Kurtis B. Reeg

President and Managing Partner
kreeg@reeglawfirm.com

Born: St. Louis, Missouri, September 1, 1954

Education: DePauw University, B.A., cum laude, 1976, St. Louis University School of Law, J.D., 1979

Practice Areas: Asbestos; Silicosis Litigation; Toxic Tort Class Actions; Toxic Torts; Products Liability; Drug and Medical Devices; Food Borne Disease; Food Products Liability; Welding Products Liability; Torts; Insurance; Insurance Bad Faith; Insurance Coverage; Environmental Law; Personal Injury; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Civil Litigation; Class Actions; Complex Litigation; Federal Civil Litigation; Trial Practice; Appellate Practice

Membership: The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis; Illinois State (Member, Sections on: Tort Law; Civil Practice and Procedure; Section Council, Section on Individual Rights and Responsibilities, 1989-1994; Vice-Chair, 1991-1992; Chair, 1992-1993; Section Council, Insurance Law Section, 1997-2000; Task Force on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, 2000-2002) and American (Member, Sections on: Litigation and Tort and Insurance Law, Committees on: Insurance Coverage Litigation, Tort and Hazardous Substances and Environmental Law; Chairman, Products Liability Subcommittee, 1996-1999; ADR Subcommittee) Bar Association; Missouri Bar (Certified Neutral; Member: Bench and Bar Committee, 1981-1984; Tort Law Committee; Federal Practice and Procedure Committee; Division Special Representative, Bar Committee of the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, 1985); International Association of Defense Counsel (Member, Committees on: Casualty Insurance, Product Liability, Toxic and Hazardous Substances Litigation and Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Biotechnology Substantive Law); Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (Member, Sections on: Toxic Tort and Environmental Law; Chair, 2001-2003; Vice Chair, 2000-2001; Auto, Land, Air Transportation and Casualty Insurance; Trial Tactics, Practice and Procedure; Insurance Coverage; Pharmaceutical Litigation, Products Liability); Defense Research Institute (Member, Committees on: Insurance Law, Products Liability and Drug and Medical Devices); Missouri Association of Defense Trial Counsel; The National Forum for Environmental and Toxic Tort Issues; Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (Subscriber); Sustaining Member, Product Liability Advisory Counsel (PLAC), 2008-.

Admissions: 1979, Missouri and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri; 1980, Illinois; 1981, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois; 1984, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; 1986, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1994, U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court; 1997, U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois; 2000, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri; 2003, U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Reported Cases: American States Ins. Co. v. Capital Associates of Jackson County, Inc., 392 F.3d 939 (7th Cir. 2004), rehearing denied (2005) (on the briefs); Loughridge v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 281 F.Supp.2d 1252 (D. Colo. 2003); Loughridge v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 192 F.Supp.2d 1175 (D. Colo. 2002); In re Chiles Power Supply Company, Inc., 264 B.R. 533, 46 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 1109 (W.D.Mo. 2001); Travelers Ins. Co. v. Eljer Mfg., Inc., 2000 ILL. Lexis 1712 (Ill. 2000); Maryland Casualty Co. v. W.R. Grace and Company, 218 F.3d 204 (2d Cir. 1999); rehearing denied (2000); The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company v. Chiles Power Supply, Inc. 190 F.R.D. 532 (S.D. Ind. 1999); Olean Associates, Inc. v. Knights of Columbus, 5 S.W. 3d 518 (E.D. MO. App. 1999); International Ins. Co. v. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, 938 F. Supp. 568 (E.D. MO. 1996); Bucklew v. G.D. Searle v. Co., 138 Ill. 2d 282, 562 N.E. 2d 186, 149 Ill. Dec. 722 (1990); Roadmaster Corp. v. Prod. & Maint. Employees' Local 504, Laborers' Int'l Union of N. America, 655 F.Supp. 1460 (S.D. Ill. 1987).

