Rob is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and is listed in the Best Lawyers of America and Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. The Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association named Rob a Dean of the Trial Bar and Missouri Lawyers Weekly honored him as "Missouri Lawyer of the Year." Rob 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 recognized repeatedly by Chambers USA, with one client noting Rob as an "outstanding lawyer, very responsive and successful in resolving matters for us."
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
Shelton v. Monsanto Company, Circuit Court of Jackson County, Kansas City, Missouri (2022), jury deliberated for 9 hours returning a defense verdict in a trial where plaintiff’s alleged that Bayer’s Monsanto was liable for selling defective herbicide Roundup which allegedly caused non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
STOP Restoration v. Williams Insulation (TopBuild), Circuit Court of Ray County, Missouri (2020), victory in a toxic tort case involving spray polyurethane foam insulation, following five hours of deliberation after a three-week trial.
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.
Other Recent Appellate Arguments
Pitcher v Acaria Health and Centene Corporation, Missouri Court of Appeals Western District (2020), appeal of verdict in favor of Pitcher in Jackson County involving issues of personal jurisdiction and the application of the joint employer doctrine. Verdict affirmed.
Lisa and David Ford v. Ford Motor Company, Missouri Court of Appeals Western District (2019), appeal of verdict in favor of plaintiff Ford for death at Claycomo Ford Plant. Verdict affirmed.
Sherrer v. Boston Scientific Corporation; and C.R.Bard, Inc., Missouri Supreme Court(2019), appeal of verdict in favor of BSC and Bard in trial involving alleged defects in transvaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse.
Sherrer v. Boston Scientific Corp., Missouri Court of Appeals (2018), affirmed jury defense verdict.
Albright v. Boston Scientific Corp., Superior Court of Middlesex County, Massachusetts (2016), alleged defect in Boston Scientific’s pelvic mesh product.
Lopez v. H&R Block Inc., Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District (2016), whether arbitration agreement, which includes a provision for a consumer to opt out of arbitration, is unconscionable under Missouri contract law.
Advantage Buildings & Exteriors, Inc. v. Mid-Continent Casualty Company, Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District (2014), whether a bad-faith failure to settle claim can be made against an insurer who contested coverage and prevailed.
Beckon, Inc. v. AMCO Insurance Company, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (2013), vexatious refusal to pay issues.
Huff, et al. v. Dewey & LeBoeuf, et al., Missouri Court of Appeals (2012), propriety of declaratory judgment counterclaim.
Frazier v. Layne Christensen Company, Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, appeal affirming trial ruling in favor of Layne in two-week patent infringement trial in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Nelson v. Ford Motor Company, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, admissibility of other similar incidents.
Johnson v. Ford Motor Company, Missouri Court of Appeals (2002), application of venue provisions.
Anderson v. Ford Motor Company, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, Daubert’s application to an expert and jury misconduct.
Southland Corporation v. The Marley Company, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, failure to recall issues.
Publications
Robert T. Adams & Anton H. (Tony) Luetkemeyer, Rule 70: Jury Instructions, MoBar CLE Civil Procedure Deskbook (2013 Supplement).
Robert T. Adams, Juror Non-Disclosure, MODL Journal; April 2000.
Robert T. Adams, Practical Aspects of the Revisions to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Journal of the Missouri Bar Volume 50, No. 6; 1994.
Presentations
How Civil and Criminal Jury Instructions Get Approved By Those Who Know, Annual Meeting of the Missouri Bar/Missouri Judicial Conference, Kansas City, Missouri, September 13, 2017 (with co-presenter The Hon. Patrick K. Robb).
Civil Trial Innovations Conference, Chair, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri, April 4, 2017, Kansas City, Missouri.
Lessons Learned From High-Profile Cases, with The Hon. Tom Marten and J. Kent Emison, Civil Trial Innovations Conference, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri, April 4, 2017, Kansas City, Missouri.
The Rebirth of Daubert and Frye: Recent Successful Expert Challengers, 21st Annual Conference on Drug & Medical Device Litigation, December 5-7, 2016, New York City, New York.
Trying the Bellwether/Mass Tort Case in the Modern Era, Third Annual Life Sciences Legal Summit, September 21, 2016, San Francisco, California.
Trial Masters Program I: Avoid a Shipwreck, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel 2015 Winter Meeting, March 2, 2016, San Diego, California.
A View From The Bench: Judging The Lawyers - Courtroom Tactics and Ethics, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel 2015 Winter Meeting, March 4-7, 2015, Amelia Island, Florida.
Jury Selection,40th Annual Bench-Bar & Boardroom Conference, May 16-18, 2013, KCMBA, Branson, Missouri.
Lessons of 1,000 Trials: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Presenting a Winning Case at Trial, May 2, 2013, MoBar, Kansas City, Missouri.
Communicating with the Modern Juror at Trial, March 29, 2012, ABA Litigation Section, Phoenix, Arizona.
Voir Dire of Today’s Jurors, March 6, 2012, FDCC Trial Masters Program, Phoenix, Arizona.
Communicating with Today’s Juror from the Defense Perspective, November 2, 2011, John Shamberg Memorial CLE, Johnson County, Kansas Bar Association.
The Future of eFiling in Missouri Courts, August 18, 2010, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.
The Death of Hourly Billing, June 23, 2010, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.
Show Me How To Pick and Influence a Jury, Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers 24th Annual Meeting, Branson, Missouri, June 5, 2009.
The Art of Closing Arguments - Tactics to Winning the Jury, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, February 25, 2008.
Selecting, Protecting and Perfecting Company Witnesses, Product Liability Advisory Counsel, Tucson, Arizona, October 17-19, 2007.
The Critical Art of Voir Dire, Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers, Branson, Missouri, June 7, 2007.
Discovery Issues in Complex Cases, Missouri Trial Judge Judicial College, Jefferson City, Missouri, April 26, 2007.
Practical Aspects of Avoiding Punitive Damages, DRI Meeting, Los Angeles, California, February 16, 2005.
Marketing of Minority Attorneys, The Straker Bar Association of Detroit, Michigan, April 22, 2004.
High Level Executive Discovery, KCMBA, May 29, 2003.
Trends in Punitive Damage Research, Products Liability Advisory (“PLAC”) Committee Seminar, May 8, 2003.
Federal Practice and Procedure, KCMBA, June 23, 1998.
Depositions of Corporate Representatives and Corporate Executives, KCMBA, May 2, 1998.
Admissibility of Drug and Alcohol Usage, ABA, April 3, 1998.
Effective Deposition Techniques, The Missouri Bar, March 1, 1996.
In-Depth Examination of Recent Federal Rules Changes, MATA at KCMBA, February 24, 1995.
Revisions to Federal Rules, The Missouri Bar, September 30, 1992.
The New 'But For' Test for Causation in Missouri, UMKC, May 6, 1994.