David M. Skeens

(816) 421-6620

dskeens@wrrsvlaw.com

vCard

“Our clients come to us because they want a lawyer who believes in their case as much as they do and who has the talent and resources to achieve the results they want and deserve.”

Once David Skeens takes a case, he’s committed. Whether he is representing clients in a class action, personal injury suit, or a complex business dispute, he doggedly pursues just and appropriate results for his clients, even if he has to take the fight into the courtroom, even if it takes years.

In his first jury trial, David obtained a $275,000 verdict against O’Reilly Automotive for defaming an employee in a small Missouri town in a case where O’Reilly refused to offer a single penny to settle. He was one of the lead trial lawyers that obtained a jury verdict in excess of $100 million dollars against predatory lenders, and overall his efforts have resulted in verdicts or settlements totaling more than $350 million dollars for Missouri home owners in class action cases.

In 2012, David secured a $2.1 million settlement for a client who suffered a severe electrical shock after hitting a live power line the utility company had failed to mark.  In 2013, David negotiated an allowed claim of $300 million dollars for second mortgage borrowers all across the nation in the Residential Funding Company bankruptcy.

His gifts of persuasion, compassion, and tenacity come naturally. David was born into a family of attorneys. His grandfather, father, and uncle were all lawyers.  And so after exploring life as a ski bum following college, all it took was one semester in law school to awaken his talents and his passion, and launch his legal career.  David became part of another legal family when he joined Walters Renwick Richards Skeens & Vaughan, P.C. as a partner in 2000.

Martindale-Hubble 2019

Significant Representations

Obtained a $2.7 million jury verdict in Johnson County, Kansas against a client’s former employer for defaming him and interfering with certain insurance producer contracts the client held.  The jury found that the client was entitled to actual and punitive damages.

Obtained a $1.25 million settlement for a man injured in an auto wreck while driving a company pick-up truck.  The recovery came from three different insurance companies: the injured driver’s underinsured coverage, his employer’s underinsured coverage and the limited coverage from the person causing the wreck.

Achieved arbitration award of $24 million on behalf of a class of borrowers against PNC Bank as successor to Community Bank of Northern Virginia relating to predatory second mortgage loans.

Negotiated a $590,000 settlement for family injured in an auto wreck in northwest Missouri that included TBI suffered by the driver.

Achieved a $10.25 million jury verdict in the death of a 20-year-old Missouri man who, while seeking help for his alcohol abuse and eating disorder, died due to the negligence of a drug and alcohol detox facility in California.  In this same matter, negotiated a $3.7 million dollar settlement with a co-defendant.

Achieved $2.1 million settlement for a man who suffered a severe electrical shock when he dug into a 7200 volt power line in his yard that the utility company had neglected to mark.  Key to the settlement was the ability to show that the client was severely injured physically, mentally and emotionally, including TBI, despite his outward appearance of health.

Negotiated a $300 million allowed claim in bankruptcy of Residential Funding Company for RESPA, TILA, HOEPA and RICO claims relating to second mortgage loans made to some 70,000 borrowers nationwide.

Obtained more than $350 million in settlements and verdicts as lead counsel in Missouri second mortgage class action matters.  These matters include a jury verdict of $105 million against predatory second mortgage lenders, a $168 million dollar settlement against U.S. Bank and a $36.3 million settlement with First Horizon Home Loan Corporation.

Obtained substantial recoveries for Missouri and Arkansas rice farmers as part of an overall $750 million dollar settlement against Bayer CropScience relating to claims against Bayer for contaminating the U.S. rice supply with genetically modified rice.

Successfully defended financial services company in series of nationwide lawsuits arising from use of insurance products to fund benefit plans under IRC sections 419 and 412(i).

Defeated claims against a financial services company relating to a gypsy fraud scheme in South Florida.

Obtained a $4.5 million dollar settlement for a family resulting from the negligence of a brokerage firm in providing estate planning advice and services.

Practice Areas

Business Litigation

Class Action

Personal Injury

Construction Law

Education

J.D., with distinction, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, 1988

B.S. in Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri, 1983

Honors & Awards

AV (highest) rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, a peer rating system for attorneys

KCBJ Best of the Bar, 2019

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2010, 2017 – 2023

Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Boy Scouts of America, Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award

Eagle Scout

Memberships

Missouri Bar Association

Kansas Bar Association

American Bar Association

Bar Admissions

Missouri

Kansas

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

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 Southern District of Missouri

U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas

Organizations

American Association for Justice

Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association

UMKC Law Foundation

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation

Indian Hills Country Club

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

P (816) 421-6620     F (816) 421-4747     E wrrsvlaw@wrrsvlaw.com 1100 Main Street, Suite 2500, Kansas City, MO 64105

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