Michael J. Abrams

Mr. Abrams has dedicated more than 20 years to working for clients in a variety of commercial litigation matters including substantial jury trial practice in federal and state court, appellate practice, and alternative dispute resolution. Mr. Abrams has extensive experience in all phases of business and contract law, accounting law, insurance matters, real estate, oil and gas disputes, and media and communications law. Mr. Abrams has successfully defended and prosecuted jury and bench trials involving business torts, fraud, consumer protection claims, trade secrets, covenants not to compete, and professional liability and insurance coverage.

Mr. Abrams chairs the firm’s Business Disputes department.

Court Memberships

• Kansas
• Missouri
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Honors

• Selected for Benchmark Litigation, the Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys 2011 and 2013
• Selected for Missouri Super Lawyers, 2008-2012
• Martindale-Hubbell® “AV” Rating
• Order of the Barristers

Professional Affiliations

• Member, Independent Citizens Advisory Board Regarding Racial Profiling, Overland Park, Kansas
• Board of Trustees, Johnson County Library Foundation
• President, 2007-2010, Kansas City Chapter, American Jewish Committee 
• President, Village Shalom, 2010-2012 
• The Missouri Bar
• Kansas Bar Association  
• Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Centurions, 1999-2001

Reported Decisions

• Bank of America, NA v. UMB Financial Services, Inc., 618 F.3d 906
• Clay County Realty v. City of Gladstone, 254 S.W.3d 859 (Mo. 2008)
• Safeco Ins. Co. of America v. Stephenson, Slip Copy, 2008 WL 351006, W.D. Mo., February 6, 2008 (No. 06-4294-CV-C-NKL) 
• Maxus Realty Trust, Inc. v. RSUI Indem. Co., Slip Copy, 2007 WL 4468697, W.D. Mo., December 17, 2007 (No. 06-0750-CV-W-ODS) 
• Building Owners & Managers Ass’n of Greater Kansas City v. City of Kansas City, 231 S.W.3D 208, 2007 WL 1672489, Mo. App. W.D., June 12, 2007 (No. WD 66618) 
• Safeco Ins. Co. of America v. Stephenson, Slip Copy, 2007 WL 1558585, W.D. Mo., May 25, 2007 (No. 06-4294-CV-C-NKL) 
• First Specialty Ins. Corp. v. NAIS, Inc., 459 F. Supp. 2d 1094, 2006 WL 3059920, D. Kan. October 27, 2006 (No. 05-2399-JWL) 
• Star Ins. Co. v. Berry Ins. Agency, Not Reported in F. Supp. 2d, 2006 WL 2460646, D. Kan., August 23, 2006 (Civil Action No. 01-21280-CM) 
• State ex re. General Motors Acceptance Corp. v. Standridge, 181 S.W.3d 76, 2006 WL 44371, Mo., January 10, 2006 (No. SC 86948) 
• All American Wines, Inc. v. Greenfield Wine Co., Not Reported in F. Supp. 2d, 2005 WL 2436466, W.D. Mo., October 3, 2005 (No. 04-4269 CV C NKL) 
• Lamb v. Rizzo, 391 F.3d 1133, 2004 WL 2823309, 33 Media L. Rep. 1078, C.A. 10 (Kan.), December 9, 2004 (No. 03-3179) 
• CST Industries, Inc. v. Randall, Not Reported in F. Supp. 2d, 2004 WL 2282906, D. Kan., October 6, 2004 (No. 04-2334-JWL) 
• Mease v. City of Shawnee, Not Reported in F. Supp. 2d, 2004 WL 957857, D. Kan., February 24, 2004 (No. Civ. A 03-2041-CM) 
• Kiley v. PetSmart, Inc., 32 Kan. App. 2d 228, 80 P.3d 1179, 2003 WL 23006640, Kan. App., December 24, 2003 (Nos. 89,893, 90,248) 
• Lamb v. Rizzo, 242 F. Supp. 2d 1032, 2003 WL 245393, 31 Media L. Rep. 2513, D. Kan., January 31, 2003 (No. 02-1282-JTM) 
• Travel Marketing Associates, Inc. v. Theatre Direct Int’l, Not Reported in F. Supp. 2d, 2002 WL 31527737, D. Kan., October 8, 2002 (Civil Action No. 01-2579-CM) 
• State ex rel. Dotson v. County Comm’n of Clay County, 941 S.W.2d 589, 1997 WL 39632, Mo. App. W.D., February 4, 1997 (No. WD 52567)

Publications

• Author, Review of Missouri Privacy Law, Media Law Resource Center, 1995-2011
• Co-Author, Review of 10th Circuit Libel, Defamation and Privacy Law, Media Law Resource Center, 1994-2011

Presentations

• Speaker, Insurance Recovery in the Wake of Superstorm Sandy, National Law Journal Crisis Litigation Forum, May 2013
• Speaker, Insurance Hot Topics: Practical Advice for Corporate Counsel, January 14, 2009