Miscellaneous Information: Pi Sigma Alpha; Phi Alpha Delta. Co-Instructor, Illinois Appellate Research and Writing, St. Louis University School of Law, 1979-1980. Listed in Who's Who in America, Midwest, American Law and Emerging Leaders in America. Member, Editorial Board, Bad Faith Law Report, Stratton Press, 1999-2000. Board of Directors, Product Liability Law & Strategy, Law Journal Newsletters, 1999-2003. Co-author: With Joseph F. Speelman, "MTBE: The Greening of Another Toxic Tort Trend," FDCC 2004 Annual Meeting, Chesapeake Bay MD (July, 2004); with Daniel R. Mawhinney and Donald G. Purdy, "Sick Buildings and Construction Litigation," Mold Summit, Joint Conference of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies; with Marshall S. Shapo, "E-Commerce and Products Liability: A Primer on Exposure at the Speed of Light," 51 Fed'n Ins. & Corp. Couns. Q. 73, 2001 (Winner, 2001 Andrew C. Hecker Award); with Maria Hahalis, "The Post-Sale Duty to Warn: An Update and Defense Strategy," LJN's Prod. Liab. Law and Strategy (June, 2001); with Robert W. Schmieder II, "WARNING: Sellers May Now Have a Post-Sale Duty to Warn," 50 Fed'n Ins. & Corp. Couns. Q. 533 (2000); with Marshall S. Shapo, "The Economic Loss Rules: Easier to State Than to Apply," 18 Leader's Prod. Liab. Law & Strategy 5 (Aug. 1999); with C. Bebout, "What's it All About Daubert," 53 J. Mo. Bar 369 (1997); with T. Hohenstein, "Significant Environmental Insurance Coverage Issues of the 1990's: The River Runs Wide Between Missouri and Illinois," Corporate Counsel Institute, (Bar Assn. Of Metropolitan St. Louis 1994). Author: "Water Wars: Water Contamination Litigation Runs Amuck?" FDCC 2007 Mid-Year Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ (March, 2007); "Toxic Goulash: The Latest Ingredients of Toxic Tort Soup," The National Forum for Environmental and Toxic Tort Issues (FETTI), Chicago, IL (October 5, 2006); "American Idolatry: The Mold Rush Comes to Canada," Canadian Defense Lawyer Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (May 12, 2005); "Pressure Treated Wood: Arsenic and Lace," Declarations (Excess and Surplus Lines Claims Association, Summer 2003); "An Analysis of Toxic Tort Trends,: Environmental Watch, American Airlines, www.skyradionet.com (August 2003); "The Plague of the New Millennium: Construction Defect Claims, Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EFIS), Mold and the Like," presented as part of "Comprehensive General Liability Policies and Construction Defects and Loses, Including Mold: The Road to Perdition," FDCC 2003 Annual Meeting, La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada (July 2003); "Tenth Report on Carcinogens (2000)," National Toxicology Program, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, FDCC 2003 Annual Meeting, La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada (July 2003); "Pressure Treated Wood: A Rising Litigation Phoenix," FDCC Annual Meeting, La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada (July 2003); The Mold Rush: There's a Fungus Among Us," St. Louis Chapter of the CPCU Society (January 14, 2003); The Daubert Compendium 2002, Chapter 4, "Acceptance in the Scientific Community," (Defense Research Institute, 2002); "Real Life Applications of Daubert: How To Make It Work Effectively For You," Excluding Evidence Under Daubert/Kuhmo (Defense Research Institute, 2002); "Mold Litigation- It's Not Asbestos Déjà Vu All Over Again," 17 Environmental Compl. & Lit. Strategy 4, Nov., 2001; "Private Actions and Unfair Claims Handling and Settlement Statutes," 42 For the Defense (No. 7) 14, (July 2000); "Private Civil Actions Under State Unfair Claims Settlement Statutes and Regulations: Private Right or Public Harm, Sword or Shield," Insurance Law Symposium (Defense Research Institute, 1999); "Reservation of Rights: Perfection and Pitfalls," Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium (Defense Research Institute, Inc., 1997); Contributor: Protecting the Privilege: A State-By-State Survey of Cases in Which Courts Have Considered Policyholder Efforts to Deny the Protection of the Attorney-Client Privilege or Work Product Doctrine to Communications Between Insurers and Counsel (Ad Hoc Privilege Task Force, Insurance Law Committee, Defense Research Institute, 2001); Fifty State Survey of FDCA-Related Tort Causes of Action: A Report of the Pharmaceuticals and Biologicals Subcommittee (American Bar Assn. 2001); 2001 Compendium of State Unfair Claim Practices Regulations and Statutes (Defense Research Institute, 2001); State-By-State Survey of the Law Regarding Potential Liability for Off Label Use of Drugs and Medical Devices: A Report of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Sub-Committee, Products Liability Litigation Committee (American Bar Assn. 1999); State-By-State Survey of Ex Parte Contacts with a Plaintiff's Treating Physicians: A Report of the Subcommittee on Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices; Committee on Products Liability Litigation, (American Bar Assn. 1995); State-By-State Survey of the Effect of Compliance or Noncompliance with Federal Regulatory Standards in Pharmaceutical Products Liability Litigation: A Report of the Subcommittee on Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices, Committee on Products Liability Litigation (American Bar Assn. 1995); "Penalty Enhancement Statutes: Panacea, Anathema or Inutility," Hate Speech and Bias Crimes: Constitutional Issues Raised by Penalty Enhancement Statutes (Illinois State Bar Assn. 1993); "An Insurance Contract is Still a Contract - Unwarranted Expansion Beyond its Four Corners," Recent Developments In Insurance Law (Lorman Education Services 1993). Law Clerk to The Hon. George J. Moran and The Hon. Moses W. Harrison, II, Illinois Fifth District Appellate Court, 1979-1980. Faculty, Litigation Management College, Emory University, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel 2008. Negotiations, Litigation Plans and Budgets, Case Evaluations.

