Eric M. Belk - Springfield, MO

Overview

I grew up in Springfield, Mo. Attended Glendale H.S., MSU 1990 (Graduated with Honors with a Bachelor in Finance), 1994 UMKC Law (Trial Litigation Team). Clerked at Southern District Court of Appeals. Associate with Turner Reid Duncan Loomer and Patton, P.C. (1994-1998); 1998 to Present - Eric M. Belk, P.C. (Of Counsel - Hall-Ansley, P.C.); Past Speaker on for Springfield Metropolitan Bar, MODL, MATA and AAJ on topics ranging from Interstate Trucking Litigation, Effective Expert Deposition Techniques, Tips from the Top, Voir Dire, Maximizing Damages, Trying Cases in Rural Venues and Trial Techniques; Past Board of Director for Interstate Trucking Litigation (AAJ); Board of Directors Missouri Associate Trial Lawyers; National Top 100 Lawyers; Best Lawyers 417 Magazine; Top Attorneys (MO KS) Super Lawyers; Missouri State and Federal Court; Volunteer Service Award (MATA 2018); Charitable Board of Directors/Volunteer Past and Present - Troop 210 Scout Leader; Girls on the Run; Springfield Aquatics; Trail Spring

Auto/Trucking Verdicts/Settlements

$12m jury verdict - Rural Cedar County Verdict, plaintiff walking from river, heavily intoxicated and laid down on dirt road a few feet in front of stopped vehicle without defendant driver's knowledge - Last pretrial offer 100k. No past or future wages. $5.5m life care plan.

$11.5m settlement- Federal Tort Claim - W/D and Personal Injury of mother and son struck by government vehicle on military base.

$9m settlement - 1mm trucking limit. Sued Carrier, Broker and Driver. Motions for Summary judgment on broker vicarious liability and negligent broker selection briefed and won prior to settlement on eve of trial. 2 wrongful deaths.

$7.5m settlement - Black cows in road on overcast evening caused tractor trailer to lose control and strike plaintiff- conspicuity expert and sight issues critical.

$5.5m settlement -Trucking accident with co-employee in poorly lit parking lot. Conspicuity expert issues. Multiple orthopedic injuries.

$3.75m settlement Trucking collision wrongful, including UIM Limits on family policy.

$3.2m settlement -Trucking accident involving out of state carrier with multiple out of service violations discovered by plaintiffs trucking expert lead to fairly quick policy limits settlement.

$2.4m verdict/3.1mm settlement for tractor driver struck by bus driver. Verdict exceeded amount requested from jury. Last pretrial offer 500k.

$2.4m settlement for injured plaintiff where police officer incorrectly performed accident reconstruction and failed to uncover eye witness testimony.

$2.35m verdict/including prejudgment interest - (shipper/carrier verdict director submitted for joint and several liability) passenger vehicle PITTED by tractor trailer. Last pretrial offer 250k. No lost wages claimed/no future medical claimed. Past medical for neck fusion and risk of future surgery.

$1.76m verdict - Commercial vehicle struck passenger in Jackson County. Last pretrial offer 450k.

$1.3m settlement - Commercial vehicle caused personal injuries, where co-defendant, passenger with more severe injuries, settled represented by separate TV counsel settled for $275k.

$100k verdict Dallas County on soft tissue sore neck, no medical bills, no lost wages claimed. No offer.

$1.25m settlement rear end, wrongful death of elderly man.

$675k verdict for elderly man with severe leg injury following left turn in intersection collision, operating motor cycle and disputed testimony of right of way.

$375k verdict against MODOT, which exceeded amount requested from jury, in Douglas County. Last offer prior to trial 25k.

$350k verdict on non-surgical back injury. Last offer before trial 100k. Case litigated to Supreme Court to establish seminal case on increased risk of injury admissibility.

$200K verdict intersection collision. Plaintiff suffered non-surgical soft tissue injury to low back. No offer. 7k past medical. No lost wages.

Premise Cases:

Construction Site Injury of to employee of subcontractor against Landowner and the general contractor- 13.55mm - Co-employee, independent contractor employee defenses overcome on motions for s/j leading to successful resolution.

$24m judgment - fall from poorly constructed deck on construction site, suit against builder.

$1.8m verdict- Fall on water in hardware store. No lost wages or future medical treatment claimed. Last offer before trial 20k.

$1m settlement for injury to son against landowner for failure to secure logs.

$880k verdict -Soft tissue hand injury on conveyor at work, sued co-employee. 8k past medical. 8k last pretrial offer.

$550k settlement for fall at oil changing station that resulted in elderly man's wrongful death.

$675k settlement for fall on ice outside of gas station, where injury necessitated back surgery for elderly woman.

$125k verdict for slip inside school causing cracked knee cap. No lost wages. Past medical 14k.. No pre-trial offer.

$375k Verdict for plaintiff with disc injury and repair, after struck at dangerous condition at intersection.

Medical Device/Products

Multiples of Tens of Millions recovered in medical neglect cases for birth injuries/failure to maintain hemostasis postoperatively/birth dystocia/anoxic encephalopathy/botched laproscopic gallbladder/failure to timely dx aneurismal stroke/failure to dx heart attack/radiation overdoses/medical device contaminations/Failure to timely dx sepsis in children/medical administration errors

Notable Appellate Cases

Swartz v. Gale Swart Transportation, 215 S.W.3d 127 (2007)
Evans v. Barrett, et al, 542 S.W.2d 315 (Mo banc 2018)
Butts v. Express Personnel Services, 73 S.W.3d 825 (Mo.App. S.D. 2002)
Ruzicka v. Ryder Student Transportation Services, 145 S.W.3d 1 (2004)