Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Jan 29, 2026
Emily Omohundro appealed the trial court's approval of a summary statement for an initiative petition seeking to prevent public funds from benefiting nonpublic schools. The appellate court found the summary statement insufficient and unfair because it misleadingly suggested the elimination of aid for disabled students, failed to account for both direct and indirect aid, and incorrectly stated the initiative would "eliminate existing programs." The court reversed the trial court's judgment and certified an alternative summary statement to the Secretary of State.
Supreme Court of Missouri / Jan 23, 2026
Sean Soendker Nicholson sued the State of Missouri, challenging the constitutionality of Senate Bill No. 22, alleging violations of the original purpose, single subject, and clear title provisions of the Missouri Constitution. The circuit court found SB 22 constitutional regarding these procedural limitations but unconstitutional on equal protection grounds for one section, which it severed. On appeal, the Missouri Supreme Court reversed, holding that SB 22 violated the original purpose requirement because an amendment granting the attorney general new appeal powers was not germane to the bill's original purpose concerning ballot summaries. The Court further found the offending provision could not be severed, thus invalidating SB 22 in its entirety.
Supreme Court of Missouri / Jan 13, 2026
Attorney Mark W. Arensberg faced disciplinary proceedings for negligently drafting fraudulent loan documents for a client involved in a contentious divorce. The disciplinary hearing panel recommended a reprimand, but the Missouri Supreme Court conducted an independent de novo review. The Court found Arensberg acted knowingly, not negligently, in assisting his client to diminish the marital estate. Consequently, the Court imposed an indefinite suspension of Arensberg's law license, which was stayed pending the successful completion of a one-year probation period.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Dec 30, 2025
The State Tax Commission initiated a mandamus action against Jackson County officials, seeking to compel compliance with its order to alter 2023 property tax assessments. The trial court dismissed the action, finding it barred by res judicata due to a prior voluntarily dismissed lawsuit. The appellate court reversed, holding that the current mandamus action was based on new ultimate facts—the County's refusal to comply with the Commission's August 6 Order—which arose after the dismissal of the first case, thus precluding the application of res judicata.
Supreme Court of Missouri / Dec 29, 2025
The Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline filed findings and recommendations against Judge Matthew E.P. Thornhill for judicial misconduct, including inappropriate courtroom behavior, political activity from the bench, and an improper character reference. Judge Thornhill waived his right to a hearing and admitted the charges. The Commission recommended a six-month suspension followed by an 18-month return to service and then resignation. The Missouri Supreme Court rejected this recommendation, finding that Judge Thornhill's political activity in the courtroom alone warranted his immediate removal from office.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Dec 23, 2025
Missouri Medical Options, LLC (MMO) appealed the circuit court's dismissal of its petition for declaratory judgment against the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). MMO sought to invalidate rescinded medical marijuana cultivation regulations and compel license issuance. The circuit court dismissed the petition as moot, finding no existing controversy. The appellate court affirmed, holding that a challenge to regulations already rescinded is moot, as a judgment would have no practical effect and effectual relief is impossible.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Dec 16, 2025
George Miller appealed the circuit court's denial of his motion to quash a garnishment filed by the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) to enforce a tax lien. Miller argued the tax lien was unenforceable because it was more than ten years old and had not been refiled or revived. The appellate court reversed and remanded, holding that a certificate of tax lien filed with the circuit clerk under Section 143.902.1(2) has the full force and effect of a default judgment for enforcement purposes and is thus subject to the ten-year statute of limitations in Section 516.350.1. The court further held that applying this statute of limitations does not violate the Missouri Constitution as it only extinguishes the remedy under that specific provision, not the underlying tax debt.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Dec 2, 2025
The City of Jefferson, Missouri, appealed the circuit court's dismissal of its claims against various telecommunication companies for delinquent business license taxes, violations of section 392.350, declaratory judgment, and accounting. The City argued the circuit court erred in interpreting the "limitation for bringing suit" in section 71.625.2, dismissing its section 392.350 and declaratory judgment claims as derivative or having an adequate legal remedy, and dismissing its accounting claims. The appellate court affirmed the circuit court's judgments, holding that the City failed to comply with statutory assessment and notice requirements for tax collection, lacked standing under section 392.350, and had adequate remedies at law for its declaratory judgment and accounting claims.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Nov 25, 2025
Victoria Amrine appealed the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission's decision denying her unemployment benefits, which stemmed from her termination by Progressive Casualty Insurance Company for failing to disclose a criminal charge. The appellate court did not reach the merits of Amrine's claims. Instead, the appeal was dismissed because Amrine's brief failed to substantially comply with Rule 84.04's mandatory briefing requirements, including an incomplete statement of facts, deficient points relied on, and an argument section lacking legal authority and record references. The court emphasized that pro se litigants are held to the same standards as attorneys.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Nov 25, 2025
Charles Lane challenged the validity of a City of St. Louis Charter amendment that created a Charter Commission, arguing it violated Article VI, Section 32(a) of the Missouri Constitution by allowing the Commission to bypass the city's lawmaking body in submitting charter amendments to voters. The circuit court granted judgment on the pleadings for the City, finding the amendment valid. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the Charter Amendment, when read in its entirety, provides that the Charter Commission frames proposals, but the Board of Alderman ultimately submits them to the voters, thereby complying with the Missouri Constitution.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Nov 18, 2025
Bradley Hult, a registered nurse, was permanently placed on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' Employee Disqualification List after being found to have knowingly neglected a patient and falsified records. The circuit court affirmed Hult's placement but reduced the duration to eighteen months, finding the permanent placement arbitrary. The appellate court affirmed the circuit court's judgment in part, upholding Hult's placement on the list, and reversed in part, reinstating the Department's decision for permanent placement, concluding it was not arbitrary or capricious.
