News & Articles
For a complete list of our archived articles, click here.
WHAT’S NEW?
February 25, 2020
Tad Eckenrode and Bill Kanasky presented for the Federal Bar Association and myLawCLE on this important topic:
“Preventing Amygdala Hi-Jack at Deposition in the Reptilian Era” held in Miami, Florida.
October 15, 2019
TAD ECKENRODE and CYNDI MAAG are contributing authors to the Fourth Edition of “”Legal Nurse Consulting Principles and Practice”.
July 31, 2019
Cyndi Maag, LNCC participated in “Nursing Specialty Presentations” for the Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College. Her topic presented various roles of advanced practice nursing in the legal industry.
March 14, 2019
TAD ECKENRODE is interviewed by CLM Daily News Prior to Today’s Panel Discussion
January 25, 2019
TAD ECKENRODE and LISA HOWE Receive Award for One of the Top Five Defense Verdicts in Missouri
January 2019
November 2018
Tad Eckenrode and his trial team (Lisa Howe and Janice Gallaher) obtained a very hard fought victory this week in a long and emotional medical malpractice trial involving a claim that our client failed to properly diagnose a patient hours before he murdered several family members and then committed suicide. Despite the tragic circumstances and incredible sympathy for the surviving family members, the jury was convinced that our client provided proper care and that these actions were not foreseeable. We continue to extend our sympathy to the family involved.
August 2018
Tad Eckenrode has been chosen to be recognized in the 25th Edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” for high caliber work in the practice area of Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants.
For more than three decades, Best Lawyers has been regarded, by both the profession and the public, as the most credible measure of legal integrity and distinction in the United States. As such, recognition by Best Lawyers symbolizes excellence in practice.
Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on a rigorous peer-review survey comprising more than 7.8 million confidential evaluations by top attorneys.
June 2018
Tad Eckenrode was a speaker at the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance CLM Professional Liability Conference in Boston. Shown here with Courtney Young (Medmarc), Sherry Merber (Arch Reinsurance) and Constance Endelicato (Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman/Los Angeles).
June 2018
Tad Eckenrode Co_Authors DRI Article
“Preventing Amygdala Hijack During Witness Testimony” .
March 2018
Tad Eckenrode participates in the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance community effort at the Houston Food Bank. #CLM2018
February 2018
Tad Eckenrode obtains a defense verdict in case involving cardiac dissection
The efforts of Tad Eckenrode and his trial team resulted in a defense verdict for his client, a cardiologist in a rather tragic left main coronary artery dissection case, wh
ere the patient unfortunately died on the table while undergoing a cardiac catheterization. After 6 days of trial, the jury returned a defense verdict on a case that clearly could have gone either way.
October 2017
Tad Eckenrode recognized as 2018 Lawyer of the Year in Medical Malpractice Defense by Best Lawyers.
April 2017
TAD ECKENRODE authors article published in St. Louis Metropolitan Medicine.
Bedside Manner: An Ounce of Prevention is Better Than a Pound of Tactics in Defending a Malpractice Case
March 29th, 2017
While attending the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance conference, TAD ECKENRODE, joined other attendees to participate in the Nashville Rescue Mission community project. #CLM2017
February 2017
Tad Eckenrode will be the guest speaker at the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) February Webinar.
“What Risk Managers Need to Know about Plaintiffs’ Reptile Strategy”
August 15, 2016
Eckenrode-Maupin congratulations TAD ECKENRODE, who has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 23rd Edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” ©
May 31, 2016
TAD ECKENRODE authored “Making Med Mal Case Assessments” for Claims Management Magazine.
Unfortunately, not everyone with some hidden bias will be identified during voir dire, and some of those feelings under the surface won’t necessarily be stirred up until the defendant is on the witness stand.
CLICK HERE for full article…
May 11, 2016
TAD ECKENRODE will be co-presenting valuable information regarding HIPAA compliance and other issues at the 2016 MoDocs Risk Management Lecture Series.
April 29, 2016
Tad Eckenrode co-authored “Huge Fines Await Physicians Who are Non-Compliant with HIPAA” as featured in St. Louis Metropolitan Medicine’s April 2016 edition.
“Having strong policies and procedures, and completing a comprehensive risk analysis, are essential in preparing for an OCR or HHS audit.”
CLICK HERE for full article.
April 5, 2016
Mr. J. Thaddeus Eckenrode to Speak at the 2016 CLM Annual Conference
J. Thaddeus Eckenrode, Attorney at Law, Eckenrode-Maupin, will speak at the CLM Annual Conference, which will be held at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, April 6-8. His session is titled, “Claims Management – Same-Sex Marriage, Open Carry and Weed.”
Managing officer and lead trial attorney for Eckenrode-Maupin, a boutique 8 attorney defense-oriented trial and appellate practice. He has tried over 75 cases to verdict in both Missouri and Illinois state courts, and in Federal court. Several were listed as among the year’s “Top Defense Verdicts” by Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly. The firm’s practice areas include all aspects of general insurance defense and civil litigation, while Tad’s own personal focus is on complex and high-stakes death and injury claims, including medical malpractice, product liability and general / auto liability matters. Tad has been a frequently requested speaker at bar and professional seminars on topics related to trial practice, professional liability and general negligence matters, and he has authored several articles published both locally and nationally. He is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, listed in “Best Lawyers in America” (for Personal Injury Litigation — Defense and Medical Malpractice — Defense), and has been selected as a Missouri-Kansas “Superlawyer” for four straight years.
