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Personal Profile

For the past 42 years, Tom Schult has tried commercial and product liability lawsuits in federal and state courts throughout the country. He serves as national product liability trial counsel for product manufacturers and has been selected as regional defense counsel for companies that manufacture a wide range of consumer and industrial products. In addition to defending companies in litigation, Tom provides counseling regarding product safety issues and the development of on-product warnings and instructional brochures.

Tom also has significant trial and coordinating counsel experience in commercial cases. In 1997, he led a team of lawyers who successfully tried the first federal civil case that arose from the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Additionally, he successfully defended the first case arising from an alleged violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act tried in the federal court for the District of Kansas. Tom has led the defense of companies in defeating the certification of nationwide and state classes in product and commercial class action litigation.  Most recently, Tom took part in a three-week MDL bellwether trial in the District of Kansas.

Tom has been honored to be chosen as liaison counsel in MDL actions in the Western District of Missouri and the District of Kansas.

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

  • Co-author of the Kansas chapter of “Product Liability Desk Reference” and of the Missouri chapter of “Business Torts: A Fifty State Guide” published by Wolters Kluwer.

Education

  • University of Virginia (J.D., 1979)
    • Member, The Raven Society
  • University of Virginia (B.A., 1976)

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, District of Kansas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Bar Jurisdictions

  • Missouri, 1979

Professional Memberships/Community Involvement

  • Appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court as a Disciplinary Hearing Officer (2011-2019)
  • Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
  • Member of the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC), Corporate and trial counsel that prepare amicus curiae briefs in significant product liability cases
  • Past Board Chairman of Episcopal Social Services
  • Past Regional Chairperson, University of Virginia Jefferson Scholars Committee

Distinctions

  • Selected to “The Best Lawyers in America” in categories including:
    • Bet-the Company Litigation,
    • Commercial Litigation,
    • Mass Tort Litigation,
    • Personal Injury Litigation and
    • Product Liability Litigation
  • Listed in Chambers USA; www.chambersandpartners.com
  • Designated as a “Super Lawyer” in product liability and class action litigation
  • “AV” rated by Martindale Hubbell