John Schultz is a Partner in the Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP Kansas City office. He is a member of the Tort & Catastrophic Loss practice area. Mr. Schultz is a nationally recognized trial lawyer with extensive experience representing clients in high-stakes litigation across the Midwest. He has served as lead trial counsel in more than 180 jury trials in six states and has authored more than 300 published opinions in federal and state courts. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Coverage Counsel, and he is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. He is also certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. His practice focuses on complex product liability, trucking, construction and intellectual property matters, as well as medical and legal malpractice claims, often involving “bet-the-company” exposure. His courtroom experience has been featured in national media outlets including The New York Times, the Kansas City Star and ABC, Fox and CBS news.

Mr. Schultz represents corporations, insurers and self-insured entities in high-exposure and catastrophic injury cases that frequently proceed to trial. He is frequently called upon to serve as “parachute counsel,” stepping in to try difficult cases where trial is imminent or unavoidable. In this role, he has secured favorable verdicts in challenging jurisdictions, including matters involving significant reputational and financial risk. His clients include insurance carriers, reinsurance companies and businesses facing complex litigation where the outcome is critical to ongoing operations.

Mr. Schultz is consistently recognized by leading legal organizations for his trial work and client service. He has been named among the Top 10 attorneys in Missouri and Kansas by Super Lawyers from 2022 through 2024 and has been recognized as a Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyer annually since 2006. He has also been listed in Best Lawyers in America for Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation Defense, and was named “Lawyer of the Year – Insurance Law” in 2025. Chambers USA ranks him as “an incredibly good defense lawyer,” and Missouri Lawyers Media has honored him with a Lifetime Achievement award, an ICON Award and inclusion on The POWER List. He has also been recognized by BTI Consulting Group as a Client Service All-Star and was featured by Ingram’s Magazine as a “Legal Rainmaker” and among the most powerful business leaders in Kansas City.

Kansas

• Kansas State Courts
• U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas

Missouri

• Missouri State Courts
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

U.S. Courts of Appeals

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

Illinois

• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

• Recent Developments in Bad Faith Litigation – Professional Liability Attorney Network, Kansas City, MO (2016). 
• “Has Social Media Investigation Made Surveillance Obsolete?” 10 ways to improve your claim investigation without hiring a retired detective to sit in a van with a camera – Central Claims Executives Association Spring Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ (2015). 
• The Impact of Social Media on Claims and Litigation – United Fire Group, Spring Claims Seminar, Cedar Rapids, IA (2013) 
• The Impact of Social Media on Claims and Litigation – Central Claims Executives Association Conference, Nashville, TN (2012) 
• Legal Issues Panel – Missouri Association of Mutual Insurance Companies Annual Convention (2011) 
• Future of Missouri’s Collateral Source Statute – Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers Fall Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri (2009) 
• Legal Issues Panel – Missouri Association of Mutual Insurance Companies Annual Convention (2009) 
• Closing Arguments – Missouri Bar Annual Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri (2009) 
• Closing Arguments-The Power of Persuasion – Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Kansas City, Missouri (2008) 
• Critical Trial Skills for Legal Service Attorney – National Institute for Trial Advocacy and American Bar Association (2005) 
• Insurance Agents’ Errors and Omissions – Brooke Insurance Corporation Annual Convention – Las Vegas Nevada (2005) 
• Nursing Home Malpractice – National Business Institute (2004) 
• Bad Faith – Cedar Rapids, Iowa (2004) 
• Voir Dire – Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (2003) 
• Advanced Personal Injury Practice in Kansas – Overland Park, Kansas (2002) 
• Evidence and Hearsay in the Missouri Courtroom – National Business Institute – Kansas City, Missouri (2001) 
• Premises Liability – Defense of Violent Criminal Act Cases – Chicago, Illinois (2000) 
• Trial Techniques – How to Select a Conservative Jury – CPCU Society, Walnut Creek, California (1999) 
• Handling First Party Property Claims – Missouri Association of Mutual Insurance Companies Claims School – Columbia, Missouri (1998) 
• Keynote Speaker – Missouri Association of Mutual Insurance Companies Annual Convention, Lake Ozark, Missouri (1998) 
• Business Torts – Lohrman Education Services – Kansas City, Missouri (1999) 
• Case Evaluation – Claims Handling in the New Millennium – Employers Reinsurance Corporation – Overland Park, Kansas (1998) 
• Trial Techniques in the Defense of Nursing Home Cases – Yardley, Pennsylvania (1998) 
• Closed Head Injuries – Kansas City, Missouri (1997) 
• Neuropsychological Evaluations to Aid in the Evaluation and Defense of Brain Injury Cases – Dallas, Texas (1997) 
• Trial Techniques in the Defense of Personal Injury Actions – Kansas City, Missouri (1997) 
• Insurance Agents Errors and Omissions – Overland Park, Kansas (1996) 
• Bad Faith – What is it and How to Avoid it – Missouri Third Party Practice Seminar – National Business Institute – St. Louis, Missouri (1995) 
• Trial Techniques From the Defense Perspective: – Nuts and Bolts Seminar for Newly Admitted Lawyers – Missouri Bar (1993) 

