Kevin L. Fritz
ATTORNEY AT LAW
Biography
Kevin L. Fritz is a trial attorney experienced in both state and federal courts. He engages in civil litigation in Missouri and Illinois, with an emphasis on insurance defense and coverage, corporate collection, commercial litigation, premises liability, product liability, construction, vehicular negligence matters and personal injury. He also engages in transportation related matters that include interstate and intrastate issues, cargo, breach of contract and catastrophic casualty claims. Kevin has received favourable judgments for numerous trials conducted in the St. Louis metropolitan area, including St. Louis City. He has also argued before the Missouri Supreme Court and is a court approved mediator for Missouri state courts.
Kevin also leads Lashly & Baer’s Rapid Response Team, providing immediate response to serious vehicular and trucking accidents. This helps to achieve early evaluation of accidents and ensure the preservation of evidence. He is the current Chair of Lashly & Baer’s Litigation Department and Transportation Practice Section and serves on the Firm’s Compensation Committee.
Kevin has been selected for inclusion in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers® (Transportation/Maritime) in multiple years, most recently in 2023. He was also selected as one of the Top 50 St. Louis attorneys in multiple years, as published by Super Lawyers Magazine, through peer recognition and professional achievement. In 2024, he was selected by his peers for inclusion to The Best Lawyers in America® lists in the field of Litigation-Insurance.
Kevin is AV Preeminent® rated with Martindale-Hubbell and earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law. He is Chair Emeritus of the USLAW Network, Inc. and is a past Chair of USLAW Network’s Transportation Practice Group. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the USLAW Network. USLAW Network is a national organization composed of over 180 independent, defense-based law firms.
Representative Clients
- Canal Insurance Company
- Daily Express, Inc
- Diversified Ingredients
- Dohrn Transfer
- Fluidmaster, Inc.
- Mayflower Transit, LLC
- National Interstate Insurance Company
- National Transportation Association, Inc.
- Quality Distribution, Inc.
- RLI Transportation
- Roehl Transport, Inc
- Trans Advantage, Inc.
- UniGroup, Inc.
- United Van Lines, LLC
- Vanliner Insurance Company
- Western Express
- XTRA Lease LLC
Community Service & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America®
Litigation – Insurance, 2024 – Present - O’Hagan Award, for commitment and dedication to the USLAW Network, Inc., 2023
- Lashly & Baer, P.C.’s Litigation Department, Chair, 2016 – Present
- Lashly & Baer, P.C.’s Transportation Practice Section, Chair, 2002 – Present
- Lashly & Baer, P.C.’s Partner Compensation Committee, 2023 – Present
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating
- Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers,
- Transportation/Maritime, 2006, 2009 – Present
- Top 50 St. Louis, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2021
Representative Cases
- Fruendly Auto Source, Inc. v. Walter Chrostowski, 514 S. W.3d 646 (Mo.App.E.D.)
- Brashears v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., 171 S.W.3d 166 (Mo.App.E.D.)
- Payne v. Cornhusker Motor Lines, 177 S.W.3d 820 (Mo.App.E.D.)
- Wallace v. Ormsby Trucking, Inc. et. al., 2005 WL 1021550 (E.D. Mo.)
- Board of Education of the City of St. Louis v. Gloria Elam, 70 S.W.3d 448 (Mo. Ct. App. E.D.)
- Ming v. General Motors Corp., 81 F.Supp.2d 956 (E.D. Mo.)
- Reeb v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 902 F.Supp. 185 (E.D. Mo.)
