Missouri

John G. Simon

Kansas City, MO

John G. Simon’s work as Managing Partner at the firm has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars for past clients. Well-respected in his field, John’s career includes several published works, frequent community involvement, and the role of adjunct professor at Saint Louis University School of Law. During more than three decades of practicing law, John Simon has built a remarkable record of courtroom victories and incredible settlements for thousands of clients - oftentimes when the odds are not in his favor. The National Law Journal named the firm he founded in 2001 as one of the “winningest firms” in the U.S. In 20 recent months alone, John’s firm achieved four nine-figure verdicts totaling nearly $2 billion. The firm now has more than 50 dedicated professionals, with a focus on plaintiff’s litigation including personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, business litigation and class action cases. John’s approach is simple: The client always comes first and prepare every case as if it’s headed to trial. These principles have driven unparalleled success in the courtroom including record setting verdicts in multiple states. It has also inspired meaningful change across multiple industries and has helped Simon Law become known as the firm where cases become causes. John’s verdicts have held some of the largest corporations in the world accountable for their misconduct and shined a national spotlight on critical, often ignored industry safety issues. That’s what John means when he says his firm is where cases become causes. John’s honors and awards reveal what John’s clients already know - he stands among the best litigators in the United States.

Gary Patterson

Kansas City, MO

Gary Patterson is the managing member of Patterson Legal Group, L.C., representing injured people for over 20 years. He earned his J.D. from Washburn University (1989), an M.A. in Criminal Justice Administration from University of Central Missouri (1981), and a B.S. in Psychology from Missouri Western State University (1976). He previously worked as a probation and parole officer for the State of Missouri and clerked for the Kansas Department of Administration and Shawnee County District Court Judges. He is recognized as a Super Lawyer and one of the Top 100 Kansas Trial Lawyers (2009-2020), having successfully litigated wrongful death, medical malpractice, and automotive product liability cases, recovering millions for clients.

Tad Thomas

Columbia, MO

Tad Thomas has dedicated his practice to representing plaintiffs in various types of civil litigation, including personal injury, business litigation, class actions, and multi-district litigation. He founded Thomas Law Offices in 2011 and has expanded it to multiple locations. He is a frequent lecturer on trial skills, ethics, and technology. He has secured millions of dollars in settlements and is a past President of the American Association for Justice.

Troy E. Walton

St. Louis, MO

Attorney Troy Walton leverages his working-class roots and family values to bring favorable results to his clients facing personal injury litigation. A native of Central Illinois, and the youngest son of hard-working parents, Troy personally experienced the difficulty navigating a catastrophic illness when at age 12, his father passed away after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. Troy made good on his promise to his father and enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he received his Bachelor of Arts in History. After graduation, Troy attended St. Louis University School of Law and graduated cum laude in 2000. After law school, Troy handled real estate and construction litigation matters for large corporations and insurance companies. In 2001, he left corporate America behind and returned to his roots by accepting an associate position with renowned plaintiff’s personal injury firm-the Rex Carr Law Firm. While at Rex Carr, Troy honed his trial advocacy by representing individuals and families in a wide array of personal injury cases ranging from catastrophic injury to wrongful death. In January 2009, Troy co-founded Walton Telken, LLC (which, in 2025, merged with Bragee Law to form Walton Telken Bragee) where he continues to focus his practice exclusively on plaintiff’s personal injury litigation including trucking and motor vehicle accidents, products liability claims, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and neglect cases, class actions, complex civil litigation, and all claims involving serious personal injury or wrongful death. In his two decades of practice, Troy has successfully resolved several plaintiff’s personal injury cases resulting in significant recoveries to his clients. Such cases include a $7 million wrongful death and product liability settlement caused by a defective refrigerator; a significant settlement for a truck driver who was struck by an uninsured motorist; and a substantial settlement for a five-year-old boy who sustained second and third degree burns to over 20% of his body as a result of a defective shirt. Troy’s compassionate client advocacy has also resulted in major successes against powerful entities such as the U.S. Army and the Illinois State Troopers. In recognition of these results and others, Troy was inducted into the Million Dollar Advocate’s Forum - an organization whose members include many of the top trial lawyers in the United States. Troy’s hobbies outside of the courtroom include spending time with his family, playing golf with friends, traveling and cheering on his favorite teams - the St. Louis Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys.

Matt Casey

Ste. Genevieve, MO

Attorney Matt Casey is a fourth-generation St. Louis trial lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in litigation. He uses his experience from a corporate defense firm to prepare stronger cases for personal injury victims, specializing in medical malpractice and product liability claims. He is described as smart, tough, and honest, with a genuine concern for clients.

Grant L. Davis

Kansas City, MO

During his career, Grant L. Davis has represented people harmed by negligent or intentional acts. He feels a calling to fight for his clients’ rights and obtain justice. Grant chose plaintiffs law because it allowed him to fight for those who had been harmed by wrongdoers. He found people were often coming to him in their darkest hour, and being able to help his clients gave meaning to his practice of law. Grant is best known for his track record of winning large jury verdicts. Over time, his record of obtaining significant jury verdicts has caused defendants to propose larger settlement offers for his clients before trial. Grant met Scott S. Bethune and Thomas C. Jones while in law school. The three formed a solid friendship and worked together for many years before establishing DBJ in 2001. If Grant isn’t busy in the courtroom, you can find him with his family or giving back to the community. Grant L. Davis has developed a remarkable track record of success in his legal career. In spending time with him, however, it’s not difficult to see how he achieves such stellar results. Grant believes in his clients and works very hard. Whether representing the families of victims of physical injury or death due to defective products, train or plane accidents, tractor-trailer crashes, or medical negligence, Grant can be counted on to turn over each stone, track down every lead, interview each witness and identify all evidence that will lead to the best possible result for his client. Grant has obtained billions of dollars in jury verdicts and settlements. Defendants and insurance companies know Grant will go to trial and obtain the best possible results. Grant’s success in injury and death cases may be unparalleled. In addition to these injury-case results, his ability to win in high-stakes business and farming-related disputes is also noteworthy. DBJ has represented farmers throughout the country. Grant has taken on cases against some of the world’s largest agricultural companies, including Bayer Crop Science and Archer-Daniels-Midland Company. Grant has helped other clients in business settings, including representing two dedicated medical scientists who had their company stolen from them. No matter the circumstances, Grant will fight hard to obtain justice for his clients.