Tad graduated from Washington University School of Law in 1983, and served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for three years before transitioning to a general civil insurance defense practice, which has been his primary litigation focus for the past 25 years.
About the CLM:
The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) promotes and furthers the highest standards of claims and litigation management and brings together the thought leaders in both industries. CLM’s Members and Fellows include risk and litigation managers, insurance and claims professionals, corporate counsel, outside counsel and third party vendors. The CLM sponsors educational programs, provides resources and fosters communication among all in the industry. To learn more about the CLM, please visit www.theclm.org.
Contact:
Susan Wisbey-Smith, Chief Communications Manager
Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
susan.wisbey-smith@theclm.org
February 26, 2016
TAD ECKENRODE is scheduled to speak today at the 15th Annual PHTS Medical Staff Leadership Advance. His presentation: “What You Need to Know About Plaintiffs’ Reptile Strategy”
For more information about his organization and the presentation – CLICK HERE.
February 25, 2016
TAD ECKENRODE will present at a Special Session for PHLIP Liability Program Member Physician Risk Officers and Risk Managers in Charleston, SC
Click here for program schedule.
February 10, 2016
August 18, 2015
TAD ECKENRODE was selected again this year for inclusion in the 2016 Edition of Best Lawyers© in America for his outstanding work in Medical Malpractice Defense and Personal Injury Litigation Defense.
Inclusion in Best Lawyers© is based entirely on peer-review. The methodology is designed to capture the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area. http://buff.ly/1K4n9tm
August 6, 2015
TAD ECKENRODE authored “Medical Malpractice Caps – Version 3.0” for the St. Louis Metropolitan Medicine Publication.
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March 23, 2015
Tad Eckenrode to speak at the 2015 CLM Annual Conference
Mr. J. Thaddeus Eckenrode, Attorney at Law, Eckenrode-Maupin is speaking on the topic “PREMISES LIABILITY – Personal Drones and Quadcopters: Useful for Business, Fun as a Hobby, or Liability Magnet?” The annual conference will be held in Palm Desert, California, March 25-27, The CLM Annual Conference is the premier annual event for professionals in the claims and litigation management industries.
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March 13, 2015
TAD ECKENRODE joined Bill Kanasky to present “Reptile Theory: Defense Strategies to Confront the Reptile: at DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar specialty seminar –Medical Liability and Health Care Law Seminar held in San Francisco.
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December 4, 2014
Tad Eckenrode is in New York attending the 2014 Insurance Bad Faith & Coverage Conference presented by Claims and Litigation Management Alliance. The annual holiday party will be tonight at Pulse Restaurant in Rockefeller Plaza.
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September 11, 2014
TAD ECKENRODE to will be the guest speaker at the North Kansas City Hospital Grand Rounds.
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June 2014
TAD ECKENRODE featured in the BETWEEN THE LINES segment published by Clai
ms Management Magazine.
What’s the first thing you would print with a 3D printer?
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May 30, 2014
TAD ECKENRODE’s recent trial victory was mentioned in the May edition of Claims Management Magazine.
Claims M
anagement – MAY 2014 Read it now:
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May 13, 2014
LISA HOWE and TAD ECKENRODE successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of our client, a physician being sued for medical malpractice. In order to overcome plaintiff’s theory of fraudulent concealment (to toll the applicable statute of limitations), Lisa and Tad filed a detailed memorandum of law, thorough statement of uncontroverted facts, and substantial supporting affidavits. After vigorous oral argument on the issues, the trial court granted our motion for summary judgment, definitively resolving this case in favor of our client.
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May 8, 2014
TAD ECKENRODE and Randall A. Baumann were featured speakers for MoDocs 2014 Risk Management Lecture Series held in Kansas City, Missouri. “A Decade of Defense” — The latest news, ideas, strategies, and recommendations for reducing your practice’s risk and liability.
* Dismissals, Settlement and Verdicts – what do they all mean?
* Medication Monitoring – issues and errors
* Reptile Litigation Strategies invade medical malpractice cases.
* Tort Reform Update – what’s happening legislatively and in the courts? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
April 1, 2014
JOHN W. MAUPIN successfully represented a client in an appeal to MoDOT from a finding that the client improperly utilized a minority subcontractor on a project. MoDOT reversed themselves when they were unable to explain how they had determined that the subcontractor had not performed a commercially useful function.
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J. Thaddeus Eckenrode to speak at the CLM 2014 Annual Conference
Mr. J. Thaddeus Eckenrode, Attorney at Law, Eckenrode-Maupin, will be speaking on the subject, “PANEL 2 – Claims Professionals Are From Mars — Defense Attorneys Are From Venus.” Held each spring, the CLM Annual Conference features more than 80 collaborative educational sessions and keynote presentations designed by industry professionals to help attendees gain the knowledge they need to be on the forefront of the industry. The 2014 CLM Annual Conference will be held in Boca Raton, FL from April 9 – 11.