 

 Significant Trials: 

• Barham v. Sawyer Tire & Hankook Tire; Case No. 17VE-CV00288 [Tire service center found 0% at fault for tire explosion resulting in death of construction company owner. $6.2 million in damages claimed.] Case tried in September/October 2024. 
• Jane Doe v. John Doe Training Facility [Training facility found not liable for sexual abuse of 17 year old softball player by her coach – $60 million in damages requested] 
• Patrick Brooks et al v. Missouri Boys Ranch, et al.,Case No. 16LW-CC00146 [Boys ranch found not liable for murder of plaintiff’s mother by 2 boys who ran away from the ranch-7.6 to 21MM in actual damages requested.] 
• Sanborn v. Worstell and United Fire & Casualty, Case No. 1522-CC00550 [Insurance company found not liable for $33MM judgment in St. Louis City Circuit Court.] 
• James L. O’Conner v. Landvatter Ready Mix, Case. No. 14-SL-CC03641 [admitted liability case where permanently injured electrical lineman sought more than 3.2MM in damages from St. Louis County jury.]. 
• Kozlov and Tchikobava v. Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. et al., Case Nos 4:10CV3211, 4:10CV3212 and 8:10CV3191, (U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska); [driver and passenger in tractor trailer rear-ended by another tractor trailer sought $6.3M in damages] 
• Jentz, et al. v. Con Agra, et al.; 3:10-CV-00474, (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois); [3 workers burned in grain mill explosion sought over $100 million actual and $1 billion in punitive damages] 
• Walley v. LaPlata Volunteer Fire Dept., 02V010400396 (Adair County, Missouri); [$10 million sought by highway patrol officer permanently disabled from accident] 
• Thornton v. McCormack, 17V019701425 (Johnson County, Missouri); [$5 million actual damages sought for arm amputation] 
• Henderson v. Fields, 99CV208562 (Jackson County, Missouri); [$100 million in punitive damages sought in triple fatality case] 
• Clift v. Display Studios, Inc., 1997 WL 33104277 (St. Clairsville, Ohio) [Brain damage – truck accident] 
• Daniels v. Senior Care, Inc., 21 S.W.3d 133 (Mo. App. S.D. 2000) [Wrongful death – nursing home malpractice] 
• King v. G.W. Foods, Inc., 71 Fed. Appx. 770 (10th Cir. 2003) [Parapalegic – product liability] 
• Travis v. Stone and Apex, Inc., 66 W.W.3d 1 (Mo. App. 2002) [Wrongful death – truck accident] 
• Smith v. Shelter Mutual Ins. Co., 1999 WL 1581788 (Jackson County, MO) [Degloving injury to leg] 
• Woolfolk v. University Forest Nursing Care Center, 1999 WL 113241 (St. Louis City Circuit Court) [Wrongful death – nursing home malpractice] 
• Evers v. Lutheran Althenheim Society, 1995 WL 17007850 (St. Louis City Circuit Court) [Nursing home malpractice] 
• Berry v. It’s a Kids World Day Care, [Starvation of foster child – day care negligence] 

Reported Cases: 

