Mike Hunter likes to try cases.  To date he has tried over two dozen of them, almost all of those to a jury.  His trials include disputes over business relationships, insurance contracts, personal injury and property damage.

His trial work has earned him the recognition of his peers.  He has been invited to join various honorary trial lawyer societies, one of which invites only one half of one percent American lawyers.  In addition he has been asked by his peers to speak on a variety of litigation related topics.

Mike’s work has also earned him the loyalty of his clients.  He currently serves as Regional Trial Counsel for a Fortune 100 heavy equipment manufacturer, and represents various clients in courts throughout the Midwest.  Mike’s clients include companies in the manufacturing, insurance, utility, transportation and healthcare industries.  Outside of the courtroom, he has developed risk management and mitigation policies and procedures for his clients.

Mike likes to spend his time away from the office with his wife and children.  When he gets the chance, Mike likes to swim, cycle and play an occasional round of golf.

Representative Experience:

• Jury verdict for manufacturer client against traumatic brain injury claim, demand of $1.95 million
• Jury verdict for utility client against wrongful death claim, demand of $4.8 million
• Jury verdict for manufacturing client against allegations of a defective product, demand of $800,000
• Jury verdict for hospital client against allegations of disease exposure from used needle, demand of $500,000
• Jury verdict for corporate client against allegations of property misappropriation and tortious interference with a business
• Jury verdict for railroad client in FELA claim, demand of $900,000
• Jury verdict in favor of corporate client in $1.5 million breach of contract case

Memberships & Activities

• American Bar Association
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
• Defense Research Institute
• Missouri Bar
• Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers
• Product Liability Advisory Council

Publications

• FELA Claims Investigation – Damages, American Short Line & Regional Railroad Liability Conference (June 2015)
• Return to Work Issues: Legal and Practical Issues From a Litigation Perspective, American Short Line & Regional Railroad Annual Convention (May 2011)
• Opening Statements, Litigation seminar to benefit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (June 2010)
• Issues Related to Additional insured and Contractual Liability in Missouri and Illinois, Seminar for insurance client (November 2009)
• Current Trends in Grade Crossing Litigation, Railroad Claims and Liability Seminar (July 2008)

Presentations

• Speaker, “FELA Claims Investigation – Damages”, American Short Line & Regional Railroad Liability Conference (June 2015)
• Speaker, “Return to Work Issues: Legal and Practical Issues From a Litigation Perspective”, American Short Line & Regional Railroad Annual Convention (May 2011)
• Speaker, “Opening Statements”, Litigation seminar to benefit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (June 2010)
• Speaker, “Issues Related to Additional Insureds and Contractual Liability in Missouri and Illinois”, Seminar for insurance client (November 2009)
• Speaker, “Current Trends in Grade Crossing Litigation”, Railroad Claims and Liability Seminar (July 2008)

Awards & Recognition

• Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers® in America, St. Louis Metropolitan Area
  • Commercial Litigation (2016-present)
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2018-present)
• AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
• Recognized by Missouri Lawyers Weekly as receiving a “Top Defense Verdict”, 2008 – 2011.
• Recognized as a Rising Star in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers®, 2008 – 2011.
• Named as an “Up & Coming Lawyer” by Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2009.

Community Involvement

• Team Activities for Special Kids, Inc. (Board of Directors)

News & Events

Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Recognizes Nineteen Baker Sterchi Attorneys

11.15.19 | Nineteen Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice attorneys have been named to the 2019 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. The named attorneys include...

Baker Sterchi Recognized in 2020 U.S. News Best Law Firms

11.01.19 | Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice has been recognized with national and metropolitan rankings in U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms 2020. Rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, and peer review from leading attorneys in their field. Receiving a tier designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, professionalism and integrity.

The Best Lawyers in America (2020 Edition) Recognizes Fourteen Baker Sterchi Lawyers

08.20.19 | Fourteen Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice lawyers have been recognized in the 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© across numerous practice areas.

Super Lawyers Recognizes Nineteen Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice Attorneys

11.15.18 | Nineteen Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice attorneys have been recognized in the 2018 edition of Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers and Rising Stars...

Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2019

08.15.18 | Fourteen Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice lawyers have been recognized in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® across numerous practice areas.

• Wahl v. Watco Companies

  458 S.W.3d 857 (Mo.App. W.D. 2015)
  

• Western Waterproofing Company v. Elastomeric Roofing Systems, Inc.

  2010 WL 5392775 (E.D. Mo)
  

• Arthur v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation

  224 S.W.3d 68 (Mo.App. E.D. 2007)
  

• Williams v. National Railroad Passenger Corp.

  2006 WL 3431781 (S.D.IlI.)
  

• Cupp v. National Railroad Passenger Corp.

  138 S.W.3d 766 (Mo.App. E.D. 2004)
  

• Gresser v. Union Pacific Railroad Company

  130 F.Supp.2d 1009 (C.D. Il1. 2001)
  

Results

Personal Injury Trial with $1.95M Pretrial Demand Ends in Defense Verdict

In a personal injury matter in which Plaintiff sought compensatory and punitive damages from our client for injuries he suffered while unloading heavy equipment from a flatbed trailer nearly six years ago, a Boone County, Missouri jury returned a defense verdict for our client after a three-day trial.

Blog Posts

Illinois Supreme Court Further Defines Product Liability Seller Exception

01.28.19 | The Illinois Supreme Court decides what a plaintiff unable to recover a product liability judgement from a manufacturer must show to reinstate a seller under the Illinois Seller Exception set forth in 735 ILCS 2-621(b)(4).