Biography:

Kurtis B. Reeg has more than 25 years of trial and appellate experience representing clients in a wide variety of products liability and toxic tort litigation, including litigation experience with matters involving aviation, bio-technology, chemicals, construction equipment, drugs and medical devices, hydraulic equipment, ladders, lead, machinery of various types, mold, pesticides, safety equipment, vehicles and substantial experience in matters related to asbestos, silica, chemicals and environmental hazards.

Mr. Reeg is a graduate of DePauw University (B.A., cum laude, 1976) and The St. Louis University School of Law (J.D. 1979).

Mr. Reeg has spent more than 25 years in the Madison County, Illinois, asbestos litigation and served as the National Chair of the Products Liability Group and Chair of the Tort and Insurance Group of the St. Louis office of one of the nation's premier law firms.

He has represented clients in 20 different states before state courts, regulatory agencies and in the federal courts. He also litigates and tries many types of sophisticated insurance coverage claims. As an experienced certified neutral, he serves on several private and court-related alternative dispute resolution (ADR) panels. Mr. Reeg is a member of two (2) state bars (Missouri and Illinois) and the bars of nine (9) federal courts across the country.

Mr. Reeg is a frequent speaker at local, regional and national seminars and has published numerous articles, which are contained in the Publications section of this web site.

Mr. Reeg’s affiliations include:

Board of Editors, Product Liability Law and Strategy, Law Journal Newsletters (1999 - 2003);
Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC) (Recipient, 2001 Andrew C. Hecker Award for most outstanding Quarterly article of the year; Auto, Land, Air, Transportation and Casualty Insurance Section; Insurance Coverage Section; Products Liability Section; Drug, Device and Biotechnology Section; Toxic Tort & Environmental Law Section: Chair, 2001-2003; Vice-Chair, 1999-2001);
International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) (Tort & Hazardous Substance Litigation Committee, Products Liability Committee and Drug, Device & Biotech Committee);
Defense Research Institute (DRI) (Drug and Medical Device Committee; Insurance Law Committee; Products Liability Committee; Specialized Litigation Groups for Manufacturers' Risk Prevention, Hand and Power Tools; Children's Products; Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Committee [Asbestos, Mold and Indoor Air Quality Special Litigation Groups]);
American Bar Association (TIPS: Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, Products Liability Subcommittee (Chair), and ADR Subcommittee; Tort and Hazardous Substances and Environmental Law Committee);
Illinois State Bar Association (Member-Task Force on the Unauthorized Practice of Law; Past Chair - Individual Rights and Responsibilities Section; Section Council-Insurance Law Section);
Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers;
Risk Insurance Management Society, Inc. (subscriber);
Midwest Environmental Claims Association n/k/a The National Forum For Environmental and Toxic Tort Issues;
Missouri Bar Association; and
Who's Who In America, American Law, The Midwest, and Emerging Leaders in America.

AV Peer Review rated by Martindale-Hubbell.