- Garr v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 137 S.W.3d 457 (Mo. banc)
- MTC Construction, Inc. v. County of St. Louis (Tried in St. Louis County)
- Nationwide Warehouse & Storage, Inc. v. Charles Christophel (Tried in St. Louis City)
- Theresa Williams v. Justin L. Hudson (Tried in Jefferson County)
- Sherrie Buchmeier v. Tanya M. McCormack(Tried in St. Louis County)
- Tracy Williams v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Tried in St. Louis City)
Lectures & Legal Publications
- Lecture, “The Great Generational Talent Shift and Its Impact,” USLAW Network’s 2024 Professional Liability Forum, Napa, California
- Lecture, “Depositions: When Things Go Wrong,” National Interstate’s 2023 Claims Bootcamp, Richfield, Ohio
- Lecture, “How to Avoid a Nuclear Verdict in Your Transportation Cases,” 2023 RIMS (St. Louis Chapter ), St. Charles, Missouri
- Lecture, “Rapid Response – What to Do When the Call Comes In,” USLAW Network’s 2022 Trucking Boot Camp, Omaha, Nebraska
- Lecture, “Using Experts to Combat Low Impact Cases with High Demands,” USLAW Network’s 2022 Transportation Industry Summer Legal Forum, Asheville, North Carolina
- “Understanding Evidence Spoliation and Tips to Avoid It,” Premier Liability E-Brief, July 2022
- “Missouri’s New Tort Reform on Punitive Damages That Should Significantly Assist in Defending Truck Accident Cases,” Transportation E-Brief, July 2020
- Lecture, “Lessons from the Transportation Litigators,” National Interstate’s 2020 Key Accounts Conference, Nassau, Bahamas
- Lecture, “Claims Handling Strategies,” Vanliner Insurance Company’s 2019 Transportation Claims Seminar, St. Louis, Missouri
- Lecture, “Safety Director Deposition Primer,” National Interstate’s 2019 Field Safety Workshop, Dallas, Texas
- Lecture, “Avoiding the Crisis Long Before the Accident,” USLAW Network, Inc.’s 2018 Transportation and Client Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona
- Lecture, “Legal and Litigation Issues with Employee Handbooks and Training Manuals,” National Interstate’s 2017 Captive Insurance Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Lecture, “Mediation Strategies,” Vanliner Insurance Company’s 2017 Transportation Claims Presentation, St. Louis, Missouri
- Lecture, “Driver Interviews,” National Interstate’s 2017 Transportation Boot Camp, Richfield, Ohio
- Lecture, “Preservation/Spoliation Issues in Transportation and Retail Litigation,” Ace Hardware’s 2016 Partnership Meetings, Green Lake, Wisconsin
- Lecture, “Success at Mediation: Key Strategies for Effective Dispute Resolution,” USLAW Network, Inc.’s 2016 Transportation and Client Conference, Rancho Palos Verdes, California
- Lecture, “Inherent Defects in the CSA Program,” USLAW Network, Inc.’s 2016 Transportation Law Exchange, Dallas, Texas
- “Defending Motor Carriers Performing Oversize Load and Heavy Haul Operations,” USLAW Magazine, Fall/Winter, 2015
- Lecture, “Expert Witnesses – Maximizing the Effectiveness of an Expert and Minimizing the Impact of the Opponent’s Expert,” American Trucking Association’s 2015 Forum for Motor Carrier General Counsel, La Jolla, California
- Lecture, “Best Practices in Accident Reconstruction,” American Trucking Association’s 2014 Forum for Motor Carrier General Counsel, Marina Del Ray, California
- “Claims Strategies,” Cottingham & Butler’s Risk Control Workshop, Orlando, Florida and Dubuque, Iowa, April 2014
- “Application of the Federal Motor Safety Regulations upon Private Motor Carriers – Are You Aware of the Risks,” USLAW Magazine, Spring/Summer, 2014
- Lecture, “Words from the Head Referee – An Interactive Discussion with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration,” USLAW Network, Inc.’s 2014 Transportation and Client Conference, Miami, Florida
- Lecture, “Truthfulness and Fairness in Negotiations,” USLAW Network, Inc.’s 2013 Ethics and Client Conference, Vancouver, Canada
- Lecture, “Be Prepared If You Find Yourself on the Witness Stand,” 2013 First Annual Canal Insurance Company Safety Seminar, Greenville, South Carolina
- Lecture, “Successful Strategies for Defending Against Punitive Damages,” American Trucking Association’s 2013 Forum for Motor Carrier General Counsel, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
- Lecture, “Traumatic Brain Injuries in Otherwise Minor Accidents,” USLAW Network, Inc.’s 2013 Transportation and Client Conference, Tucson, Arizona
- Lecture, “How to Navigate Through the Minefield by Taking Control of the Claim,” 2013 Compass Advisory Board Meeting, Amelia, Island, Florida
- Lecture, “Rapid Response – What to do When the Call Comes In,” 2012 USLAW Network, Inc.’s Trucking Boot Camp, Omaha, Nebraska
- Lecture, “Spoliation of Evidence: A General Overview,” 2012 Canal Insurance Company Claims Department Best Practices Series, Greenville, South Carolina
- “Illinois Appellate Court Allows Evidence of Plaintiff’s Lack of Health Insurance,” Transportation E-Brief, June 2012