• United Specialty Ins. Co. v. Wheller (United States District Court, W.D. Missouri) 2023 WL 2653387 
• Duling v. Mid American Credit Union, 530 P.3d 737 (Kan. App. 2022) 
• Chastain v. United Fire & Casualty Company, 653 S.W.3d 616 (Mo. App. S.D. 2022) 
• Lawton v. Park Village Community, LLC (United States District Court, D. Kansas) 2022 WL 2966318 
• Brown v. Tital Protection & Consulting (10th Cir.) 2022 WL1014154 
• Johnson v. Clark (8th Cir.) 2022 WL 1043980 
• Williams v. MJB Hotels, LLC, 497 P.3d 214 (Kan. App. 2021) 
• Hughes v. Maritz, Wolff & Co., LLC, 601 S.W.3d 306 (Mo. App. E.D. 2020) 
• Haake v. VR Groups, LLC (United States District Court, W.D. Missouri) 2019 WL 11679467 
• Multi Service Technology Solutions, Inc. v. LifeShield, LLC (United States District Court, W.D. Missouri) 2019 WL 3976332 
• Culbertson v. Great Wolf Lodge of Kansas City, LLC (United States District Court, D. Kansas) 2018 WL 4409433 
• Estate of Overbey by Overbey v. Franklin, 558 S.W.3d 564 (Mo. App. W.D. 2018) 
• United Fire & Casualty Company v. Advantage Workers Compensation Insurance Company and Patriot Risk Services (United States District Court, W.D. Missouri) 2017 WL 2984274 
• Barnes v. St. Francis Community Services (United States District Court, D. Kansas) 2017 WL 2666099 
• Shophar v. City of Olathe (United States District Court, D. Kansas) 2017 WL 2618494 
• Lipp v. Ginger C, LLC (United States District Court, W.D. Missouri) 2017 WL 1363322 
• Oakes v. Repcon (United States District Court, D. Kansas) 2017 WL 951159 
• Harlan v. United Fire & Casualty (United States Court of Appeal, Tenth Circuit) 2017 WL 4863142 
• Dagnan v. St. John’s Military School (United States District Court, D. Kansas) 2016 WL 7386280 
• Classico v. United Fire & Casualty, 386 P. 3d Kan. App. 2016 
• Miller v. Sams 504 S.W.3d Mo. App. W.D. 2016 
• Brenneman v. Great Wolf Lodge (United States District Court, W.D. Missouri) 2016 WL 9132662 
• Boone v. TFI Family Services, Inc., 2015 WL 5568348 
• Tempesta v. Marriott (United States District Court, E.D. Missouri) 2015 WL 5530323 
• Scottsdale Insurance v. Addison Insurance, 448 S.W. 3d 818 (Mo. banc. 2014) 
• Kozlov v. Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., 2014 WL 4534787 (D.Neb. Sept. 11, 2014) 
• Oppenheimer v. Lint, 2014 WL 3611676 (D.Kan. Jul. 22, 2014) 
• Sauvain v. Acceptance Indem. Ins. Co., 437 S.W.3d 296 (Mo. App. 2014) 
• Barkley v. McKeever Enterprises, Inc., 2014 WL 1428408 (Mo. App. 2014) 
• Baker v. Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., 745 F.3d 919 (8th Cir. 2014) 
• Missouri United School Ins. Council v. Hunt, 2014 WL 554692 (W.D.Mo. Feb. 11, 2014) 
• Elgin v. McKay (United States District Court, E.D. Missouri) 2014 WL 294424 
• Argonaut Great Cent. Ins. Co. v. Valley Village, LLC, 2013 WL 5567710 (E.D.Mo. Oct. 9, 2013) 
• National American Ins. Co. v. ConAgra Foods, Inc., 949 F.Supp.2d 790 (S.D. Ill. Jun. 25, 2013) 
• United Fire & Cas. Co. v. Thompson, 949 F.Supp.2d 922 (E.D. Mo. Apr. 26, 2013) 
• Jentz v. ConAgra Foods, Inc., 2013 WL 498727 (S.D. Ill. Feb. 8, 2013) 
• Secura Insurance v. Horizon Plumbing, Inc., et al., 670 F.3d 857 (8th Cir. 2012) 
• Walley v. LaPlata Volunteer Fire Dept., 2012 WL 2012 912736 (Mo. App. W.D. 2012) 
