Robert Adams

Robert T. Adams practices in the areas of products liability, intellectual property litigation, insurance coverage litigation and commercial litigation. He has first-chaired more than 30 jury trials in several different federal and state courts. He has made numerous arguments in appellate courts throughout the country.

Rob has been an active member of various bar organizations over his career. By appointment from the Missouri Supreme Court, Rob acts as the chair for the Missouri Approved Instruction Committee, which drafts instructions for use in civil cases.

He has also served on the Missouri Bar Board of Governors, the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. Rob is also member of the Product Liability Advisory Council. He is on the firm’s Executive Committee.

Representative Matters:

• Recent Jury Trials
  • Myers v. AbbVie, Inc. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2018), a jury in Federal Court in Chicago returned a defense verdict after 32 minutes of deliberation in a bellwether trial where it was alleged that a drug caused a bilateral pulmonary embolism. The trial was covered in Law360 and Lexis Legal News.
  • Golston v. Layne Energy Sycamore, LLC, Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Kansas (2017), trial involving injuries related to an operating pump jack.
  • Sherrer v. Boston Scientific Corp., Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri (2016), defense verdict in seven-week jury trial alleging defect in transvaginal mesh. This trial was selected as the Top Defense Verdict in the United States for 2016 by Courtroom View Network and among the top defense verdicts of the year by Missouri Lawyers Weekly.
  • Sanchez v. Boston Scientific Corp., District Court for the Central District of California (2015), jury trial involving defense of Boston Scientific in transvaginal mesh case.
  • Blankenship v. Boston Scientific Corp., District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (2014), four-week jury trial involving defense of Boston Scientific in a consolidated pelvic mesh case.
  • Salazar v. Boston Scientific Corp., District Court 95th Judicial District, Dallas County (2014), three-week jury trial involving the defense of Boston Scientific in a Texas pelvic mesh case.
  • Albright v. Boston Scientific Corp., et al., Superior Court of Middlesex County, Massachusetts (2014), defense verdict in a three-week jury trial involving Boston Scientific’s pelvic mesh product. This was the first Boston Scientific case to go to trial involving pelvic mesh and the first defense verdict for any defendant following a jury trial. Prior juries had awarded more than $13 million in damages to various plaintiffs.
  • Gleason, et al. v. Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, et al., Circuit Court of Clay County, Missouri (2013), defense verdict in eight-week jury trial involving allegations that faulty brakes were responsible for a school bus crash resulting in two fatalities and numerous injuries of children.
  • Chapman v. FHP Manufacturing Co., Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri (2012), two-week jury trial involving defense of a manufacturer in an incident involving debilitating injuries from electric shock.
  • Steve Oliver Mazda v. Ford Motor Credit Co., Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri (2012), unanimous defense verdict and counterclaim verdict in jury trial involving complex business financing dispute with claims of fraudulent misrepresentation and tortious interference.
  • McGookin, et al. v. Guidant Corp. and Boston Scientific Corp., Superior Court of St. Joseph County, Indiana (2009), unanimous defense verdict in a jury trial involving allegations that a cardiac pacemaker caused the death of a 14-month-old child.
  • Boren, et al. v. Kia Motors America, Inc., et al., District Court of Oklahoma County (2009), unanimous defense verdict in a three-week crashworthiness jury trial.
  • Garrett v. Albright and Central Transport, et al., U.S.D.C. MO, defense of trucking companies in a three-week jury trial involving multiple deaths.
  • James v. Schultz, et al., Circuit Court of Jackson County (2007), defense of legal malpractice case.
  • Green, et al. v. Alpharma, Inc., et al., Circuit Court of Washington County (2006), defense verdict in toxic tort jury trial involving allegations of childhood leukemia caused by exposure to defendant’s product.
  • Frazier, et al. v. Layne Christensen Company, et al., U.S.D.C. W.D. Wisconsin (2006), defense of patent infringement claim in jury trial.
  • Slaughter v. Ford Motor Company, Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis (2005), defense of a design defect claim by a quadriplegic in jury trial.
  • Sullins v. Ford Motor Company, Superior Court of New Jersey, Middlesex County (2005), defense of a design defect claim by a quadriplegic in jury trial.
  • Eltiste v. Ford Motor Company, Circuit Court of St. Louis County, MO (2004), defense verdict in jury trial involving claims of sudden acceleration.
  • NewCap Insurance Co. v. Employers Reinsurance Corp., U.S.D.C. D. KS (2004), defense of reinsurance company in a jury trial claim of $18 million in complex commercial case.
  • McGill v. Ford Motor Company, Circuit Court of Scott County, MO (2003), defense verdict in jury trial involving a wrongful death claim from an allegedly defective steering system.
  • George v. Ford Motor Company, Court of Common Pleas, PA (2003), defense in jury trial involving 34-year-old quadriplegic involving claims of strict liability for design defect and punitive damages.
  • Tharpe, Herrin and R&L Engineering, Inc. v. DSG International Ltd., and Associated Hygienic Products, LLC, U.S.D.C. M.D. GA (2001), three-week jury trial for patent infringement involving $17 million claim for damages.
  • Sexton v. Ford Motor Company, County of Sumter, SC (2000), defense in two-week jury trial involving a wrongful death claim of 32-year-old father of three children involved in a rollover of a Ford pick-up.
  • Barbour Well Surveying Corporation v. Layne Christensen Company, U.S.D.C. E.D. CA. (1999), defense verdict in three-week jury trial involving claims of patent infringement.
  • Anderson v. Ford Motor Company, U.S.D.C. W.D. MO. (1998), defense verdict in two-week jury trial for wrongful death involving claims of design defect and crashworthiness.
  • Nelson v. Ford Motor Company, U.S.D.C. W.D. MO. (1997), defense verdict in jury trial involving design defect claims.
• Missouri Supreme Court Arguments
  • State ex rel. Ford Motor Company v. The Honorable Michael Manners, 161 S.W. 3d 373, (MO Supreme Court, 2005), application of Missouri laws on service of process and venue.

     

  • State ex rel. Ford Motor Company v. The Honorable Henry Westbrooke, 151 S.W. 3d 364 (MO Supreme Court, 2004), application of work product doctrine to repetitive litigation (2004).

     

  • State ex. rel. Ford Motor Company v. Messina, 71 S.W.3d 602 (MO Supreme Court, 2002), established law for Apex (high level corporate executive) depositions.

     

  • Greenwood v. Isuzu, MO Supreme Court (2001), interpretation of Missouri’s Corporate Venue Statute, 508.040.

     

  • State ex rel. Ford Motor Company v. Bacon, 63 S.W. 3d 641, (MO Supreme Court, 2001), interpretation of agency law as applied to related corporations.

Education:

• J.D., University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law (Law Review), 1987
• B.A., University of Kansas, 1984

Bar Admissions:

• Missouri
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit

Memberships:

• American College of Trial Lawyers, Jury Committee, Vice Chair
• International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
• Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers, Board of Directors
• Missouri Approved Instruction Committee, Chair

Community Involvement:

• Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City, President’s Council (Sep. 2001-Present); Board of Directors (1996-2000)
• Greenway Fields Homes Association, Board of Directors (1990-1994)