practice over 18 years ago, when I joined a small plaintiff's personal injury firm. I then moved to the defense side where I have continued to litigate cases in the state and federal courts of Missouri and Kansas. I have also briefed and successfully argued numerous appeals in the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District of Missouri, the Kansas Supreme Court, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

I am a member of the Defense Research Institute's Governmental Liability Committee and serve as Eighth Circuit Liaison. I also serve on the steering committee for the yearly Governmental Liability/Civil Rights Seminar. I am also a member of the Defense Research Institute's Product Liability Committee

I have written articles and spoken at continuing legal education seminars for the Defense Research Institute, the Missouri Bar, and the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers. The topics have included the duty to warn in Missouri product liability situations, ethics, success with using summary judgment motions and changes in Missouri law concerning the standards for expert testimony. I am also a graduate of the International Association of Defense Counsel's and Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers' Trial Academies and have instructed young lawyers at the Missouri Bar's Trial College.

Specialties

While our firm provides a wide range of legal services, my litigation practice focuses on:

1) Defending municipalities and governmental entities in civil rights and other personal injury or tort liability claims,

2) Representing and defending individuals and companies in personal injury, products liability and construction defect cases, and

3) Representing and advising insurance companies and other organizations on insurance policy matters.