Managing officer and lead trial attorney for Eckenrode-Maupin, a boutique 8 attorney defense-oriented trial and appellate practice. He has tried over 75 cases to verdict in both Missouri and Illinois state courts, and in Federal court. Several were listed as among the year’s “Top Defense Verdicts” by Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly. The firm’s practice areas include all aspects of general insurance defense and civil litigation, while Tad’s own personal focus is on complex and high-stakes death and injury claims, including medical malpractice, product liability and general / auto liability matters. Tad has been a frequently requested speaker at bar and professional seminars on topics related to trial practice, professional liability and general negligence matters, and he has authored several articles published both locally and nationally. He is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, listed in “Best Lawyers in America” (for Personal Injury Litigation — Defense and Medical Malpractice — Defense), and has been selected as a Missouri-Kansas “Superlawyer” for four straight years.
Tad graduated from Washington University School of Law in 1983, and served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for three years before transitioning to a general civil insurance defense practice, which has been his primary litigation focus for the past 25 years.
About the CLMThe Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) promotes and furthers the highest standards of claims and litigation management and brings together the thought leaders in both industries. CLM’s Members and Fellows include risk and litigation managers, insurance and claims professionals, corporate counsel, outside counsel and third party vendors. The CLM sponsors educational programs, provides resources and fosters communication among all in the industry. To learn more about the CLM, please visit www.theclm.org.
Contact: Susan Wisbey-Smith, Communications Manager: Claims and Litigation Management Alliance: 847-317-9103 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________March 17, 2014
TAD ECKENRODE has been selected to serve as a Co-Chair for the Claims & Litigation Management’s new MEDICAL-LEGAL Committee.
The Medical Legal committee will be comprised of claims professionals and attorneys involved in the management of complex medical, pharmaceutical, and legal issues involving claimants and/or plaintiffs with pain and current complex litigation. The committee members will be tasked with writing magazine articles, developing webinars and presentations for the annual summit. http://buff.ly/1opoKNm
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January 31, 2014
TAD ECKENRODE and LISA HOWE received a defense verdict for their client in a very tough case. The family of a man who died from a tragic affliction of Stevens Johnson Syndrome sought $5 million in a medical malpractice wrongful death case, but the firm successfully defended two physicians in a grueling, emotional trial, and in a notoriously tough venue.
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January 29, 2014
John W. Maupin was confirmed by the Missouri Senate as a member and secretary to the St. Louis County Election Commission on January 29. Maupin was appointed to the position by Governor Jeremiah “Jay” Nixon earlier in the month, but that appointment was subject to the Senate’s confirmation process. The bi-partisan commission is charged with overseeing the registration of voters and running all the elections in St. Louis County.
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January 27, 2014
JOHN W. MAUPIN will present What You Need to Know About Public Records and Open Meetings in Missouri — Seminar | Lorman Education Services
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January 24, 2014
TAD ECKENRODE will make a presentation today at the CLM Professional Liability Conference. The topic for today is: Getting Past Stereotypes, Demographics and Other False Assumptions- Using Psychological Data to Help Identify Risky Jurors.
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January 10, 2014
Eckenrode-Maupin is pleased to announce that JOHN W. MAUPIN has been appointed to the Board of Election Commissioners for St. Louis County by Governor Jay Nixon. Mr. Maupin will also serve as the Secretary to the Board.
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December 17, 2013
Mr. J. Thaddeus Eckenrode to Speak at the CLM 2014 Professional Liability & eDiscovery Conference
Mr. J. Thaddeus Eckenrode, Attorney at Law, Eckenrode-Maupin will be speaking on the topic “Getting Past Stereotypes, Demographics and Other False Assumptions- Using Psychological Data to Help Identify Risky Jurors.” Two great committees come together for one great conference. The Professional Liability and eDiscovery committees have joined together to present a tremendous learning and networking opportunity. Speakers from both the industry and law firm perspective will address several topics.
Managing officer and lead trial attorney for Eckenrode-Maupin, a boutique 8 attorney defense-oriented trial and appellate practice. He has tried over 75 cases to verdict in both Missouri and Illinois state courts, and in Federal court. Several were listed as among the year’s “Top Defense Verdicts” by Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly. The firm’s practice areas include all aspects of general insurance defense and civil litigation, while Tad’s own personal focus is on complex and high-stakes death and injury claims, including medical malpractice, product liability and general / auto liability matters. Tad has been a frequently requested speaker at bar and professional seminars on topics related to trial practice, professional liability and general negligence matters, and he has authored several articles published both locally and nationally. He is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, listed in “Best Lawyers in America” (for Personal Injury Litigation — Defense and Medical Malpractice — Defense), and has been selected as a Missouri-Kansas “Superlawyer” for four straight years.
Tad graduated from Washington University School of Law in 1983, and served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for three years before transitioning to a general civil insurance defense practice, which has been his primary litigation focus for the past 25 years.
About the CLM
The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) promotes and
furthers the highest standards of claims and litigation management and
brings together the thought leaders in both industries. CLM’s Members
and Fellows include risk and litigation managers, insurance and claims
professionals, corporate counsel, outside counsel and third party
vendors. The CLM sponsors educational programs, provides resources and
fosters communication among all in the industry. To learn more about the
CLM, please visit www.theclm.org.
