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Wrongful Death in Missouri and Kansas – U.S. Politics Today

Just like any form of personal injury law, wrongful death suits may be based on negligence or intentional acts.
KANSAS CITY, MO, October 12, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ — A wrongful death lawsuit occurs when someone dies as a result of the actions of another person or company and his or her heirs seek compensation for the death of their relative. Just like any form of personal injury law, wrongful death suits may be based on negligence or intentional acts. There is more likely to be insurance coverage if the death was caused by someone else’s negligence. An experienced personal injury attorney can help determine if there is negligence involved when negligence may not appear obvious. See our article on Personal Injury Law for more information.
There are specific laws governing wrongful death lawsuits including caps or maximum amounts that can be collected. In Missouri and Kansas, the settlement of a wrongful death lawsuit must be approved by a Court. This is called a “friendly suit.” Often times the settlement hearing is non adversarial as all parties want it resolved and just need the Court’s approval. However, as can be the case in Hollywood movies, sometimes there are disputes between family members over distribution and allocation of the proceeds. These disputes can be very grievous in light of the surrounding circumstances: the death of a loved one.
The heirs of a deceased person can seek compensation in many ways in a wrongful death suit, both for themselves and for the Estate of their loved one who has passed. The benchmark for any settlement is what is fair and just based on considerations such as the following (the factors considered vary from state to state):
– Medical [...]

By jwj|October 13th, 2012|News|Comments Off|

Ameren Missouri wrongful death trial set to begin Tuesday – Columbia Missourian

Sunday, September 9, 2012 | 6:00 a.m. CDT
COLUMBIA — A 2008 lawsuit alleging negligence by Ameren Missouri in a natural gas explosion that killed an elderly couple appears likely to go to trial this week.
The trial in the Sneed lawsuit is set to begin Tuesday with jury selection.
Carl and Merna Sneed, who lived at 308 McNab Drive in the East Campus neighborhood, both died as the result of injuries from the March 14, 2008 blast that could be felt miles away. The fire from the blast damaged the side of a home across the street.
Carl Sneed, 87, died from burns inside the home. Merna Sneed, 85, was thrown from the home and suffered burns on more than 30 percent of her body. She died three weeks later at University Hospital.
The daughters of Carl and Merna Sneed — Patricia K. Sneed, Pamela R. Heath and Terry L. Sneed — filed the lawsuit in June 2008. Patricia Sneed and Pamela Health, who live in California, and Terry Sneed, who lives in Columbia, are being represented in the suit by Neil Johnson of Berkowitz Oliver of Kansas City.
Ameren Missouri is being represented by Gerald King of Armstrong Teasdale LLP, also of Kansas City.
Several of the Sneeds’ neighbors could be called as witnesses in addition to experts in natural gas procedures. Among the potential witnesses are Daryl Keller, who lived in the house that was damaged in the blast across the street from the Sneeds; Fred Luetkemeier, supervisor of Ameren’s gas operations in Columbia; and Bob Leonberger, supervisor of engineering and safety in the energy unit of the Missouri Public Service Commission.
Similar lawsuits have been filed in the past few years alleging [...]

By jwj|September 10th, 2012|News|Comments Off|