• Gear Automotive v. Acceptance Ins., 2011 WL 2976827 (U.S. District Court, Western District of Mo. 2012) 
• United Fire & Casualty Ins. Co. v. Thompson, 2011 WL 3847256 (U.S. District Court, Eastern District Mo. 2011) 
• Sauvain v. Acceptance Indemnity Ins. Co., 339 S.W.3d 555 (Mo. App. W.D. 2011) 
• Pennsylvania Mfgrs. Assn. Ins. Co. v. Selective Ins. Co., 331 S.W.3d 721 (Mo. App. 2011) 
• Thomas v. Brewer’s Food Mart, 219 P.3d 1243 (Kan. App. 2009) 
• Battles v. United Fire & Casualty Ins., 295 S.W.3d 486 (Mo. App. W.D. 2009) 
• Baker v. C.J. Grewe, 241 S.W.3d 420 (Mo. App. E.D. 2007) 
• Billings Mut. Ins. Co. v. Cameron Mut. Ins. Co., 2007 W.L.1345906 (Mo. App. 2007) 
• Thompson v. Tuggle, 183 S.W.3d 611 (Mo. App. 2006) 
• Burdett v. Harrah’s Kansas Casino Corp., 311 F. Supp. 1166 (2004) 
• Udell v. Kansas Counselors, Inc., 2004 WL 785065 (D. Kan. 2004) 
• King v. G&W Foods, Inc., 71 Fed. App. 770 (10th Cir. 2003) 
• Hanlon Chemical Co., Inc. v. United Fire & Casualty, 2003 WL22466190 (D. Kan. 2003) 
• Ingram v. Rinehart, 108 S.W.3d 783 (Mo. App. 2003) 
• King v. G & W Food, Inc., 71 Fed.Appx. 770 (10th Cir. 2003) 
• Holler v. Cinemark USA, Inc., 185 F. Supp. 2d 1242 (D. Kan. 2002) 
• Vaughn v. United Fire & Casualty, 90 S.W. 3d 220 (Mo. App. 2002) 
• Walton v. American Family Insurance, 1994 WL 409615 (D. Kan. 2002) 
• Vaughan v. United Fire & Cas. Co., 90 S.W.3d 220 (Mo. App. 2002) 
• Travis v. Stone, 66 S.W.3d 1 (Mo. 2002) 
• Jones v. Reliable Security, 28 P.3d 1051 (Kan. App. 2001) 
• Henderson v. Fields, 68 S.W.3d 455 (Mo. App. 2001) 
• Travis v. Stone, 200 WL 1878991 (Mo. App. 2000) 
• Hare v. Cole, 25 S.W.3d 617 (Mo. App. 2000) 
• Daniels v. Senior Care, Inc., 21 S.W. 3d 133 (Mo. App. 2000) 
• Overcast v. Billings Mutual Ins. Co., 11 S.W.3d 62 (Mo. 2000) 
• Joseph v. Marriott International, 967 S.W. 2d 624 (Mo. App. 1998) 
• Central Associated Carriers v. Nickelberry, 995 F. Supp. 1031 (1998) 
• Breckenridge v. Meierhoffer-Fleeman Funeral Home, 941 S.W. 2d 609 (Mo. App. 1997) 
• Capitol Indemn. Corp. v. Callis, 963 S.W.2d 247 (Mo. App. 1997) 
• Taylor v. Republic Automotive Parts, Inc., 950 S.W.2d 318 (Mo. App. 1997) 
• Pennel v. Criger, 936 S.W.2d 905 (Mo. App. 1997) 
• United of Omaha v. Business Men’s Assur. Co. of America, 104 F.3d 1034 (8th Cir. 1997) 
• Murray v. Lamont, 931 S.W. 2d 899 (Mo. App. 1996) 
• Gamble v. Bost, 901 S.W. 2d 182 (Mo. App. 1995) 
• Pearson v. Lutheran High School Ass’n of St. Louis, 910 S.W.2d 318 (Mo. App. 1995) 
• Anderson v. Accurso, 899 S.W.2d 938 (Mo. App. 1995) 
• Stuart v. Mills, 899 S.W.2d 156 (Mo. App. 1995) 
• U.S. v. Jenkins, 52 F.3d 743 (8th Cir. 1995) 
• Gabriel v. Shelter Mut. Ins. Co., 897 S.W.2d 199 (Mo. App. 1995) 
• United of Omaha v. BMA, 1994 WL 627887 (W.D. Mo. 1994) 
• Capitol Indemn. Corp. v. JCDM, Inc., 892 S.W.2d 638 (Mo. App. 1994) 
• U.S. v. Scott, 26 F.3d 1458 (8th Cir. 1994) 
• American Family Mutual Ins. Co. v. Kohrs, 1193 WL 289170 (D. Kan 1993) 
• City of Kansas City, Mo. v. Koklas, 849 S.W.2d 716 (Mo. App. 1993) 
• Capitol Indem. Corp. v. Miles, 978 F.2d 437 (8th Cir. 1992) 
• Stolfus v. Musselman & Hall Const., Inc., 845 S.W. 2d 565 (Mo. App. 1992) 
• Lewis v. El Torito Restaurants, Inc., 806 S.W.2d 46 (Mo. App. 1991) 

