Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Jan 12, 2026
Appellants K.A.C. and Michael Crites, Jr. sued the Missouri State Highway Patrol for wrongful death after a pursued driver collided with and killed Connor Crites. The trial court granted summary judgment for MSHP, finding Appellants failed to establish proximate cause. The appellate court affirmed, holding that Appellants did not produce sufficient facts to prove MSHP's actions were the proximate cause of the collision, consistent with Supreme Court precedent that proximate cause cannot be based on speculation in police pursuit cases.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / May 20, 2025
Midwest Trust Co., as conservator for K.P., sued United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) for in utero injuries K.P. sustained in a car accident caused by a UPS driver. The jury awarded K.P. $65 million in compensatory damages on a vicarious liability negligence claim, and the circuit court added prejudgment interest. UPS appealed, challenging the admission of evidence regarding the driver's prior cocaine use and the award of prejudgment interest. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, finding no abuse of discretion in the evidentiary ruling and no error in the prejudgment interest award.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Oct 22, 2024
Clayton Childers appealed a jury verdict in favor of Noah Williams following a vehicular collision. Childers contended the trial court erred by admitting evidence of his involvement in a motor vehicle race and a bet on that race, which occurred on a separate highway prior to and unconnected to the collision. The appellate court reversed the judgment, holding that the admission of such evidence was inflammatory and prejudicial, warranting a new trial, because it was not relevant to the collision.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Mar 26, 2024
Carrie S. Schultz and Robert C. Schultz, Sr., parents of the deceased Robert C. Schultz, Jr., brought a wrongful death action against Great Plains Trucking, Inc. and its driver, Lennis H. Beck, following a fatal vehicular crash. After a jury trial awarded the plaintiffs compensatory and aggravating circumstances damages, the defendants appealed. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding no error in the exclusion of expert testimony, the allowance of separate counsel, the jury instructions, or the submission of aggravating circumstances damages.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jan 30, 2024
John Carlton sued Officer Brandon Means for personal injuries sustained in a vehicular collision, alleging negligence or malice. The trial court granted summary judgment for Officer Means, concluding he was entitled to official immunity. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the malice exception to official immunity did not apply because there were no facts demonstrating Officer Means acted with the requisite intent to injure or prejudice Carlton, even if his conduct was reckless.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Dec 19, 2023
The McCroskeys sued Next Stop C-Stores, LLC, Balwinder Singh, and Gurminder Singh for wrongful death and negligence after Patricia McCroskey was killed in an auto accident involving Rajinder Singh, an alleged employee. The trial court entered an interlocutory default judgment against the defendants for failing to timely respond to the petition. The defendants appealed the trial court's denial of their motion to set aside the default judgment. The appellate court affirmed, finding no abuse of discretion in the trial court's determination that the defendants failed to show good cause for their untimely response.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Aug 4, 2023
Benny Lynn Johnson was convicted of three counts of driving while intoxicated resulting in death and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident. On appeal, Johnson argued that his two convictions for leaving the scene of an accident violated double jeopardy and that the trial court erred by not granting a mistrial due to juror misconduct. The Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding no double jeopardy violation because each distinct impact constituted a separate accident under the statute, and no abuse of discretion regarding the juror's brief, unrelated conversation with a witness.
Supreme Court of Missouri / Jun 27, 2023
Susan Bridegan sued Gary Turntine for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Bridegan, an uninsured motorist, challenged the constitutionality of section 303.390 RSMo, which prohibits uninsured motorists from collecting noneconomic damages, arguing it violated her right to a jury trial. The circuit court rejected her constitutional argument and awarded her economic damages. The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court's judgment, declining to address the merits of the constitutional challenge because Bridegan failed to preserve the issue for appellate review by waiving her right to a jury trial.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Jun 27, 2023
Kailey K. Myers appealed a judgment in favor of Marlayna Kenney and Jayden Morgan on their wrongful death and personal injury claims, which arose from a motor vehicle accident. Myers argued that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting evidence related to her liability, as she had admitted fault for the accident. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, holding that Myers' admission was not a clear and unequivocal admission of all specific allegations of negligence, and even with such an admission, plaintiffs retain the right to present relevant liability evidence. The court also found no outcome-determinative prejudice.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jun 20, 2023
Barbara S. Thomas sued Emir Ramushi for damages after a car accident where Ramushi admitted full liability. The trial court awarded Thomas $375.45 but allowed Ramushi a credit/set-off for $3,690.50, representing a payment from Ramushi's insurer (AAA) to Thomas's insurer (Liberty Mutual) for vehicle damage. The appellate court reversed, holding that Liberty Mutual lacked authority to settle Thomas's claims without her consent, and that allowing the credit violated the collateral source rule by impermissibly relying on evidence of payments from a collateral source.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / May 12, 2023
