Government Litigation

Our Government Litigation Group is a team of savvy lawyers with experience and finesse to skillfully address legal matters on behalf of, among, or against government entities or government-related agencies. Whether your particular situation concerns benefits, personnel, administrative, municipal, statutory, or environmental issues, we are the team you’ll want on your side.

Our prior experiences within local and state government give us a strong understanding of intra-governmental workings. Many of us have worked 'inside' government entities as: a former Missouri Assistant Attorney General, past associate St. Louis city counselor, city attorney, assistant attorney, and prosecutor for several municipalities throughout St Louis County. Now working at Danna McKitrick, we apply that knowledge as we work with government-related matters on an on-going basis.

As a team, and as individuals, our noteworthy successes and blend of diverse backgrounds inspire confidence—and the personal attention we provide speaks for itself.

When it comes to litigation, success starts with using lawyers capable of consistently conceiving solid strategies and exhibiting exceptional stamina because, sometimes, you find yourself up against powerful forces with seemingly endless resources. As your counsel, we don’t let that intimidate us! Two recent achievements—taking on the State of Missouri and the city of St. Louis in significant cases—illustrate both our skills and our stamina:

• In Firemen’s Retirement System (FRS) v. St. Louis regarding failure to properly fund pensions, we earned a judgment in excess of $18 million against the City of St. Louis. On appeal, the Missouri Supreme Court affirmed that FRS has prevailed on all issues. In September 2007, FRS received $49.4 million from the City of St. Louis based on this judgment, interest, and money for the next two fiscal years. Another client, the St. Louis Employees Retirement System (ERS) also received approximately $47 million as a result of this case.
• In Klingler, et al. v. Director of the Department of Revenue, State of Missouri, Fred Switzer led this victorious, 10-year, hard-fought class-action case that made several trips to the federal appellate courts. The battle succeeded in reaffirming the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act, “that people with disabilities cannot be charged for accommodations required by law.”

We represent clients before Missouri and Illinois Courts, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, Missouri Court of Appeals, and the Missouri Supreme Court.

Danna McKitrick works vigorously to resolve your dispute whether through litigation or alternative dispute resolution. Contact us to discuss reaching your desired outcome.

Kevin Behrndt
David Bohm
John Cooney
Laura Gerdes Long
Fred Switzer
Dan Tobben

Visit Related Pages
Employment & Labor
Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution

Government Litigation Case Studies

Alton Firefighters Settlement May Have Statewide Implications (PDF)

Trustees of Alton Firefighters Pension Fund v. City of Alton Agreed Order & Judgment, 6/5/2008 (PDF)

Tobben Addressing Missouri Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (MAPERS) (PDF)

Alton Firefighters Win Battle for Pension Funding (PDF)

Joplin Police & Firefighters' Pension Returns Impressive (PDF)

Joplin Police and Firemen's Pension Fund Trustees May Sue City (PDF)

Report & Legal Opinion to Policemen's and Firemen's Pension Plan Trustees of Joplin, MO (PDF)

Alton Firefighters File Suit against City of Alton (PDF)

Alton Firefighters Pension Fund Suit Against City of Alton - full-text of filing (PDF)

MO Supreme Court Decision in "Neske" Appears to Confirm Public Employees Pension Rights (PDF)

Firemen's Pension Fund Receives Payment from City of St. Louis (PDF)

MO Supreme Court Decides in Favor of City Firefighters' Pension Plan Funding (PDF)

Firemen's Retirement System - Trial Court Decision (10mb PDF)

MO Court of Appeals Opinion (superceded) (1.4mb PDF)