Chris focuses his practice on product liability, mass tort defense and complex commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on environmental and toxic tort litigation of both legacy compounds and emerging substances including PFAS and glyphosate. He uses his experience in all aspects of litigation to develop unique case strategies and solutions for clients in state and federal courts including defending class actions, actions in multidistrict litigation proceedings and matters before various administrative agencies. Chris has testified before the Kansas Committee on Judiciary regarding changes to the Kansas Rules of Civil Procedure, and is a member of Shook’s AI Task Force.
Chris is dedicated to pro bono work, focusing on cases involving family law issues in addition to assisting veterans in obtaining discharge upgrades through various branches of the United States military. He has also represented pro bono clients leading to favorable settlements of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 excessive force claims.
Representative Matters
Roundup Products Liability Litigation
Jones v. Monsanto (Superior Court of California County of San Benito) – Third chair of trial team that obtained complete defense verdict in three-week trial where Plaintiff asked the jury to award $100 million in compensatory damages and $500 million in punitive damages. After deliberating for three hours, the jury returned a complete defense verdict.
Shelton v. Monsanto (Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri) - Defense verdict in six-week trial involving claimed use of Roundup and the development of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Plaintiff sought more than $160 million in damages, and the matter was reported by Law.com in “Bayer Notches Another Defense Win in Trial Over Monsanto’s Roundup.”
PFAS Environmental Litigation
National counsel for chemical manufacturer in thousands of environmental and products liability claims in state and federal courts nationwide brought by individuals, municipalities and states.
Peeler v. SRG Global Coatings (United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri) – Obtained dismissal of PFAS-related claims, with prejudice, against putative class action.
Other Matters
Coffie v. Florida Crystals (United States District Court, Southern District of Florida) – Obtained dismissal of particulate matter claims surrounding pre-harvest burning of sugarcane crops, with prejudice, against putative class action.
Frisch v. Senogles (District Court of Shawnee County, Kansas) –Obtained favorable jury verdict against wrongful death claims and multimillion-dollar demand.
Mahamed v. Supershuttle International, Inc., (Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri) – Obtained favorable jury verdict in automobile negligence claim involving pedestrian.
Simler v. Dubuque Paint Equip. Services, Inc., (United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri) – Obtained summary judgment on proximate cause issue in lawsuit alleging multi-million dollar injuries.
Publications
Wildfire Response and Environmental Protection, Nat. Resources & Env’t, Spring 2021, at 55 (2021).