Tom passed away unexpectedly on October 25, 2017. He will be sorely missed at the firm and throughout the community. His obituary and many remembrances from friends can be seen here.
Tom devoted 100% of his practice to representing injury victims and their families. He had significant trial and appellate experience and had successfully represented clients in both state and federal court. Over the course of his career, Tom had handled a variety of personal injury matters with an emphasis on medical malpractice and nursing home and long-term care abuse cases.
In the area of nursing home abuse and neglect, Tom had handled a number of complex cases dealing with resident injuries and complications that include: bed sores/pressure ulcers/decubitus ulcers; sepsis; osteomyelitis, starvation, dehydration & malnutrition; unexplained bruises, fractures & broken bones; falls during transfers to and from wheelchairs & beds; wandering & elopement; choking & clogged feeding tubes; sexual abuse & assault; neglect & negligence; burns & scalds; subdural hematomas; food poisoning & infections; medication errors & overdose; and emotional & verbal abuse.
Before entering private practice, Tom was a research attorney for the Kansas Court of Appeals and also clerked for the Honorable Steve Leben and the Honorable Janice Russell of the District Court of Johnson County, Kansas.
Tom’s dedication and hard work were not limited to his legal work. He also was a competitive endurance athlete who had successfully completed several sub-three-hour marathons and qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas, NV, and the Ironman World Championships, in Kona, HI.
Tom lived in Kansas City, MO with his wife and two sons.
Honors and Awards
- Named “Super Lawyer” by Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyer Publication
- Named “Rising Star” by Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyer Publication
- Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Centurions Leadership Program, 2009-2011
Publications and Presentations
“Uncapped Noneconomic Damages in Nursing Home Cases: Can Nursing Homes Reasonably Rely on K.S.A. 60-19a02 After Miller v. Johnson?,” Journal of the
Kansas Association for Justice, November 2013
“Introducing Evidence of Settlement in Multi-Defendant Medical Malpractice Cases,”
Kansas Defense Journal, Fall 2008, Issue II
Presenter, “Electronic Medical Records: A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothes?”
Health Care Stabilization Fund Defense Counsel Seminar, May 2013
Speaker, “A Guide to Medical Malpractice Law for the Kansas Pediatrician,” September 2011
University of Kansas School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics
Presenter, “Analyzing and Attacking Medical Literature”
Health Care Stabilization Fund Defense Counsel Seminar, May 2011
Speaker, “The IM Resident’s Guide to Medical Malpractice Law”
University of Kansas School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, January 2011
Presenter, “Exposing ‘Courtroom Medicine’: Defining Reasonable Medical Probability”
Health Care Stabilization Fund Defense Counsel Seminar, May 2010