Contact:
Susan Wisbey-Smith, Communications Manager
Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
847-317-9103
susan.wisbey-smith@theclm.org
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December 10, 2013
TAD ECKENRODE and LISA HOWE will be guest speakers for the presentation “Ethics for Paralegals: Conflicts of Interest and Terminating Legal Representation” on December 10, 2013.
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November 14, 2013
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October 23, 2013
The lawyers and staff of Eckenrode-Maupin, Attorneys at Law are proud to announce that TAD ECKENRODE has been selected again in 2013 for the Super Lawyer designation.
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October 21, 2013
TAD ECKENRODE successfully argued and was granted summary judgment on behalf of 13 defendants, including 1 corporation, 7 physicians, and 5 nurses. As a result, the court has dismissed all of the plaintiff’s claims against each of the 13 clients saving them each the necessity and considerable expense of a trial.
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October 14, 2013
TAD ECKENRODE was a guest speaker at the 2013 Annual Meeting and CLE/CEU Presentation for the Professional Liability Defense Federation. Mr. Eckenrode presented “Trial Tactics: Preparing the Difficult Personality Client for Trial. Professional Liability Defense Federation’s mission is to enhance the stature and effectiveness of professional liability defense professionals through education, training and the exchange of information.
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October 7, 2013
Cyndi Maag has completed the required training to earn her Certification as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for St. Louis County and is now serving the community in this capacity.
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September 11, 2013
TAD ECKENRODE and LISA HOWE appeared in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to video-tape a seminar – “Ethics for Paralegals; Client Relationships and Communication” that will be re-broadcast to a national audience later this month.
64392ER | Live Video Webcast | Ethics for Paralegals: Client Relationships and Communication.
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August 20, 2013
TAD ECKENRODE will be a guest speaker at the 2013 Annual Meeting and CLE/CEU Presentation for the Professional Liability Defense Federation. Mr. Eckenrode was selected for his topic “Trial Tactics: Preparing the Difficult Personality Client for Trial.” The conference is scheduled for October 9 – 11 in Chicago, Illinois.
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August 6, 2013
JANICE GALLAHER and LISA HOWE presented “The Paralegal’s Role at Trial (or How to Second Chair a Trial)” for IPE.
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June 17, 2013
On June 12, TAD ECKENRODE and DWIGHT VERMETTE obtained a successful result on behalf of our clients (a local physician and his practice who were sued for negligent supervision of an employee) after a trial in St. Louis City Circuit Court. Plaintiff’s attorneys indicated in voir dire that they would be seeking a “six figure” verdict in the matter, but ultimately, our clients were completely exonerated and paid nothing.
Jun 13, 2013
Dwight Vermette is sponsoring and speaking at the CAI Legal Round Table.
May 30, 2013
D
WIGHT VERMETTE served on the Jefferson County Lincoln-Reagan Day planning committee which hosted a successful banquet on April 27th in Arnold, Missouri, attended by over 160 people. Mark Reardon of KMOX was the Master of Ceremonies, and in attendance as speakers were: Blaine Luetkemeyer, U.S. Congressman; Phyllis Schlafly, “Eagle Forum”; Tim Jones, Speaker of Missouri House of Representatives; Jason Smith, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, 8th Congressional District; and Ed Martin, Chairman of the Missouri State Republican Party.
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May 6, 2013
TAD ECKENRODE is interviewed in CLAIMS MANAGEMENT, May 2013 “Between the Lines – What apps do you use as part of your job?”
Apr 29, 2013
Tad Eckenrode discusses how apologies impact lawsuits in the St. Louis Metropolitan Medicine: April/May 2013 edition.
“Sorry” seems to be the hardest word…How do Apologies Impact Lawsuits?
Apr 5, 2013
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently denied an appeal filed by plaintiff against whom we were successful in obtaining a summary judgment for our clients at the trial court level. The case, handled by Tad Eckenrode, has now been adjudicated with finality pursuant to the appellate court’s ruling, resulting in the claims against our clients being closed without payment or trial.
Apr 4, 2013
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri recently granted motion for summary judgment that we filed on behalf of our healthcare professional clients, effectively concluding a case successfully without having to put our clients through trial. The motion, filed by Tad Eckenrode, resulted in the dismissal of all claims by the plaintiff in their entirety.
Apr 4, 2013
Tad Eckenrode will present “Prison Healthcare Liability Issues” at the 2013 National Conference of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants.
Apr 4-6, 2013
Cyndi Maag will attend the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) Conference in Chicago.
Apr 2, 2013
A medical malpractice case that was pursued both in Illinois and Missouri by plaintiffs was successfully resolved in favor of our client this week when the matter was dismissed. The case, originally filed in Illinois, was dismissed there upon our claim that jurisdiction was not proper. Although the trial court ruled in favor of the plaintiff initially, Lisa Howe argued the matter before the Illinois Court of Appeals, which agreed with our position and ruled that Illinois was not the proper jurisdiction for the case. Thereafter, plaintiffs filed the case in Missouri, and on behalf of the defendant physician, Lisa filed a motion for summary judgment.Weks prior to the scheduled hearing on that motion, plaintiffs dismissed the case entirely.
