- OVERVIEW
- NEWS & EVENTS
INDUSTRIES
PRACTICES
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Education
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University of Illinois College of Law,
J.D., 1984
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
B.A., with high distinction, 1981
Phi Beta Kappa
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Admissions
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Illinois
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Missouri
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Affiliations
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Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers
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National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
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American Bar Association
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Illinois State Bar Association
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Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
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St. Clair County Bar Association
Board of Directors, 1992-1996; 2000-2002
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Monroe County Bar Association
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Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission - Member (2009-2014), Oversight Committee Hearing Board (2009-2019)
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Recognitions
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Named Lawyer of the Year for Railroad Law in St. Louis by The Best Lawyers in America (by BL Rankings), 2022, 2024
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Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2010-2025 (by BL Rankings)
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Listed in Illinois Super Lawyers, 2013-2024 (by Thomson Reuters)
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Employment
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Thompson Coburn LLP
Partner, 1992-Present
Associate, 1984-1991
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Community
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Gibault Catholic High School
School Board, 1998-Present
President, 2001-2008
Finance Committee – Chairman, 2001-2019
Endowment Committee, 2003-2019
Major Gifts Committee, 2003-2019
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Waterloo Country Club
Board of Directors, Vice President, 1992-1998
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Human Support Services (HSS)
Board of Directors, 1988-1992
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HSS Endowment Foundation
Board of Directors, 1988-1992
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Kurt is experienced in the defense of personal injury and property damage litigation including FELA, trucking, product liability, class action and mass tort litigation.
He has substantial experience in the preparation and trial of these matters and in appellate proceedings in both state and federal courts.
Kurt has handled FELA cases for Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Illinois Central Railroad, CSX and BNSF, including both trial and appellate work in the state and federal courts. Kurt has also handled trucking and product liability cases for Schneider National Carriers, Inc., TForce, FK6 91, etc.
Kurt has briefed and argued numerous cases in the Illinois state appellate courts and in the Illinois Supreme Court. He has also briefed and argued cases in the United State Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Eighth Circuits and has briefed three cases before the United States Supreme Court.
Kurt is the author of Chapter Three, Pleadings and Motions of Illinois Products Liability and is responsible for the yearly supplement. His experience in the field of products liability includes both trial and appellate work in state and federal courts.