- “Is Admission of Agency Still a Defense to a Derivative Negligence Claim in Missouri?” Transportation E-Brief, May 2012
- Lecture, “I Can See Clearly Now: Testing Theories and Accessing Case Values Through Electronic Focus Groups,” USLAW Network, Inc.’s 2012 Transportation and Client Conference, Dana Point, California
- Lecture, “Claims Investigations: It’s Better to be Safe than Sorry,” United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit Claims Department Best Practice Series, May 2011, St. Louis, Missouri
- “Injuries to Unauthorized Passengers in Trucking Accidents Pose Unique Issues,” USLAW Magazine, Spring 2011
- Lecture, “Broker Liability and Current Issues,” 2011 Marsh Transportation Bootcamp, Dallas, Texas
- “U.S. Department of Transportation Issues Final Rule Revising Drug Testing Procedures,” Transportation E-Brief, August 2010
- “Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Pursues Permanent Ban on Texting for Commercial Truck Drivers,” Transportation E-Brief, April 2010
- Lecture, “Current Issues in E-Discovery & ADR,” 2010 Washington University Law Dispute Resolution Program and United States Arbitration & Mediation Midwest, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri
- Lecture, “Navigating Attacks by Plaintiff’s Attorney During the Safety Director’s Deposition,” USLAW Network, Inc.’s 2010 Transportation and Client Conference, Miami, Florida
- “10th Circuit Court of Appeals Aligns Itself with the Majority of Appellate Courts on an Important MCS-90 Issue,” Transportation E-Brief, September 2009
- Lecture, “Risks and Opportunities Affecting the Commercial Transportation Industry,” USLAW Network, Inc.’s 2009 Transportation and Client Conference, Charleston, South Carolina
- “Theft Claims on the Rise in the Transportation Industry, But Remedial Measures Pose Challenges,” Transportation E-Brief, June 2009
- “FMCSA Toughens Safety Requirements for New Commercial Truck and Bus Companies,” Transportation E-Brief, January 2009
- “Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Makes No Change in Hours of Service Rule,” Transportation E-Brief, December 2008
- Lecture, “Life’s Tough, But It’s Tougher If You Are Careless: Strategies to Protect the Motor Carrier from Claims of Negligent Hiring, Supervision or Retention and Punitive Damages Arising from FMCSR Violations,” USLAW Network, Inc.’s 2008 Transportation and Client Conference, Miami, Florida
- Lecture, “A Minefield: Insurance Issues Confronting the Motor Carrier in Catastrophic Losses,” USLAW Network, Inc.’s 2007 Transportation and Client Conference, Tucson, Arizona
- Lecture, “Premises Liability and School Law,” 2006 Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. Claims Manager Best Practice Series, St. Louis, Missouri
- Lecture, “Claim File Documentation,” 2006 Vanliner Insurance Company Claims Department Best Practice Series, St. Louis, Missouri
- Lecture, “Common Pitfalls in Freight Charge Collection and Freight Claim Cases,” American Trucking Association’s 2005 Forum for Motor Carrier General Counsel, La Jolla, California
- Key Note Speaker, 2005 Fulton, Missouri High School Graduation Ceremony
- Lecture, “Logistics for a Global Economy,” USLAW Network, Inc.’s 2003 Transportation Conference, Mobile, Alabama
- Co-Author, Recent Developments: The Uniform Arbitration Act, 1992, J. Disp. Resol. 411
My Team
Administrative Assistant:
Urania Krull
ukrull@lashlybaer.com
314-335-1021
Paralegal:
Bridget O. Briggs
bbriggs@lashlybaer.com
314-436-8394
Practice Areas
- Transportation/Cargo
- Product Liability
- Premises Liability
- Personal Injury
- Construction
- Insurance Defense
Bar Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
- Supreme Court of Missouri
- Supreme Court of Illinois
Education
- University of Missouri School of Law
- Mediation Training for Civil Cases, 2002
- University of Missouri School of Law, Columbia, Missouri
- J.D., 1993
- University of Missouri-Columbia
- B.S.B.A., cum laude, 1989
- Court-Approved Mediator for Missouri State Courts
Professional Associations
- Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA)
- USLAW Network, Inc.
- Chair Emeritus of the Network
- Executive Committee and Board of Directors Member, 2012 – Present
- Past Chair of the Transportation Practice Group
- Defense Research Institute, Inc. (DRI)
- Trucking Law Committee
- Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA)
- The Missouri Bar
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
- American Bar Association (ABA)
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
Employment History
- Lashly & Baer, P.C.
Member, 2002 – Present
Associate, 1998 – 2002 - Wallace, Saunders, Austin, Brown & Enochs
Associate, 1996 – 1998 - Evans & Dixon
Associate, 1994 – 1996 - Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District of Missouri
Law Clerk to the Honorable Stanley Grimm, 1992 – 1994
Plan Your Visit
Lashly & Baer, P.C.
ST. LOUIS OFFICE
ILLINOIS OFFICE
20 East Main Street
Belleville, IL 62220
Map & Directions
By Appointment Only
Call: 618-233-5587
Fax: 314-621-6844