Fritz tried his first jury trial within the first year of being admitted to the Bar in 1977 and has been trying cases in state and federal courts (and arbitrations) for more than 40 years. He has extensive experience in business litigation, unfair competition, shareholder disputes, employment, intellectual property cases, breach of fiduciary and RICO actions, representation of professionals (attorneys, architects, accountants, engineers, etc.), and construction litigation. Fritz also developed an expertise in extraordinary remedies, (TROs and injunctions), beginning with representation of Carl Icahn in the takeover of TWA. He recently represented the Sheriff of Clay County and the City of Kansas City, Missouri in separate mandamus actions relating to the funding of the Sheriff’s office and the KCMO Board of Police Commissioners. In addition to always being willing to take a client’s case to trial, Fritz has argued many cases in state and federal appellate courts, including the Missouri Supreme Court.

While primarily a trial lawyer, Fritz also advises small and medium-sized businesses on a wide range of legal issues, day-to-day matters, acquisitions, and asset sales. He has also served as a mediator, largely in business litigation, since 2013.

Cases of Note

  • Represented Kansas City in Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri v. Mayor Quinton Lucas, et al., case 2116-CV11556.
  • Represented Sheriff Paul Vescovo in State of Missouri ex rel Sheriff Paul Vescovo, III v. Clay County Commission, case no. 19CY-CV04353.
  • Defense of a civil fraud and RICO claims in a jury trial in federal court. BOKF, N.A. v. BCP Land Company, et al., 14-3025-CV-S-MDH.
  • Defense in Jackson County jury trial representing the KC Chiefs Football Club in Caye v. Kansas City Chiefs Football Club, case no. 1416-CV17080.
  • Defense of false light claim in jury trial in the US District Court for the District of Kansas, Entercom Communications Corp; Patton v., no. 13-CV-2186-KHV-JPO.
  • BBA U.S. Holdings, Inc. et al. v. City of Kansas City, Missouri, in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri. (successful resolution of multi-million dollar claim against the City of Kansas City arising out of fixed base operations at the City airport)
  • Keith Tucker v. City of Kansas City, Missouri, in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri. (brought in as trial counsel in mid trial. Successful prosecution of multi-million dollar claim for e-tax on behalf of the City of Kansas City, Missouri)
  • Sangamon Associates, Ltd., v. The Carpenter 1985 Family Partnership, et al., Case No. SC86476, Missouri Supreme Court.
  • Prosecution of trademark infringement and unfair competition action, Professional Service Industries, Inc., v. PSI Inspections, Inc., US District Court for Western District of Missouri. (no. 00-0901-CV-W-4)
  • Northend Disposal Services, Inc., et al. v. Waste Connections, Inc., et al., Case No. 03C168, in the District Court of Ford County, Kansas.
  • Great Plains Christian Radio, Inc. v. Ray Ryan, Case No. 04-2559-JWL, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas
  • One Beacon Insurance Company, f/k/a CGU Insurance Company v. Broadcast Development Group, Inc. v. Ryan Construction, Inc.; Central Tower, Inc., Case No. 04-5517, in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • Icahn v. Blunt, 612 F.Supp. 1400, Fed. Sec. L. Rep. P 92,096 (W.D.Mo., June 24, 1985).

 

Education

  • University of Denver, B.A., Political Science, Minor – Economics, 1974
  • University of Missouri – Kansas City, J.D., 1977

Admissions

  • Missouri, 1977, State and appellate courts
  • US District Courts (Federal Court) for Missouri
  • 8th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • US District Court for the District of Kansas
  • United States Supreme Court
  • Pro hac admissions:
    • Federal Courts: Kentucky, Tennessee

Fritz has consistently been involved in the improvement of his profession by mentoring and teaching within the legal community. He has served in numerous leadership positions with various Bar associations, with a focus on teaching trial skills and civility to attorneys. Examples include:

  • A founder of the Ross T. Roberts Inn of Court (KCMBA affiliated), which became the 16th Inn of the American Inns of Court. He has served as a teaching Master of this Inn, (now the KCMBA Trial Academy), for more than 20 years.
  • A graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, (NITA) in the mid-1980s Fritz, frequently serves as faculty member in NITA programs, teaching trial and deposition skills.
  • Served for eight years on the Missouri Supreme Court, Region IV Disciplinary Committee, Division III.
  • Frequent lecturer on evidence, trial skills, tactics and ethics, as relates to trial practice and discovery.
  • Served on the original committee which drafted the 1987 Tenets of Professional Courtesy and in 2013 chaired the KCMBA Blue Ribbon Committee which drafted the Principles of Civility, adopted by the KCMBA in March of 2013.

Professional Affiliations

  • Missouri Bar
  • American Bar Association
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Lawyers Association of Kansas City

Published Works

  • Co-Author, “Protective Orders in Trade secret Cases,” Riesmeyer, Clune. Business Torts Journal, ABA Fall 2010
  • “Evidence Overview” University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law, 15 Hour Review of the Law. 2004 – present
  • Co-Author, Missouri Civil Procedure Formbook, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, 1985
  • Co-Author, “The Development of Alternative Energy Sources: A Legal and Policy Analysis,” Oklahoma Law Review, Vol. 30, Spring, 1977
  • Co-Author, “A Mock Trial in a Complex Business Tort Case,” ABA Section of Litigation, Business Torts, Spring 2013
  • Co-Author, “Courses of Action After Allegations of Misconduct,” ABA Section of Litigation, Business Torts, Winter 2014, Vol. 21, No. 2

Speaking Engagements

  • Midwest Trial Skills. Instructor at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy in Chicago, IL, 1999 to present
  • “Advanced Cross-examination and impeachment.” KCMBA Trial Academy. 2000 to present 
  • Deposition Skills. Instructor at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy in Kansas City, MO. August 2015
  • “Exit Strategies for Owners of Closely Held Businesses,” University of Missouri-Kansas City, CLE April 16, 2010
  • “Ethics,” Annual Real Estate Institute, Kansas City, Missouri, May 20, 2010
  • “The Disciplinary Process,” Clay County Bar Association, April 20, 2007
  • “Evidence Overview,” 15 Hour Review of the Law, University of Missouri-Kansas City, CLE 2000-2012
  • Presentations as lead Master on trial related and ethics issues for the Ross T. Roberts Inn of Court, 1994 to 2011

Awards

  • Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers, 2010-present
  • Ross T. Roberts Inn of Court H. Michael Coburn Professional Excellence Award, 2011

Contact

 

2323 Grand Blvd. Suite 1000
Kansas City, MO 64108
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