Supreme Court of Missouri / Nov 4, 2025
Phillip Weeks appealed a judgment in favor of the City of St. Louis on his petition to compel the production of traffic stop data under Missouri's Sunshine Law. Weeks claimed the judgment was against the weight of the evidence because the City allegedly withheld responsive records. The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed the judgment, holding that Weeks failed to cite or apply the necessary four-step analytical framework to demonstrate that the judgment was against the weight of the evidence. The Court also expressly adopted the Houston v. Crider framework for such claims.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Oct 21, 2025
John Tippit appealed the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission's decision to dismiss his application for review as untimely, which stemmed from an Administrative Law Judge's dismissal of his workers' compensation claim against the Second Injury Fund for failure to prosecute. The appellate court reversed the Commission's finding that Tippit's application was untimely. It held that the Division of Workers' Compensation failed to prove it properly mailed the Order of Dismissal in compliance with statutory notice requirements, thus the 20-day period for filing an application for review never began to run. The case was remanded to the Commission to determine whether Tippit had good cause for failing to respond to the show-cause notice and for failing to prosecute his claim.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Oct 21, 2025
Dana Miller, a former Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives, appealed the circuit court's dismissal of her whistleblower claim against the House. Miller alleged she was retaliated against by Speaker Dean Plocher after reporting concerns about software procurement, campaign finance violations, and abuse of authority. The appellate court affirmed the dismissal, holding that Miller failed to allege facts showing Plocher was her "supervisor or appointing authority" as required by the whistleblower statute, as the Speaker lacks the authority to discipline or remove the Chief Clerk under House rules.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Oct 14, 2025
The City of Creve Coeur appealed the circuit court's grant of summary judgment in favor of DirecTV, LLC, and other streaming service providers. Creve Coeur sought Video Service Provider (VSP) fees, arguing the providers fell under the Video Service Provider Act (VSPA) and were unjustly enriched. The appellate court affirmed, holding that a 2024 amendment to VSPA clarified its original meaning, excluding streaming content, thus no VSP fees were owed and no constitutional violation occurred, nor was there a basis for unjust enrichment.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Sep 30, 2025
Samantha Bordas appealed the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission's decision to dismiss her application for unemployment benefits review as untimely. Bordas, who was terminated by FedEx Freight, Inc. due to absences, argued her absences were due to a hostile work environment. The appellate court dismissed the appeal, affirming the Commission's decision that it lacked statutory authority to review the claim because Bordas's application for review was filed two months past the mandatory 30-day deadline.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Sep 24, 2025
Robert Byers, a truck driver, appealed the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission's award of permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits, contending that the evidence overwhelmingly proved he was permanently and totally disabled (PTD). The Commission had found Byers not credible based on surveillance video and rejected his experts' opinions, instead relying on the employer's medical expert. The appellate court affirmed the Commission's award, holding that it was supported by competent and substantial evidence and that the court would not substitute its judgment on witness credibility or the weight of competing medical opinions.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Sep 16, 2025
Jayla Chairse appealed the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission's decision dismissing her application for review concerning an unemployment benefits overpayment. The Commission had dismissed her application as untimely. The appellate court dismissed Chairse's appeal, concluding it lacked jurisdiction because her notice of appeal was filed beyond the statutory 20-day deadline after the Commission's decision became final. The court also held that the Commission's certification of mailing was sufficient evidence of notice for purposes of calculating the appeal deadline.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Sep 2, 2025
Alana Hauck sought service-connected disability retirement benefits from The Police Retirement System of St. Louis (PRS), which denied her application. The circuit court reversed PRS's decision, and PRS appealed. The appellate court affirmed the circuit court's judgment, holding that PRS erred by improperly applying alleged symptom magnification to the exclusivity requirement for benefits. The case was remanded to PRS for reconsideration of whether Hauck's incapacitation was the exclusive result of her work accident, and Hauck's motion for attorney's fees was denied.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Aug 5, 2025
Claimants, recipients of Tort Victims Compensation Fund awards, sued the Missouri Labor and Industrial Relations Commission and the Division of Workers' Compensation after the Division paid only 40% of their approved claims, contending the payment calculation was erroneous. The circuit court denied relief, finding the suits barred by sovereign immunity and failure to exhaust administrative remedies, and alternatively, that the calculation was proper. The appellate court reversed the circuit court's conclusions on sovereign immunity and administrative exhaustion but affirmed the judgment that the Division's payment calculation was lawful.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jul 22, 2025
Tabernacle Community Development Corporation purchased a property at a sheriff's sale under the Municipal Land Reutilization Law (MLRL). The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) had previously recorded a lien on the property for unpaid sewer bills, pursuant to one of its ordinances. Tabernacle filed a quiet title action to extinguish the MSD lien, arguing the MLRL supersedes the MSD ordinance. The trial court granted summary judgment for Tabernacle, and the appellate court affirmed, holding that the MLRL statute prevails over the MSD ordinance and extinguishes the lien.