Charlotte Wright sued Arturo Marrufo Armijo for negligence following a car accident, seeking damages for both personal injuries and property damage. The trial court found in Wright's favor on her negligence claim but awarded only property damages, declining to award damages for personal injuries. On appeal, Wright argued the judgment was inconsistent and against the weight of the evidence. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the trial court was not required to believe Wright's uncontradicted testimony regarding her personal injuries and that her failure to prove these damages made the judgment consistent.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Apr 11, 2023
Vivian Badillo was injured in an auto accident caused by Myles Mathis, an employee of The Home City Ice Company. Badillo sued Mathis for negligence and Home City Ice for negligence based on respondeat superior, seeking punitive damages against both. The trial court excluded evidence related to Home City Ice's hiring, training, and policies, finding it irrelevant to a punitive damages claim based solely on vicarious liability. The jury awarded compensatory damages but denied punitive damages. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding the evidence because it was not relevant to a punitive damages claim based only on vicarious liability.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Feb 28, 2023
Kenneth Moore appealed from a circuit court judgment in an interpleader action, which incorporated a prior summary judgment against him on negligence and wrongful death crossclaims related to a motor vehicle incident. The appellate court dismissed Moore's appeal, finding that his brief failed to comply with mandatory appellate briefing rules, particularly Rule 84.04, by not presenting any points relied on. This failure precluded the court from conducting a meaningful review, and the court declined to impose sanctions for a frivolous appeal.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Jan 17, 2023
Michael Walsh and Sheryl Craig appealed the trial court's summary judgment in favor of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company in an equitable garnishment proceeding. Walsh had obtained a large judgment against Craig following a motor vehicle accident, and State Farm, Craig's insurer, paid its policy limit. Walsh and Craig sought additional post-judgment interest, arguing the policy required State Farm to pay interest on the full underlying judgment until satisfied. The appellate court affirmed, holding that State Farm's obligation to pay post-judgment interest terminated when it paid its liability coverage limit, and the policy language was unambiguous.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Oct 11, 2022
Jemerio Harris and Jacqueline Armstrong appealed a judgment on the pleadings granted in favor of the City of St. Louis and several police officers. Appellants had filed wrongful death and negligence claims after a suspect, fleeing from the officers, caused a collision that resulted in a fatality and serious injuries. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, holding that the officers' conduct was not the proximate cause of the collision as a matter of law, consistent with established Missouri precedent on police pursuits.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Sep 30, 2022
Daniel and Tanya Woodgate sued St. James Winery and its employee, Raul Espinoza, for injuries Mr. Woodgate sustained in a motorcycle accident caused by Espinoza. After a jury awarded the Woodgates $12.8 million, the defendants appealed, alleging errors in the admission of expert testimony and the denial of a mistrial. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, concluding that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in either ruling.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Aug 16, 2022
Ruben Vasquez appealed the suspension of his driving privileges by the Director of Revenue, which was affirmed by the trial court after a bench trial. Vasquez argued there was insufficient evidence of probable cause for his arrest for driving while intoxicated, specifically regarding his intoxication at the time of the automobile accident. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, holding that the totality of the circumstances, including Vasquez's admissions, physical signs of intoxication, and the nature of the accident, provided sufficient probable cause for arrest, even without an exact time of the accident.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Jul 29, 2022
M.P., a minor, sought uninsured motorist coverage from Trexis One Insurance Corporation after being injured by a golf cart in a private RV park. The trial court denied relief, finding that the golf cart was designed for off-road use and the accident did not occur on a "public road" as defined in the policy. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the trial court correctly applied the plain and ordinary meaning of "public road" and that M.P. failed to prove the accident occurred on such a road.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Apr 19, 2022
Kristine and Dennis Hill (Relators) sought a writ of prohibition to prevent the enforcement of a trial court order compelling them to produce settlement documents from a prior automobile accident. The Relators argued these documents were protected work product and that the opposing party, Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital, failed to show a substantial need for them. The appellate court agreed, finding that the settlement documents were tangible work product and Mercy failed to meet the burden of demonstrating substantial need and inability to obtain the substantial equivalent by other means. The court made its preliminary order in prohibition permanent, directing the trial court to vacate its order.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Feb 15, 2022
Great West Casualty Company initiated an interpleader action to distribute $1 million in insurance proceeds following a multi-vehicle accident. The circuit court dismissed Great West from the action without prejudice, prompting Great West to appeal, arguing the dismissal should have been with prejudice. The appellate court dismissed the appeal, holding that Great West failed to preserve the issue for review by not filing a motion to amend the judgment pursuant to Rule 78.07(c).
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Jan 18, 2022
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, an intervenor in a tort action, appealed the trial court's denial of its motion to enforce a purported settlement agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant. The appellate court dismissed State Farm's appeal, holding that State Farm lacked standing because it was not "aggrieved" by the trial court's ruling. The court reasoned that an insurer's obligation to pay is triggered only after the tortfeasor's liability is established, and thus, the denial of the motion to enforce had no immediate prejudicial impact on State Farm's rights or interests.
