Firm highlights
Recent Success
• Fritz Riesmeyer and Matthew P. Clune, an associate, achieved a notable victory from the Kansas Supreme Court on December 11, 2009. Matthew Clune delivered the oral argument to the Supreme Court. In the decision, the Court held that Spradley & Riesmeyer’s client, Mental Health America of the Heartland (“MHAH”) performs charitable acts at its Leavenworth “Marion Home” apartment building, and is therefore entitled to a property tax exemption. The Marion Home provides shelter and other services for chronically homeless and mentally ill individuals. The ruling abrogated three other Court of Appeals opinions, and will pave the way for more charitable exemptions in the future because it stated the Kansas Court of Tax Appeals misapplied the law in this situation.
• Douglas D. Silvius, obtained a verdict in favor of his client which places title to the disputed property in her hands. In this quiet title lawsuit, Doug and his client were faced with a counterclaim by the defendant who claimed he was the rightful owner. Doug convinced the Wyandotte County District Court that certain receipts, allegedly signed by his client, were actually forgeries, resulting in a decision that the defendant, contrary to his claims, had not actually paid the money as alleged by the receipts. Through cross-examination, Doug also showed that the defendant’s argument was that he had paid, in less than one year, more than half of his gross yearly income for the purchase of the house, an outlandish claim.
Litigation
• Successfully defended one of Kansas City’s leading commercial real estate brokerage firms in an injunction action in Johnson County District Court.
• Obtained a defense verdict in Jackson County Circuit Court on behalf of seller wrongfully accused of withholding commission on a local commercial real estate purchase agreement.
• Obtained preliminary and permanent injunctions in Jackson County Circuit Court on behalf of one of Kansas City’s largest staffing companies. The injunctions enforced non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements against former employees and prevented them from working for competitors and attempting to steal business from their former employer.
• Obtained an injunction in Johnson County District Court on behalf of a national trucking repair and maintenance services directory company. The order prevented a new business competitor, formed by a former employee, from unfairly competing and unjustly enriching themselves using the company’s trade secrets and copyrighted material.
• Defended business owners in Jackson County Circuit Court against allegations of premises liability related to alleged shooting incident. Case was eventually dismissed after brief discovery and negotiations with plaintiff’s counsel.
• Defended an international soccer coaching assistance company in a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court, District of Oregon, alleging copyright infringement and breach of contract relating to computer-generated graphics. Lawsuit was eventually dismissed after we succeeded on a motion to transfer the case to the U.S. District Court, District of Kansas.
• Obtained full payout of life insurance policy limits from local school that had been wrongfully withheld from the spouse of the deceased teacher.
• Represented a charitable 501(c)(3) organization, in appealing property tax exemption issue. The case was presented to the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals, later appealed and heard before the Kansas Supreme Court.
• Defended former employee and new business in trade secret, patent infringement lawsuit brought by former employer involving computer source code, air data computers, and other avionics in a four-week federal jury trial in the U.S. District Court of Tennessee, Western District, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Business Services
• $85 Million Sale of Business by Sale of Stock, Sale of Assets of certain Affiliates, and Assumption of Affiliates' Liabilities by Purchaser (Represented Sellers)
• $16 Million Revolving Line of Credit Financing with LaSalle National Bank, Chicago (Represented Borrower)
• $15 Million Commercial Real Estate Mortgage Loan by John Hancock Life Ins. Co. (Represented Borrower)
• $12 Million Revolving Line of Credit Financing with Barclay's Bank, Dallas (Represented Borrower)
• $10 Million Term Loan Financing and Purchase of Two Warehouses in Arkansas Serving Food Industry (Represented Borrower/Purchaser)
• $8 Million Commercial Real Estate Financing for Construction of Warehouse in Arkansas Serving Food Industry (Represented Borrower)
• $4 Million Sale of Computer Software Business by Stock Sale (Pooling of Interests) (Represented Sellers)
• $4 Million First Mortgage Real Estate Loan to Finance Construction of New Church (Represented Borrower)
• $4 Million Industrial Development Authority Revenue Bond Financing for Health Care Corporation (Represented Borrower)
• $3.75 Million Sale of 50% Interest in Joint Venture Providing Health Care Service to Nursing Homes (Represented Seller of 50% of Joint Venture)
• $3 Million Revolving Credit Facility for an International Company headquartered in Missouri (Represented Lender)
• $3 Million Missouri Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority tax exempt bond financing for Water Utility (Represented Borrower)
• Assisted and advised public and private water companies with their ongoing business needs related to employees, collections, bond issues, and sunshine law requirements.
• Advised various businesses regarding franchise and dealer agreements, obligations and opportunities.
• Assisted numerous business clients with organizational and risk management issues regarding structure of business units to limit liabilities.
Call us at (816) 753-6006 or email us at info@spradleyriesmeyer.com