Mar 27, 2013
Cyndi Maag will make a webcast presentation for National Business Institute/IPE on March 27th. The topic: “Getting the Most out of Radiology, Labs, and Pathology.” This presentation is geared to paralegals, legal assistants and legal support staff. Cynic is a certified legal nurse consultant(certified through AALNC) and a registered nurse with a significant background in medical issues, particularly oncology. She is a member of the Association of Legal Nurse Consultants and a published author.
Mar 26, 2013
Gov. Nixon nominates Maupin to serve on St. Louis County Board of Elections Commissioners
JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon today nominated John W. Maupin, of Creve Coeur, to serve on the St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners. The board conducts all public elections in St. Louis County. The nomination will be subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate. Read More. PDF version of the article – Click Here
Mar 19, 2013
Cyndi Maag will make a presentation to the St. Louis Paralegal’s Association during the March 19th monthly meeting. The topic: “Getting the Most out of Radiology, Labs, and Pathology.” Cyndi is a certified legal nurse consultant (certified through AALNC) and a registered nurse with a significant background in medical issues, particularly oncology. She is am ember of the Association of Legal Nurse Consultants and a published author.
Mar 15-16, 2013
Tad Eckenrode will volunteer at the Collegiate Mock Trial Tournament at Washington University on March 15th & 16th, 2013
Mar 8, 2013
Lisa Howe will serve as an evaluator for the YLD Trial Advocacy Competition where new associates are given the opportunity to participate in mock trials.
Feb 5, 2013
Dwight Vermette is now serving on the CAI – Missouri Legislative Action Committee.
Jan, 2013
A case defended at trial by Tad Eckenrode was listed among the Top Defense Wins in Missouri in 2012 in the Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly Top Verdicts & Settlements issue.
Jan 10, 2013
Tad Eckenrode and Lisa Howe obtained a unanimous defense verdict this week for our physician client in a medical malpractice case alleging a failure to diagnose and treat sepsis, leading to the death of plaintiff’s husband. Plaintiffs asked the jury for a verdict of $1million, in a case that took most of the week, and involved the testimony of over 10 fact witnesses, 5 experts (2 forensic pathologists)and several dozen exhibits. Tad and Lisa were assisted at trial by our litigation paralegal, Janice Gallaher, and back at the office by our Legal Nurse Consultant, Cyndi Maag, and our paralegal, Barb Buhmann.
Jan, 2013
Mr. J. Thaddeus Eckenrode to speak at the 2013 CLM Annual Conference
Mr. J. Thaddeus Eckenrode, Attorney at Law at Eckenrode-Maupin, will be one of the featured speakers at the2013 Annual Conference of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance(CLM). The Annual Conference will be held from April 10 to 12 in San Antonio. Mr. Eckenrode will be speaking on the topic Litigation Management-Preventing Smart People from Saying Dumb Things-Defending Depositions of Professionals and Corporate Representatives.
Tad Eckenrode is the founder,managing officer and lead trial attorney for Eckenrode-Maupin, a boutique 8 attorney defense-oriented trial and appellate practice. He has tried over 70 cases to verdict in both Missouri and Illinois state courts, and in Federal court. Several were listed as among the year’s”Top Defense Verdicts” by Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly. The firm’s practice areas include all aspects of general insurance defense and civil litigation, while Tad’s own personal focus is on complex and high-stakes death and injury claims, including medical malpractice, product liability and general / auto liability matters. Tad has been a frequently requested speaker at bar and professional seminars on topics related to trial practice, professional liability and general negligence matters, and he has authored several articles published both locally and nationally. He is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, listed in “Best Lawyers in America”, and has been selected as a Missouri-Kansas”Superlawyer” for four straight years.
Tad graduated from Washington University School of Law in 1983, and served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for three years before transitioning to a general civil insurance defense practice, which has been his primary litigation focus for the past 25 years.
About the CLM
The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) promotes and furthers the highest standards of claim sand litigation management and brings together the thought leaders in both industries. CLM’s Members and Fellows include risk and litigation managers, insurance and claims professionals, corporate counsel, outside counsel and third party vendors. The CLM sponsors educational programs,provides resources and fosters communication among all in the industry.To learn more about the CLM, please visit www.theclm.org. Download
Dec 21, 2012
After the submission of several motions directed to the sufficiency of the legal arguments raised by plaintiff, Lisa Howe successfully obtained dismissal of our client in a prisoner civil rights action.
Dec 17, 2012
Tad Eckenrode was published in the Winter 2012 edition of Litigation Management Magazine. The article is titled: Texas Hold ‘Em – Is Complex Litigation a Complete Gamble.
Oct 17, 2012
Lisa Howe will participate as a Judge in the College Mock Trial on October 20th at Washington University in St. Louis.
Oct 12, 2012
John W. Maupin and J. Thaddeus Eckenrode discuss Tort Reform in St. Louis Metropolitan Medicine; Oct/Nov 2012. “Tort Reform Setback: Analyzing the Impact of the July 31 Missouri Supreme Court Decision” Read More…
Oct 04, 2012
Tad Eckenrode’s recent defense verdict is reported in DRI, The Voice of the Defense Bar; Volume 11, Issue 39: AND THE DEFENSE WINS.
