Appellate Law

Appellate Practice

Buckley & Buckley handles a wide range of appeals, including insurance defense, insurance coverage, railroad and ERISA cases. We handle appeals and writ petitions in all three divisions of the Missouri Court of Appeals, in the Supreme Court of Missouri, and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth and Tenth Circuits.

Insurance Defense: The firm’s attorneys have obtained affirmances of defense judgments in cases such as Woodling v. Polk, 473 S.W.3d 233 (Mo. App. E.D. 2015), Ellis v. Hehner, 448 S.W.3d 320 (Mo. App. E.D. 2014), Hamilton v. Palm, 442 Fed.Appx. 244 (8th Cir. 2011), and Casey ex rel. Hanson v. Casey, 214 S.W.3d 352 (Mo. App. E.D. 2007).

Insurance Coverage: We have addressed insurance coverage issues in cases such as Kretsinger Real Estate Co. v. Amerisure Ins. Co., 498 S.W.3d 506 (Mo. App. W.D. 2016), Macheca Transport Co. v. Philadelphia Indem. Ins. Co., 737 F.3d 1188 (8th Cir. 2013), Macheca Transport Co. v. Philadelphia Indem. Ins. Co., 649 F.3d 681 (8th Cir. 2011), and Philadelphia Indem. Ins. Co. v. Lexington Ins. Co., 845 F.3d 1330 (10th Cir. 2017).

Railroad: Buckley & Buckley’s attorneys have addressed evidentiary and venue issues in appeals in actions brought under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA). See Payton v. Union Pacific R. Co., 405 S.W.3d 1 (Mo. App. E.D. 2013) and Sisk v. Union Pacific R. Co., 317 S.W.3d 124 (Mo. App. E.D. 2010).

ERISA: In defending employee welfare benefit plans, claim administrators and plan administrators, the firm’s attorneys have obtained affirmances in appeals from summary judgments in ERISA-governed disability claims, as well as accidental death claims. See Palmer v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 415 Fed.Appx. 913 (10th Cir. 2011); Forrester v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 269 Fed.Appx. 827 (10th Cir. 2008); River v. Edward D. Jones Co., 646 F.3d 1028 (8th Cir. 2011).

Buckley & Buckley’s appellate practice is handled by Partners Ann E. Buckley and Adrian P. Sulser.

A Record Of Success

We have successfully defended some of the biggest companies in America, but we have also represented school districts, municipalities, regional companies, small businesses and individuals. All have received the same personal attention and vigorous advocacy in the courtroom.

The firm also has a particular expertise in defending railroads and representing insurers in coverage matters from large property losses to bad faith claims. The firm works closely with clients and claim managers to effectively manage the risks and costs of litigation.