• American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow 
• Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel 
• American Board of Trial Advocates 
• National Board of Trial Advocacy: Certified as Civil Trial Specialist (recertified in 2024) 
• American College of Coverage Counsel, Fellow 
• Trucking Industry Defense Association 
• The Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers 
• The Missouri Bar 
• The Kansas Bar 
• Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association 
• Arizona Claims Association 
• Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers Board of Directors (2008 — 2009) 
• Editorial Board of national publication INSURANCE LAW & LITIGATION WEEK (2009-2014) 
• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance 

• Recent Developments in Bad Faith Litigation – Professional Liability Attorney Network, Kansas City, MO (2016). 
• “Has Social Media Investigation Made Surveillance Obsolete?” 10 ways to improve your claim investigation without hiring a retired detective to sit in a van with a camera – Central Claims Executives Association Spring Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ (2015). 
• The Impact of Social Media on Claims and Litigation – United Fire Group, Spring Claims Seminar, Cedar Rapids, IA (2013) 
• The Impact of Social Media on Claims and Litigation – Central Claims Executives Association Conference, Nashville, TN (2012) 
• Legal Issues Panel – Missouri Association of Mutual Insurance Companies Annual Convention (2011) 
• Future of Missouri’s Collateral Source Statute – Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers Fall Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri (2009) 
• Legal Issues Panel – Missouri Association of Mutual Insurance Companies Annual Convention (2009) 
• Closing Arguments – Missouri Bar Annual Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri (2009) 
• Closing Arguments-The Power of Persuasion – Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Kansas City, Missouri (2008) 
• Critical Trial Skills for Legal Service Attorney – National Institute for Trial Advocacy and American Bar Association (2005) 
• Insurance Agents’ Errors and Omissions – Brooke Insurance Corporation Annual Convention – Las Vegas Nevada (2005) 
• Nursing Home Malpractice – National Business Institute (2004) 
• Bad Faith – Cedar Rapids, Iowa (2004) 
• Voir Dire – Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (2003) 
• Advanced Personal Injury Practice in Kansas – Overland Park, Kansas (2002) 
• Evidence and Hearsay in the Missouri Courtroom – National Business Institute – Kansas City, Missouri (2001) 
• Premises Liability – Defense of Violent Criminal Act Cases – Chicago, Illinois (2000) 
• Trial Techniques – How to Select a Conservative Jury – CPCU Society, Walnut Creek, California (1999) 
• Handling First Party Property Claims – Missouri Association of Mutual Insurance Companies Claims School – Columbia, Missouri (1998) 
• Keynote Speaker – Missouri Association of Mutual Insurance Companies Annual Convention, Lake Ozark, Missouri (1998) 
• Business Torts – Lohrman Education Services – Kansas City, Missouri (1999) 
• Case Evaluation – Claims Handling in the New Millennium – Employers Reinsurance Corporation – Overland Park, Kansas (1998) 
• Trial Techniques in the Defense of Nursing Home Cases – Yardley, Pennsylvania (1998) 
• Closed Head Injuries – Kansas City, Missouri (1997) 
• Neuropsychological Evaluations to Aid in the Evaluation and Defense of Brain Injury Cases – Dallas, Texas (1997) 
• Trial Techniques in the Defense of Personal Injury Actions – Kansas City, Missouri (1997) 
• Insurance Agents Errors and Omissions – Overland Park, Kansas (1996) 
• Bad Faith – What is it and How to Avoid it – Missouri Third Party Practice Seminar – National Business Institute – St. Louis, Missouri (1995) 
• Trial Techniques From the Defense Perspective: – Nuts and Bolts Seminar for Newly Admitted Lawyers – Missouri Bar (1993)