Sep 27, 2012
Tad Eckenrode was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013 in the field(s) of Medical Malpractice Defense (Copyright 2012 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).
Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 36,000 leading attorneys cast almost 4.4 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”
Sep 19, 2012
J. Thaddeus Eckenrode and Dwight A. Vermette authored“Fighting the Squeeze” in the Medical Liability and Health Care Law Section of For the Defense; September 2012. Fighting the Squeeze
Sep 19, 2012
Cynthia A. Maag, RN, BA, LNCC co-authored “Breast Cancer Case Review: A Case Study” which was published in the Fall 2012 /Volume 23 / Number 2 Edition of The Journal of Legal Nurse Consulting. Read More…
July 31, 2012
The Supreme Court of Missouri abolished “caps” on non-economic damages in cases brought under Missouri’s medical negligence statute, §538.210 RSMo.1 Non-economic damages generally include items like pain and suffering and emotional distress. The court’s ruling in Watts v. Cox Medical Centers, et al., may impact the cost of medical malpractice coverage and eventually its overall availability. Read More…
Navigating the Winds of Change: Course Corrections to Reduce Risk Exposure
Tad Eckenrode will make a presentation at the 2012 MoDocs Invitation Only Event / Risk Management Lectures on May 17th in Kansas City, Missouri and on May 24th in St. Louis, Missouri
October, 2011
Tad Eckenrode & Lisa Howe argued that a medical malpractice case belonged in Missouri rather than Madison County. The Appellate Court agreed and ruled.
August, 2011
In Yang v. McKinney, the U.S. District Court recently ruled in favor of our client, sustaining the Motion for Summary Judgment prepared and filed by Lisa Howe, and leading to the final solution of this case for our client.
Eckenrode Maupin Attorneys at Law are named one of Missouri Lawyers Winningest Defense Law Firms For 2010. “Winningest Defense Law Firms For 2010”
Lisa Howe will be on the faculty for the upcoming seminar “Medicare Set-Asides in Personal Injury Litigation
January 31, 2011
Eckenrode- Maupin has finished in the Top 5 in the Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly list of winningest firms. The list was published in their January 31, 2011 edition. Only three law firms in the State of Missouri, each employing more than 100 lawyers, ended 2010with more defense trial victories than Eckenrode-Maupin, according to the Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly.
In addition, to the firm’s overall 4th place finish in total defense verdicts, Tad Eckenrode also finished in the top 5 among the individual winning est defense attorneys, according to the same publication.
January 21, 2011
J. Thaddeus Eckenrode has been invited to join the Council on Litigation Management.
Eckenrode-Maupin is pleased to announce that J. Thaddeus Eckenrode has been invited to join the prestigious Council on Litigation Management. The Council is a nonpartisan alliance comprised of thousands of insurance companies, corporations, Corporate Counsel, Litigation and Risk Managers, claims professionals and attorneys. Through education and collaboration the organization’s goals are to create a common interest in the representation by firms of companies,and to promote and further the highest standards of litigation management in pursuit of client defense. Selected attorneys and law firms are extended membership by invitation only based on nominations from CLM Fellows.
Tad Eckenrode has more than 25 years experience in civil litigation and has taken over 60 jury trials to verdict in Missouri and Illinois, as well as Federal,Appellate and Missouri Supreme Court.
December 13, 2010
The Madison St. Clair Record reported at length on the legal arguments made by Lisa Howe,of Eckenrode-Maupin, at a recent motion hearing. The hearing was before the Madison County (Illinois) Circuit Court regarding the appropriate jurisdiction for a pending lawsuit. The story reported on the tremendously close legal issue – one on which the judge himself admitted that he “flip-flopped” on deciding.
November 18, 2010
Tad Eckenrode of Eckenrode-Maupin won a 3-day jury trial in Mexico, MO when an Audrain County jury returned a verdict in favor of his client.
November 9, 2010
Eckenrode-Maupin is proud to announce that Tad Eckenrode has again been named as a Super Lawyer in the 2010 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyer publication.
Janice Gallaher will present “The Paralegal’s Guide to Utilizing Medical Records During Trial“on December 16, 2010. Ms. Gallaher is the Litigation Support Specialist for Eckenrode-Maupin and will lend her expertise regarding litigation support through the use of technology.
Cynthia Maag will present “Hidden Treasures: A Paralegal’s Guide to Locating Those Hard-to-Find Medical Records” on November 9, 2010.
John W. Maupin will receive the President’s Award at the annual meeting of The Missouri Bar on October 1, 2010. The award is in recognition of Mr. Maupin’s outstanding contributions to The Missouri Bar’s efforts to educate the public about the threats to an independent judiciary in Missouri. In an interview with The Missouri Bar, Mr. Maupin said he was surprised to learn of this honor and was flattered to have been asked for his help. He explained that the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan is the national model for removing partisan politics from the selection of judges and needs to be preserved
Janice Gallaher Paralegal at Eckenrode-Maupin, is currently serving as co-chair of the Community and Social Affairs Committee for the St. Louis Paralegal Association. She recently competed in the Attorneys v. Paralegals softball game at the softball filed outside of Busch Stadium.