Supreme Court of Missouri / Jul 22, 2025
Robust Missouri Dispensary 3, LLC, appealed a summary judgment that allowed both a county and an incorporated city within that county to impose a 3% sales tax on non-medical marijuana sales. Robust, operating in Florissant, argued that only one "local government" could impose the tax based on the area's incorporation status. The Supreme Court of Missouri reversed, holding that the constitutional definition of "local government" permits either a village, town, or city to impose the tax in an incorporated area, or a county to do so in an unincorporated area, but not both simultaneously in an incorporated area. The case was remanded for judgment to be entered in favor of Robust.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Jul 8, 2025
Vendtech-SGI, LLC appealed the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission's decision to award David Benham unemployment benefits. Benham was discharged for allegedly conducting an unauthorized investigation and gossiping about a coworker's nude photograph. The Commission found that Vendtech did not meet its burden to prove misconduct, crediting Benham's testimony that he was merely verifying information before reporting it to supervisors and that his job duties were unclear. The appellate court affirmed the Commission's decision, finding it supported by competent and substantial evidence.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jun 17, 2025
The Treasurer of the State of Missouri, as Custodian of the Second Injury Fund (SIF), appealed the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission's award of permanent total disability benefits to Brian White. White's award was based on a chest injury combined with a preexisting occupational shoulder disease. The appellate court reversed and remanded, holding that occupational diseases do not qualify as a preexisting disability for SIF liability under § 287.220.3(2)(a)a(ii), consistent with a recent Supreme Court of Missouri decision. The case was remanded for the Commission to consider other potential bases for SIF liability.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Jun 3, 2025
Dana Casnocha-Jones's nursing license was revoked by the State Board of Nursing, but the trial court reversed that decision and ordered a probated license. Casnocha-Jones then sought attorney's fees, which the trial court partially granted, awarding fees incurred during the Board's appeal. The Board appealed this award of attorney's fees. The appellate court reversed the trial court's judgment, holding that Casnocha-Jones had waived her right to attorney's fees in a settlement agreement and that her application for fees was untimely.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jun 3, 2025
Appellant Christopher Schmitz appealed the suspension of his driver's license by the Director of Revenue, stemming from a driving while intoxicated arrest. He argued the trial court erred in admitting the police report and that, without it, there was insufficient evidence of probable cause for his arrest. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding that even if the police report was inadmissible, other evidence, specifically the bodycam video admitted without limitation, provided substantial evidence to support the probable cause finding for the DWI arrest.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / May 27, 2025
Jeremy Jarvis appealed the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission's denial of his claim against the Second Injury Fund. Jarvis, an iron worker, sustained a primary work injury in 2015, which he argued, when combined with preexisting disabilities, rendered him permanently and totally disabled. The Commission denied benefits, finding that one of Jarvis's three preexisting disabilities did not meet the statutory fifty-week permanent partial disability threshold. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the Commission did not err in its application of the law or in finding its decision supported by competent and substantial evidence, as a claimant cannot rely on a non-qualifying preexisting disability for Fund benefits.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / May 6, 2025
Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri appealed a trial court's partial enforcement of a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) from the Attorney General, which sought documents related to gender transition services for minors under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA). The trial court had partially enforced the CID but limited disclosure to documents not protected by HIPAA, requiring patient waivers. The appellate court affirmed that the CID was valid and enforceable under the MMPA, finding medical services are covered merchandise and the AG's authority is broad. However, it reversed the HIPAA ruling, clarifying that de-identified health information is not protected and patient waiver is not the sole disclosure method. The case was remanded for the trial court to order PPGR to respond to the CID in compliance with state and federal law.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / May 6, 2025
True Manufacturing Co. appealed a decision by the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission, which found Cedric A. Jackson was not disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits. The Commission affirmed the Appeals Tribunal's determination that Jackson was not discharged for misconduct. The appellate court reversed, holding that the Commission erred by ruling the employer's hearsay evidence was incompetent despite no timely objection, thereby denying the employer a fair hearing and acting in excess of its powers.
Supreme Court of Missouri / Apr 29, 2025
James Eckardt appealed the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission's denial of permanent total disability (PTD) benefits from the Second Injury Fund. Eckardt argued the Commission misconstrued evidence regarding his right shoulder injury and erred by not applying a load factor to enhance its permanent partial disability (PPD) rating. The Court affirmed the Commission's decision, holding that the load factor analysis was eliminated by statutory amendments and that Eckardt failed to prove PTD based solely on qualifying preexisting injuries.