J. Scott Kreamer

Scott Kreamer at Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, LLC in Kansas City, MO recently tried 3 cases over a span of 7 weeks and received defense verdicts in each of them.  The first involved a bench trial in Ray County, Missouri, wherein Scott received a judgment in favor of his client on a claim involving a contractual dispute arising out of an indemnity agreement. The second case involved a 5 day jury trial in Hodgeman County, KS, involving a breach of contract regarding the construction of running track at a local high school.  The lawsuit involved the School District's claim that the track was unusable due to numerous construction defectives and brought suit against the contractor and the surety for monetary damages. Scott’s client, Old Republic, was able to establish that the problems with the track were related to the design of the track, for which it did not have any responsibility, rather than defects in the construction.  At the close of plaintiff's evidence, the District Court granted Old Republic’s motion for directed verdict.

The final case involved a week-long jury trial. The case involved a claim that Scott’s client, Northwest Fertilizer, misapplied a herbicide on corn crops that damaged a portion of plaintiffs’ crops.  Plaintiffs claimed that damage from the herbicide was widespread throughout a substantial portion of the farm while Northwest Fertilizer claimed the damage was isolated and any damage was more than offset by amounts owed for spraying services.  At trial, plaintiffs sought approximately $650,000 in damages. The jury returned a verdict in favor of defendant Northwest Fertilizer and awarded it approximately $100,000 on its counterclaim.