November 3, 2010
Eckenrode-Maupin has been featured in a blogpost focusing on lawyers and firms that offer their time and talents in community service. The post features an interview with John Fischesser and can be found here
July 25, 2010
A successful verdict obtained byLisa Howe has been featured in The Missouri Medical Law Report published by the Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly. Read the full story here.
March 2010
After oral argument at the Missouri Supreme Court in January, the court, in Klotz v. Shapiro,upheld Missouri’s tort reform “caps” against a Constitutional challenge brought by the plaintiffs. The case was argued by J. Thaddeus Eckenrode on behalf of a medical defendant and multiple amicus curia filers in support of the non-economic damage caps. In the months preceding this ruling, courts in Illinois and Georgia had ruled to the contrary on similar laws in those states, essentially throwing out “caps” in each of those states, in what appears to be the start of a trend away from tort reform changes that have taken place in recent years.
March 2010
Cynthia Maag was a speaker at the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants Annual Conference held in Pittsburgh, PA. Her topic was titled “Common Errors in the Hematology/Oncology World” and her contribution involved radiation oncology, surgical oncology and pathology issues in case reviews.
January 2010
Tad Eckenrode obtained a defense verdict on behalf of our client in a nursing home fall injury case. Plaintiffs claimed that the injuries sustained ultimately led to the death of the patient, but submitted the case based only on the injuries sustained,and asked the jury for damages of about $500,000. Tad was assisted by associate attorney Lisa Howe, which was tried in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis. (O’Neal v. McCann)
June 2009
PRESS RELEASE: Eckenrode-Maupin, Attorneys at Law to sponsor Golf Tournament to Benefit Oasis Food Pantry on June 8th. Read More..
February 2009
After a trial lasting more than a week, which involved issues related to missing documentation and excessive doses of a toxic medication, Tad Eckenrode was successful in obtaining a defense verdict on behalf of a local cardiologist in a wrongful death trial (Greene v. Uppstrom).
December 2009
The Missouri Court of Appeals UPHELD a defense verdict obtained by J. Thaddeus Eckenrode in October 2008 in the case of Lunn v. Anderson.Tad also handle the oral argument at the Court of Appeals, in which the plaintiffs challenged evidence adduced at trial, which took place in November. Notably, the Court of Appeals reversed a portion of the case as to one of the co-defendants.
November 11, 2008
Cyndi Maag, RN, CLNC presented an educational session sponsored by Institute of Paralegal Education (IPE) titled “Medical Record Review – Obtaining and Organizing for Paralegals”
October 2008
Defense verdict on behalf of Eckenrode-Maupin’s clients obtained in the case of Lunn v. Anderson. Tad Eckenrode, assisted by Lisa Howe, tried the case, which lasted a full week, in St. Louis County Circuit Court.
June 2008
Cyndi Maag, RN, LNC has achieved designation as a Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC) as recognized by the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) and accredited by the American Board of Nurse Specialty (ABNS). LNCC designation is awarded to those who successfully complete the certification process by meeting the eligibility criteria and passing a written examination. The designation is valid for five years and on-going continuing education is required to renew the certification.
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PRESS RELEASE: Eckenrode-Maupin, Attorneys at Law to sponsor Blood Drive on June 12th in Clayton, Missouri. Read More…
Lisa Howe, Attorney and Janice Gallaher,Litigation Trial Paralegal scheduled to present “The Criminal Trial;Voir Dire to Closing” which will be held on Jun. 26, 2008 at Sheraton Clayton Plaza.
April 2008
PRESS RELEASE: Eckenrode-Maupin, Attorneys at Law to sponsor June 9th Golf Tournament to Benefit OASIS Food Pantry, Read More…
March 2008
Tad Eckenrode is interviewed by Steve Murphy, Executive Producer of America’s Premier Lawyers.
January/February 2008
Several of the firm’s attorneys participated in the Missouri High School Mock Trial Program. Lisa Howe acted as a judge during 1st and 2nd round matches, and Tad Eckenrode served as the Attorney-Coach for the Priory High School “Red” team.
January 2008
Eckenrode-Maupin, Attorneys at Law had four of the top 50 defense verdicts in Missouri in 2007 as published by Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly.
September 2007
Lisa Howe participated as a Witness for a Law School Trial Advocacy Class at St. Louis University.
August 2007
A busy, but successful, trial month for the firm, as Tad Eckenrode won 2 jury trials, while Lisa Howe concluded another case scheduled for trial in August by reaching a very reasonable mediated settlement for the firm’s client. In the first trial, Briggs v. Byrne, Mr. Eckenrode, assisted by Ms. Chazen,obtained a defense verdict after a 4 day trial in a difficult case involving an alleged misdiagnosis of a condition known as temporal arteritis, which left the plaintiff blind in one eye, and compromised in the other. In the second trial this month, Ambrose v. Mormol,Mr. Eckenrode and Ms. Chazen successfully defended an Ob/Gyn in a case involving a post-delivery hemorrhage, emergency surgery, and a claim of an unnecessary hysterectomy. After a hard-fought 3 day trial, the jury returned a unanimous verdict for the defense in just 15 minutes.
