Matthew M. Merrill

Matt Merrill joined the firm in 2001. He was elected partner in 2007 and co-chairs the firm's professional liability defense litigation group.

Matt has tried cases and argued in the appellate courts in Missouri and Kansas. His practice emphasizes health care provider defense, nursing home liability defense and other complex civil litigation matters.

When Matt is not working he enjoys spending time with his family, weightlifting, running, and reading.

Seminars and Publications

• "Risk Management 2011: Practicing Dentistry in Today's Litigious Society." Presented at UMKC School of Dentistry Midwest Dental Conference (April 2011)
• "Facebook Ethics." CLE Program on Ethical Considerations and Social Networking Websites (2010)
• "Challenges to Missouri Tort Reform." Presented at Kansas Health Care Stabilization Fund Defense Counsel Seminar (2006)
• "Cross Examination of Plaintiff's Treating Physician & Other Medical Experts." Missouri Products Liability Handbook (Rev. March 2004)
• "The Sheep Heard 'Round the World: Legislation vs. Self-Regulation of Human Cloning." Kansas J.L. & Pub. Pol'y 169, 185 (1998)

Honors and Awards

• Best of the Bar - Kansas City Business Journal (2010)
• Selected for inclusion in Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers (2009-2011)
• Selected for inclusion in Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers-Rising Stars Edition (2008)
• Up & Coming Lawyer - Missouri Lawyers Weekly (2007)
• Recommended Insurance Attorney - A.M. Best

Representative Cases

McKinney v. Physician, 251 P.3d 112 (Kan. Ct. App. 2011).  Kansas Court of Appeals affirms judgment in favor of physician.

Gilkes v. Physician Group, 240 P.3d 986 (Kan. Ct. App. 2010).  Kansas Court of Appeals affirms judgment in favor of health care provider group.

In re Collier, 309 S.W.3d 848 (Mo. App. W.D. 2010).  Matt prepared briefing which led to an opinion allowing his clients to submit attorneys' fees as an element of damages under the collateral litigation exception to the American Rule regarding recovery of attorneys' fees.

Recent representative trial and appellate work includes defense verdicts and judgments in surgical, medical and dental malpractice cases in Kansas and Missouri courts in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.