News
PUBLISHED
March 8, 2021SAKG Convinces Court of Appeals that Application of Punitive Damages Cap was Unconstitutional; Wins Reinstatement of Jury’s Full Punitives Award
After SAKG secured a jury award of over $6 million on behalf of its client, All Star Awards and Ad Specialties (including $5.5 million in punitive damages), the trial court cut punitive damages by roughly $3 million based on the limits imposed by RSMo. 510.265.1. SAKG argued on appeal that this statutory cap violated All […]
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March 1, 2021SAKG Assists With University’s Confidential Personnel Investigation
Jim Griffin and Brent Coverdale recently completed an investigation on behalf of a University client into potential misconduct by personnel in an NCAA Division 1 athletic department. Given the time-sensitive nature of such matters, SAKG stepped in to promptly review materials and interview witnesses, then provide findings and recommendations to the University regarding what happened […]
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February 8, 2021Rachel Smith Joins SAKG’s Transportation, Commercial and Health Care Litigation Practices
SAKG is pleased to announce that Rachel Smith has joined the firm as an associate attorney. Rachel will focus her practice in transportation litigation, health care litigation, and commercial litigation. Before joining the firm, Rachel served as a law clerk for the Honorable Ortrie D. Smith of the U.S. District Court for the Western District […]
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February 1, 2021SAKG Celebrates 15 Year Anniversary
February 2006, Todd Scharnhorst and Scott Ast opened what is now Scharnhorst Ast Kennard Griffin, P.C. Since then, the firm has grown from two attorneys and a paralegal into a well-respected litigation boutique focused on commercial litigation, construction, employment, health care, transportation and product liability. SAKG has long been recognized for its excellent lawyers, industry […]
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November 20, 2020SAKG Gives Back to Local Food Bank
This past month, the staff of SAKG participated in a food drive that benefits Harvesters–The Community Food Network. With the leadership of our Front Desk Administrator, Marva Callahan, we collected and will be donating over 4,000 items. Marva not only organized our food drive, but also came up with an innovative way to encourage our […]
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November 19, 2020SAKG Obtains Affirmance by Fifth Circuit of Summary Judgment in Employment Discrimination Case
After SAKG obtained summary judgment dismissal of racial, sexual and disability discrimination claims against a national Kansas City employer in May 2020 in the Western District of Texas, the SAKG team of Brent Coverdale and Cameron Grant obtained affirmance of that judgment by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in a […]
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September 7, 2020SAKG Achieves Defense Verdict in Webster County, MO Amidst COVID-19 Protocols
In September 2020, after a 2-week jury trial during phase 3 of the staged reopening, Scott Ast, along with a team that included Michele Sutton on briefing and motions practice, obtained a defense verdict in Webster County, MO. The personal injury case involved a highway grade crossing accident in which the plaintiff struck the lead […]
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August 14, 2020Andrew Birkinsha Joins SAKG’s Growing Transportation and Commercial Litigation Practices
SAKG is pleased to announce that Andrew Birkinsha has joined the firm as an associate attorney. Andrew will focus his practice in transportation and commercial litigation. Andrew is a 2020 graduate from Brigham Young University (BYU). While at BYU, Andrew served on the leadership board of the Student Bar Association, the Trial Advocacy Team, the […]
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May 1, 2020SAKG Attains Favorable Judgment in Eighth Circuit Appeal
On May 1, the United States Court of Appeals affirmed a favorable judgment for SAKG client BNSF Railway Company. The three-judge panel rejected the plaintiff’s arguments that the trial court erred when it instructed the jury in a Federal Employers’ Liability Act (“FELA”) case premised on an alleged violation of the Safety Appliances Act. The […]
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April 21, 2020SAKG Obtains Defense Verdict in Law Enforcement Retirement Benefits Appeal
On April 21, 2020, Brent Coverdale and Michele Sutton achieved a defense verdict for a local law enforcement agency after a bench trial in Jackson County Circuit Court. The plaintiff was a former police officer who challenged the decision that his disability-related retirement be considered non-duty rather than a disability caused by the performance of […]