July 27, 2007
Tad Eckenrode was one of the featured speakers at a Missouri Bar seminar for lawyer son post-tort reform issues related to medical malpractice cases.
May 2007
Tad Eckenrode obtained a defense verdict on behalf of our client, a local general surgeon, after a one week trial alleging a negligently performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal). Although generally difficult, because “lap chole” cases occur when a surgeon mistakenly cuts the common bile duct instead of the cystic duct to remove the gall bladder, the jury found the defense explanation of how this injury could have occurred, even using due care,to be persuasive. The case, Schmitt v. Brabbee, was tried in St. Louis County, Missouri, and involved multiple expert witnesses.
February
2/20/2007
Attorneys at Eckenrode-Maupin served as a Judge for the BAMSL Missouri High School Mock Trial Competition.
After a 2 week trial in Madison County, Illinois, a jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff on a medical malpractice case (Halloway v. Alton Memorial)alleging the use of an improper contrast material for a radiological procedure, which caused a severe adverse reaction in the 80 year old plaintiff, and significant alleged permanent injuries. Tad Eckenrode represented our client, a radiology group. The relevant insurance carrier on this case considered this verdict essentially a“win” because plaintiff had sought $5 million in damages from the jury,which ultimately only awarded a verdict of $450,000, which was less than the plaintiff’s settlement demand at pre-trial mediation. The case was,in fact, tried as an “admitted liability” case, in that the defendant radiologist admitted that an error had been made in the dye used, but we disputed the damages and the value of the claim.
January
1/29/2007
Eckenrode-Maupin, Attorneys at Law had three different cases recognized among the top defense verdicts in the State of Missouri for 2006 by Missouri Lawyers Weekly.
The new year started successfully, as Tad Eckenrode and his co-counsel, Randy Bauman, successfully represented a local urologist in a medical malpractice suit in which it was alleged that the plaintiff had suffered a puncture of the bladder while undergoing a“dilation” procedure. This case, Arnold v. Lovinggood, resulted in a defense verdict in St. Louis County Circuit Court after a week long jury trial. The hurdle to overcome in this case was the fact that there clearly was a puncture of the bladder that was likely caused by the defendant’s manipulation of the relevant instruments and tools, soothe jury had to be convinced that this was not a negligent act. Plaintiff sought several hundred thousand dollars in damages
September 2006
Although described as the “#1 Judicial Hellhole” in the United States, Tad Eckenrode obtained a defense verdict in a medical malpractice case in Madison County, Illinois for our client, Dr. Richard Blath, in September 2006. The case, styled Grezeskowiak v. Blath, involved an alleged delaying the diagnosis of prostate cancer, and a claim that the patient’s life expectancy was therefore markedly reduced. Using computer-aided courtroom technology to show exhibits and documents to the jury, our office was able to establish that the patient’s cancer was present long before the diagnosis was made, and that our client met the standard of care as a urologist with regard to his evaluation of the patient’s prostate gland after he was referred for an elevated PSA. Plaintiffs asked the jury to award over $2 million in damages. The jury trial lasted one week before a unanimous defense verdict was returned.
August 2006
In August, 2006, Tad Eckenrode obtained a defense verdict on behalf of their clients, an anesthesia group from Cape Girardeau, at the end of a jury trial in Scott County,in which the plaintiffs sought over $2 million in damages for the alleged wrongful death of a 44 year old man. [Fullerton v. Anesthesia Associates]
July
7/27/06
Lisa Howe participated in the “Judge for Learning for Life (Explorers) 2006 National Mock Trial Competition” at Washington University.
June
In June, 2006, Tad Eckenrode completed a one week jury trial in Downey v. Brinkman in the St. Louis City Circuit Court. The case was the re-trial of a matter that had been tried previously but was reversed on appeal. Although plaintiff received a verdict at trial, Mr. Eckenrode, the lead defense counsel,successfully convinced the jury not to award any economic damages or future non-economic damages, and to reduce the amount that plaintiff sought for past non-economic damages significantly. The $750,000 verdict was less than a third of what plaintiff sought overall.
May
A jury trial in May, 2006, in New Madrid County, Missouri, ended successfully when Tad Eckenrode obtained a unanimous defense verdict on behalf of our client, a radiologist who alleged missed lung cancer on spot compression and ultrasound studies that he had interpreted. [Dinkins v. Brumitt]
April
4/26/06
Lisa Howe participated as a Judge of oral arguments for a Legal Research and Writing course at St. Louis University.
March
3/27/06
Lisa Howe participated as a Witness for a Law School Trial Advocacy class at St. Louis University.
February
2/20/06
Lisa Howe participated as a Witness for a Law School Trial Advocacy Class at St. Louis University.
January
Tad Eckenrode was successful in January, 2006 in exonerating our client, a DeSoto Family Practitioner, from allegations of medical malpractice that purportedly led to the plaintiff’s loss of a kidney. Following a 3 day trial in Jefferson County, Missouri, the jury returned a defense verdict in favor of our client. [Michalek v. Crawford]