OPEN PRACTICE AREAS

Paul L. Redfearn III

Owner and President
Location: Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Phone: 888-213-0310
Fax: 816-421-3785
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American College of Trial Lawyers

Paul Redfearn is the owner and President of The Redfearn Law Firm, P.C., founded in 1984. He devotes his practice to representing individuals who have been seriously injured or lost loved ones as a result of medical negligence, defective and dangerous products, motor vehicle/truck collisions, or dangerous conditions of property. Paul is an experienced civil trial lawyer, devoting 100% of his time to civil litigation. He successfully completed the testing and experience requirements for certification by the National Board of Trial Advocates, and currently holds a Certificate in Civil Trial Advocacy.

Paul is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. The College, composed of the best of the trial bar, is for those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. He has also been honored by Martindale-Hubbell with its highest AV-rating for his legal ability, ethics and reputation. Paul earned membership into the Million Dollar Advocates, has been named to The Best Lawyers in America, and has been a Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers recipient since 2005. In 2012, Paul was the recipient of the “Dean of the Bar” award by the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. The Redfearn Law Firm, P.C. has been named to the “Best Law Firms” list for the past decade.

Graduating from Southwest Missouri State University in 1973, Paul received a bachelor’s degree in political science, and earned his law degree from Oklahoma City University in 1976. He was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1977, and in 1981, he completed post-graduate training in trial practice with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.

Paul was elected as President of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys in 1992, having served the association since 1986. He is a Charter Member of the Western Missouri-Eastern Kansas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and served as the President in 1996. He has earned the rank of “Advocate” with the American Board of Trial Advocates. Paul is a Sustaining Member in the American Association for Justice; member of The Public Justice Foundation, The Missouri Bar Foundation Fellow, and the Litigation Section of The American Bar Association. He is also a Fellow of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, and a member of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association and the Eastern Jackson County Bar Association.

Paul served on the Board of Governors for Southwest Missouri State University from 1998-2001, having been appointed by then Governor Mel Carnahan, and served as President from 2002-2003. In 2008, Paul was appointed by the Supreme Court of Missouri to serve on the Appellate Practice Committee, where he continues to serve.

Giving back to the community is important to The Redfearn Law Firm. For 20 years, from 1994 at its creation to 2014, Paul served as Treasurer for Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance (L.E.A.P.), a nonprofit that promotes projects that enhance education and academic opportunity for local children living in poverty, and Operation Breakthrough (O.B.) is its beneficiary. Paul and his wife, Denise, are proud to be Life Members on the L.E.A.P. Board. Paul and Denise have donated both time and money each year at L.E.A.P.’s Annual Back-to-School Breakfast at Operation Breakthrough where L.E.A.P. members and volunteers not only serve a great Chris Cakes breakfast, but it also sets up school supply stations for O.B. children to “shop” for their backpacks and school supplies for the upcoming school year, as well as donating gift certificates for school uniforms, to the more than 500 children attending Operation Breakthrough. Getting these kids excited to learn and empowering them to do their very best keeps us coming back every year to help sponsor this important event.

Continuing legal education plays a valuable role in his practice, and Paul participates in presenting the “Annual Update of Missouri Law” every year at the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys’ Annual Convention. He has authored chapters for publication by the University of Missouri and the UMKC Law Review, as well as for The Missouri Bar. Paul has participated in numerous teaching seminars through ABOTA, MATA, and ACTL, including Trial Demonstrations.

Paul has a stringent daily workout schedule, and when he is not practicing law, he is an avid tennis player and loves time on the court. He enjoys time on the Pontoon, cooking out on the patio, and spending time with his family. His firm has proudly sponsored many mission trips and local youth and sports activities over the years, including Paul’s own children, grandchildren, and staff. It contributes to medical research for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, Leukemia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Paul receives many referrals from other attorneys and law firms who recognize his experience, dedication and ability to obtain justice for their clients.

