Russell Watters is a shareholder and one of the founding members of Brown and 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 Lawyer 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®.
Lawyer of the Year - Insurance Law, The Best Lawyers in America (2013)
Best Lawyers - Insurance Law, The Best Lawyers in America (2012-13)
St. Louis' Best Lawyers - Insurance Law, St. Louis Magazine (2012-13)
Super Lawyers - Insurance Law, Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers (2005-12)
Awarded Number 1 Defense Verdict in State of Missouri, Missouri Lawyers Weekly (2009)
Awarded Number 7 Largest Plaintiff's Verdict, Missouri Lawyers Weekly (2005)
Awarded Number 1 Defense Verdict in State of Missouri, Missouri Lawyers Weekly (2001)
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®
Professional Affiliations:
Claims & Litigation Management Alliance
Council on Ethical Billing Management
Defense Research Institute
Illinois State Bar Association
Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers (Past Director)
Property Loss Research Bureau
Missouri
Illinois
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
Publications:
Reviewer, "Insurance Practice" Fifth Edition, Vol. I and II, The Missouri Bar (2004)
Editor, The Firm Inquiry, Brown & James quarterly newsletter Author
and Featured Speaker, "Bad Faith Litigation in Missouri," IBI Institute
(2004)
Author, "Arson, Fraud and First Party Insurance, A Guide to Property
Insurance Law and Procedures in Missouri and Illinois," (1994, 2nd
edition in 2001)
Author, "Tortious Wrongful Discharge vs. Employment at Will," St. Louis Bar Journal (1989)
Author, "Arson, Fraud and The First Party Insurance Contract," Journal of Missouri Bar (1988)
Speaking Engagements:
"The Ever Evolving Co-Employee Liability Law - Have We Reached The End?" Brown & James Law Symposium (January 2013)
"Class
Actions: Plaintiff's Attorney's Dream Insurance Carrier's Nightmare," Annual Conference of the Council on Litigation Management - CLM (2010)
"Bad Faith Insurance, How to Defend" Missouri Claims Managers Conference
Missouri State Bar conference speaker (2007-09)
"Class Actions:
Plaintiff's Attorney's Dream Insurance Carrier's Nightmare," Central Claims Executives Association Conference (2008)
Featured regional and national speaker for the Property Loss Research Bureau
Frequent speaker at Local and State Bar trial practice seminars
Representative Appellate and Reported Cases setting precedent in Missouri and Illinois:
Owners Ins. Co. v. Hughes, 712 F.3d 392 (8th Cir.
2013)
Chicago Ins. Co. v. Archdiocese of St. Louis, Slip
Copy, 2012 WL 5932622 (E.D.Mo. 2012)
March v. Midwest St. Louis, L.L.C., Slip Copy, 2012
WL 4499046 (Mo. App. E.D. 2012)
Assurance Co. of Am. v. Secura Ins. Co., 384 S.W.3d
224 (Mo. App. E.D. 2012)
DeRousse v. GEICO Gen. Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2012 WL
1945979 (E.D.Mo. 2012)
McCoy v. Schubert, Slip Copy, 2011 WL 6140678
(E.D.Mo. 2011)
Essex Ins. Co. v. Harris, Slip Copy, 2011 WL 4600689 (E.D.Mo. September 30, 2011)
Brackney v. Farmers Ins. Exchange, Slip Copy, 2011 WL 3678822 (W.D.Mo. August 22, 2011)
Kingsland Investments, L.P. v. Schaefer Group, Inc., 349 S.W.3d 380 (Mo. App. E.D. 2011)
Hawkeye-Security Ins. Co. v. Bunch, 643 F.3d 646 (8th Cir. 2011)
Owners Ins. Co. v. Warren Funeral Chapel, Inc., Slip Copy, 2011 WL 2634204 (W.D.Mo. July 5, 2011)
Miles ex rel. Miles v. Rich, 347 S.W.3d 477 (Mo. App. E.D. 2011)
Dorris v. Kohl, 337 S.W.3d 107 (Mo. App. W.D. 2011)
Owners Ins. Co. v. AMCO Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2011 WL 504055 (E.D.Mo. February 10, 2011)
Brinker v. Capital Restoration & Painting Co., 2010 WL 5174778 (Mo. App. E.D. Dec. 21, 2010)
Smith v. Calhoun, 2010 WL 5082512 (Mo. App. E.D. Dec. 14, 2010)
Tate v. One Beacon Ins. Co., 2010 WL 3759614 (Mo. App. E.D. Sept. 28, 2010)
Hawkeye-Security Ins. Co. v. Bunch, 2010 WL 3721491 (E.D.Mo. Sept. 15, 2010)
Hartford Acc. and Indem. Co. v. Doe Run Resources Corp., Slip Copy, 2010 WL 1687623 (E.D.Mo. April 26, 2010)
Lanham v. Sandberg Trucking, Inc., 2010 WL 1531168 (E.D.Mo. April 16, 2010)
Mengwasser v. Anthony Kempker Trucking, Inc., 312 S.W.3d 368 (Mo. App. W.D. 2010)
Molder v. Trammell Crow Services, Inc., 309 S.W.3d 837 (Mo. App. W.D. 2010)
Parmalee v. Standard Fire Ins. Co., 697 F.Supp.2d 1069 (E.D.Mo. 2010)
Huff v. J&M House Builders, Inc., 298 S.W.3d 546 (Mo. App. E.D. 2009)
Hartford Acc. and Indem. Co. v. Doe Run Resources Corp., 663 F.Supp.2d 771 (E.D.Mo. 2009)
Auto-Owners Ins. Co. v. Mid-America Piping, Inc., Slip Copy, 2009 WL 3012321 (E.D.Mo. Sept. 16, 2009)
Auto-Owners Ins. Co. v. Biegel Refrigeration and Elec. Co., 659 F.Supp.2d 1050 (E.D.Mo. 2009)
Stancombe v. Davern, 298 S.W.3d 1 (Mo. App. S.D. 2009)
Mitzan v. Western Heritage Ins. Co., 623 F.Supp.2d993 (E.D.Mo. April 13, 2009)
Sherrell v. Brown, 284 S.W.3d 164 (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)
