Richard Morefield
For over 35 years, Rick has guided his clients through all phases of litigation including trials, mediation, and appeals. He practices primarily in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, traumatic brain injury, and business litigation. He also offers his services as a mediator. Rick knew he wanted to be a trial lawyer after joining the debate team in high school. He loves the challenge of helping his clients put their best foot forward in the courtroom, in mediation, and in negotiations with other parties.
Rick Morefield is a highly skilled trial lawyer and mediator. He has been recognized for his skill by numerous peer review organizations including SuperLawyers and Best Lawyers in America. Over the past 35 years, he has handled lawsuits ranging from multi-million dollar business disputes and catastrophic injury cases to relatively simple auto accident cases. He has recovered millions of dollars for his personal injury clients. He has helped his clients obtain justice in cases involving breach of contract, fraud, breach of partnership agreement, wrongful death, traumatic brain injury, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents, personal injury and premises liability. Rick has achieved success in settlement, mediation, trial and appeal.
While national statistics show that most cases settle, it is important to hire an attorney who enjoys the courtroom. Rick thrives in the courtroom environment. Rick frequently teaches other attorneys at local and national continuing legal education seminars on topics ranging from insurance law to trial techniques and tactics. In 2019 and in 2022, he served on the faculty of the TIPS/ABOTA National Trial Academy where he and other experienced trial lawyers trained less experienced lawyers how to succeed in the courtroom. He recently finished a term as the Chair of the 2000 member Litigation and Trial Practice Committee of the ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Currently, Rick serves as Chair of the Education Committee of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association and is a member of its Executive Committee.
Rick is regularly selected by other attorneys to serve as a mediator in personal injury and business litigation matters. His creativity, calm demeanor, and years of experience handling plaintiff’s personal injury cases, defending personal injury cases and handling business litigation matters make him an excellent choice for lawyers looking for a mediator. Rick obtained his mediation training at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and serves on the approved mediator list for the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
In His Own Words
I have two primary goals when representing my litigation clients. First, I strive to help my clients get justice. Whether the case involves a business dispute or a personal injury, justice includes protecting or restoring my clients’ financial interests. But, justice is much more than that. Justice often includes restoring relationships and protecting others from danger. My second goal is to help my clients recover in other ways as they go through the legal process. Clients who have suffered a personal injury need to recover their health, they need guidance and advice through sometimes complicated legal proceedings, and they need to regain as much of their former life as possible. I enjoy helping my clients navigate the complexities of the legal system. A good lawyer serves as a guide, a confidant and a trusted adviser during difficult times. Litigation is inherently stressful and I strive to minimize that stress for our clients.
In my mediation practice, my goal is to help each side clearly understand the risks and benefits of trial versus settlement so they can make the best decision for their situation. I carefully study the materials the lawyers provide to me. In most, but not all cases, the parties can reach a reasonable settlement. Mediation is a process that often takes hard work and patience by everyone involved. An even-handed, hard-working mediator can help the parties make the best decisions about settling or going to trial.
Practice Areas
- Wrongful Death
- Automobile, Trucking, and Motorcycle Collisions
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Product Liability
- Personal Injury
- Slip and fall
- Insurance
- Business Litigation
- Breach of Contract
- Fraud
- Mediation and Mediation Services
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association (ABA)
- Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
- Past Chair, Litigation and Trial Practice Committee
- Editor, “The Brief” (quarterly law magazine)
- Past Co-Chair, Task Force on Fair Funding For Courts
- Past Chair, Standing Committee on Plaintiff’s Practice
- Faculty member, TIPS/ABOTA National Trial Academy
- Dispute Resolution Section
- Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
- Uniform Law Commission
- ABA Adviser to Drafting Committee on Unsworn Domestic Declarations
- Best Lawyers in American, Plaintiffs Personal Injury, Kansas (2022)
- Missouri and Kansas SuperLawyers (2005 – present)
- National Trial Lawyers
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Kansas
- National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys
- Top 10 Personal Injury Lawyers – Kansas
- America’s Top 100 High Stake Litigators
- American Association of Justice
- Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA)
- Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA)
- Johnson County Bar Association
Seminars and Published Works
- Faculty Member – TIPS/American Board of Trial Advocates National Trial Academy, 2019, 2022
- Moderator and Speaker – KTLA Trial Tomes Seminars 2022
- Speaker – ABA/TIPS Section Conference, Los Angeles, California: Hey That Tweet Helps My Case: Presenting Social Media, Electronic and Demonstrative Evidence at Trial, 2018
- Speaker – A Five Star Review: Navigating the Pros and Cons of Crowdsourced Media for Your Clients and Firm, 30th Annual Media and the Law Seminar – The Fickle Future of First Freedoms, sponsored by Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and the University of Kansas School of Law, May 2017.
- Speaker – “So You Want to Enhance your Insurance Defense Practice? Tips for Becoming a Valuable Partner to In-House Counsel”, at the ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Conference, Philadelphia, PA, May 2015.
- Speaker – “The Art of Advocacy: Lessons From Preachers,” at The Louisiana Association of Justice’s Masters of Trial Seminar.
- Speaker – “The Art of Communication: Getting the Information You Seek,” at Heartland Paralegal Association’s Annual Fall Seminar.
- Speaker – “May it Please the Court” at the ABA/TIPS Toronto Annual Meeting and Seattle Fall Meeting
Education
- B.A. in Economics and Legal Studies, Rice University, Houston, TX
- Juris Doctor, University of Kansas School of Law, Lawrence, KS
- Mediation Training, University of Missouri at Kansas City, School of Law
Community Involvement
- Joy Meadows – Board of Directors
- Gashland Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Gladstone, MO: Electric Guitar – Worship Team; EPC Ruling Elder (inactive)
- Alliance Defending Freedom: Allied Attorney, Pro Bono attorney
Hobbies and Interests
- Electric Guitar
- Fly fishing
- Reading
- Hiking
- Theology