Areas of Practice

  • Personal Injury
  • Litigation

Litigation Percentage

  • 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Certificate in Civil Trial Advocacy, National Board of Trial Advocates, 1997 - Present

Bar Admissions

  • Missouri, 1977
  • U.S. District Court District of Kansas
  • U.S. District Court District of North Dakota
  • U.S. District Court District of Montana
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1980
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1981
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit

Education

  • Oklahoma City University School of Law, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
    • J.D. - 1976
  • Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri
    • B.S - 1973
    • Major: Political Science

Published Works

  • Missouri Trial Tactics, Chapter 7, "Voir Dire", University of Missouri-Kansas City UMKC/CLE, 1986
  • Missouri Products Liability Handbook, Chapter 8 "Pretrial: Discovery/Interrogatories", University of Missouri-Kansas City UMKC/CLE, 1987
  • Closing Argument, Vol. 57, No. 4, UMKC Law Review UMKC, 1989
  • Reviewer, Missouri Sources of Proof, 3rd Ed, Chapter 8 Exhibits and Demonstrative Proof

Classes/Seminars

  • Speaker, Annual Update on the Law, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Annual Conventions, 1993 - Present
  • Master, Ross T. Roberts Inn of Court, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 1998 - 2007
  • “Lessons of 1000 Trials” Seminar, Presenter, The Missouri Bar and The American College of Trial Lawyers
  • 3rd Annual Trial Skills Update, Faculty
  • "Medical Malpractice: Prosecuting and Defending Medical Negligence Cases", The Missouri Bar, Seminar, Depositions and Other Discovery Kansas City, MO
  • "How to Prepare a Trial Notebook", Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Seminar, Circuit Court of Jackson County, MO
  • "Choosing an Expert", The Missouri Bar, Medical Malpractice Litigation After Tort Reform Seminar, Kansas City, MO
  • Panelist, "New Parameters for Representing Clients in Tort & Workers' Compensation Cases", Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Seminar, Kansas City, MO
  • "Medical Malpractice: The Plaintiff's Case", The Missouri Bar, Jury Selection - Voir Dire and Overcoming Bias; Issue Selection, Kansas City, Missouri
  • "Trial Tips", ", Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Seminar, Closing Argument Power Point Presentation
  • The Masters in Trial, Trial Demonstration in a Truck/Pedestrian Collision Case, American Board of Trial Advocates, Kansas City, Missouri
  • "Trial Tips", Medical Malpractice Seminar, UMKC
  • The Masters in Trial, Trial Demonstration, Board of Trial Advocates, Kansas City, MO

Honors and Awards

  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Rank of Advocate
  • Best Lawyers in America
  • KCMBA – Dean of the Bar Recipient
  • U.S. News – Best Law Firms , 2012 - 2013
  • U.S. News – Best Law Firms , 2013 - 2014
  • Recipient, "Best of the Bar", The Business Journal
  • Martindale-Hubbell "AV" Rating
  • Life Member, Who's Who in American Law
  • Appointment to the Board of Governors, Southwest Missouri State University by Governor Mel Carnahan , 1998 - 2004
  • Appointment by the Supreme Court of Missouri to the Appellate Practice Committee

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Western MO/Eastern KS Chapter , Treasurer, 1989 - 1994
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Western MO/Eastern KS Chapter, National Board Representative, 1995 - 1996
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Western MO/Eastern KS Chapter , President, 1996 - 1997
  • Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, CLE Committee, Chairman, 1987 - 1990
  • Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Membership Committee, Co-Chairman, 1990 - 1991
  • Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Legislative Committee, President-Elect, and Chairman, 1991 - 1992
  • Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, President, 1992 - 1993
  • Lawyers’ Encouraging Academic Performance (LEAP), Treasurer, 1994 - 2014
  • American Bar Association
  • American Association for Justice, Sustaining Member
  • Eastern Jackson County Bar Association
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Million Dollar Advocates
  • Missouri Bar Association
  • Missouri Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • The National Trial Lawyers
  • Public Justice Foundation

Fraternities/Sororities

  • Sigma Chi