Supreme Court of Missouri / Dec 21, 2021
Darin Lutman sought a writ of prohibition to prevent the release of his medical records from two health networks, arguing they were protected by physician-patient privilege. The circuit court had ordered the disclosure of these records in a wrongful death and personal injury suit filed against Lutman after a fatal auto accident. The Missouri Supreme Court made its preliminary writ of prohibition permanent, holding that Lutman's statements to police and in an apology letter did not constitute an implied waiver of the privilege, as they did not show a clear, unequivocal purpose to divulge confidential medical information. The Court also clarified that a writ of prohibition remains appropriate even if records have been disclosed, as a partial remedy can be ordered.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Aug 24, 2021
Courtney Jones was injured in an auto accident with an uninsured motorist and sought additional uninsured motorist (UM) benefits under two American Family policies covering vehicles she was not driving. The trial court granted summary judgment for Jones, finding the owned-vehicle exclusion ambiguous and unenforceable. The appellate court reversed, holding that the owned-vehicle exclusion, when read with the minimum-financial-responsibility clause, unambiguously limited UM coverage for non-involved vehicles to the statutory minimum.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jun 22, 2021
Clifton Jameson appealed the summary judgment granted to Alexis Still, which enforced a purported settlement of Jameson's personal injury claim arising from a motor vehicle accident. Jameson argued that Still's insurer, MetLife, rejected his May 20, 2019 settlement offer with a June 21, 2019 counteroffer, making the original offer unavailable for acceptance. Still contended that Jameson's offer, made pursuant to sections 408.040 and 537.058, was irrevocable and non-rejectable for 90 days. The appellate court reversed and remanded, holding that these statutes do not abrogate common law contract principles, and thus, MetLife's counteroffer rejected Jameson's original offer.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / May 25, 2021
Loretta Purk sued Farmers Insurance Company, Inc. for uninsured motorist (UM) coverage after she and her husband were injured in an auto accident with an uninsured driver. The trial court granted partial summary judgment for Mrs. Purk, finding she was entitled to $300,000 in UM coverage under three Farmers policies. The appellate court reversed, holding that the policies were not ambiguous and that an owned-vehicle exclusion limited stacked UM coverage to $150,000, comprising $100,000 from the policy covering the accident vehicle and $25,000 from each of the other two policies, consistent with Missouri's Financial Responsibility Law.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Apr 27, 2021
Kayla Hurley appealed a jury verdict of $15,000 in damages from Karen Burton following a motor vehicle accident, arguing the trial court made several errors during the proceedings. Hurley claimed the trial court abused its discretion by denying a mistrial, refusing curative instructions, excluding rebuttal evidence, allowing certain medical treatment evidence, and excluding a prior abandoned pleading for impeachment. The Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding no abuse of discretion in any of the challenged rulings.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Mar 9, 2021
Robert Morris sued GEICO Casualty Company for vexatious refusal to pay uninsured motorist benefits after a rear-end collision. The circuit court granted summary judgment for GEICO, finding the offending vehicle was neither an "uninsured motor vehicle" nor a "hit-and-run vehicle" as defined by the GEICO policy, and that Morris's claims were barred by the election of remedies doctrine. The appellate court affirmed, holding that because the owner of the vehicle was identified and their insurer agreed to cover operator negligence, GEICO was not required to provide uninsured motorist coverage, thereby negating the vexatious refusal claim.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Mar 9, 2021
Timothy A. Shepherd appealed his conviction for driving while intoxicated as a habitual offender, following a bench trial. He argued there was insufficient evidence to support the trial court's finding that he was a habitual offender, specifically challenging the use of out-of-state driving records and the interpretation of his prior Colorado convictions. The Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's judgment, holding that certified driving records from other states are permissible evidence and that his prior Colorado convictions qualified as intoxication-related traffic offenses under Missouri law.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Mar 2, 2021
Sylvia Norman's husband was killed in an automobile accident with Amber Ralston, who was insured by Progressive. Norman obtained a wrongful death judgment against Ralston, and Progressive tendered its policy limits but not all interest and costs. Norman then filed an equitable garnishment action against Progressive, alleging it failed to pay all interest and court costs owed under the policy. The trial court granted summary judgment to Progressive. The appellate court reversed and remanded, holding that Progressive's conditional settlement offer did not terminate its obligation to pay prejudgment interest, but affirmed that Progressive had paid all taxed court costs and that its payment of the bodily injury limit terminated its obligation for post-judgment interest.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Feb 16, 2021
Michael and Linda Scobee sued William Norris for personal injuries from a motor vehicle accident. After Norris's death, Lauren Norris was substituted as defendant ad litem. A jury awarded $7 million, but the defendant ad litem moved to reduce the judgment to the decedent's $100,000 insurance policy limit and to amend the judgment to disallow future bad faith claims. The trial court denied both motions. The appellate court affirmed, holding that Section 537.021 does not require reducing a jury award to policy limits in a tort action, and that the bad faith claim issue was not ripe for adjudication.