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Capabilities / Appellate

Appellate

Taking the next steps in appellate law.

Round Two is every bit as important as trial proceedings. Husch Blackwell knows what it takes to prevail on appeal, and our attorneys bring fresh thinking and concise, intelligent arguments into the courtroom on clients’ behalf. Our Appellate law team has successfully handled appeals in virtually all substantive areas of the law in state and federal courts nationwide.

In addition to arguing vigorously in court on behalf of clients, our Appellate law team prepares jury instructions, post-trial motions, transfer applications and writ petitions. We are available to consult with trial attorneys during trial preparation or the trial itself, as decisions made at those stages of a case may determine the outcome on appeal.

Case Study
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Husch Blackwell put together a coalition to help clarify CERCLA in an influential U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief.

Case Study
Farmobile LLC

Farmobile secured a complete defense victory in enterprise-threatening trade secret litigation.

Case Study
CityDeck Landing LLC

Our team filed a rare petition for a supervisory writ with the Wisconsin Supreme Court—and won the case.

Representative Experience

  • Represented the distributor in a matter in which the court of appeals reversed grant of summary judgment to supplier on distributor's claims for products liability and negligence. Applying the component parts doctrine, the court of appeals determined that material issues of fact precluded summary judgment.
  • Obtained a favorable ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, that affirmed a lower court order denying remand and class certification in a Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) lawsuit against Chicago Title Insurance Co.
  • Represented a national developer of retail shopping centers seeking to acquire property in a development area by eminent domain. Prepared briefs for the Missouri Supreme Court, which reversed and authorized the condemnation to proceed.
  • Represented a chemical distributor before the court of appeals on claims of product liability and negligence. The court reversed the grant of summary judgment to the supplier, and applying the component parts doctrine, determined that material issues of fact precluded summary judgment.
  • Obtained dismissal of lawsuit asserting ERISA claims against HMO stemming from coverage dispute, which was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
  • Won dismissal of lawsuit against HMO in a case involving subrogation of Medicaid recoveries, which was affirmed by the Missouri Court of Appeals.
  • Defended a challenge regarding the transfer of a large tract of land in a resort community to client, a developer. Plaintiffs argued that the transfer was prohibited by restrictive covenants in the subdivision indenture, but following a bench trial, the court held that the transfer was proper. Judgment was upheld on appeal.
  • Obtained reversal in appeal to the Texas Supreme Court in favor of the City of Austin while defending a challenge to a significant environmental protection ordinance.
  • Obtained favorable decision from the Texas Supreme Court in a case dealing with the scope of an arbitrator’s authority and the grounds for vacating an arbitrator’s decision.
  • Obtained reversal in the Texas Supreme Court of an adverse judgment in a suit attempting to void a foreclosure sale of a valuable commercial tract of land.
  • Upheld a judgment of more than $1 million, including trial court discovery abuse sanctions of more than $100,000, in a sexual harassment lawsuit.
  • Argued a case to the Texas Supreme Court dealing with a significant sovereign immunity issue in the context of breach of contract actions against the state.
  • Filed an amicus brief in a case before the Texas Supreme Court dealing with the issue of whether electric cooperative corporations have statutory authority to create and own for-profit subsidiaries.
  • Upheld on appeal a declaratory judgment against a state agency regarding eligibility for the state’s Medicaid managed-care program.
  • Secured victory for TruPharma, LLC in federal court litigation brought by a competitor alleging false advertising and unjust enrichment, among other counts, in connection with the manufacture and sale of a medical cream. Complaint dismissed with prejudice and affirmed on appeal.
  • Secured two victories for loan servicing company before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in two appeals in foreclosure actions contested by borrowers in the trial court and on appeal, obtaining affirmance of judgments awarding foreclosure and rejected the borrowers’ counterclaims and defenses.
  • Secured a victory on appeal on behalf of a lender affirming a dismissal of a consumer’s claims on summary judgment in a case challenging the lender’s repossession and service of the required notices prior to repossession and appealing an award of sanctions in favor of our client against the opposing lawyer for pursuing a frivolous claim.
  • Secured a victory before the Missouri Supreme Court in closely watched litigation over the implementation of Amendment 2, a 2020 ballot initiative that Missourians passed and that would expand Medicaid coverage in the state.
  • Secured a federal appeals court victory for Missouri state representative when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed a lower court’s decision that the representative violated the plaintiff’s rights by blocking him and others from her Twitter account in a closely watched First Amendment case.
  • Represented client Farmobile as a competitor alleged misappropriation of trade secrets and various other state and federal claims. A summary judgment was entered in client’s favor on all counts. Later, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for our client, affirming on all counts.
  • Represented home builder through four-year lawsuit against municipality to secure approval of plans for development of residential subdivision. Obtained a $75,000 sanctions award against the opposing counsel based upon that counsel’s bad faith conduct during the proceedings, which award was affirmed on appeal.
  • Obtained reversal of a circuit court judgment ordering commercial tenant to vacate premises; appellate court held that tenant did not breach multimillion lease and that landlord had no right to seek possession.
News Releases | October 02, 2024
Husch Blackwell Elects 30 to 2025 New Partner Class
News Releases | April 14, 2023
Husch Blackwell Authors Amicus Brief in Ninth Circuit Supporting ABA Treatment for Autism

Husch Blackwell prepared and filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of three autism-advocacy organizations urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to reverse the District Court of Hawai'i's decision dismissing an action challenging the state's practice of refusing to allow applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapists to accompany students to school.

News Releases | April 13, 2023
Husch Blackwell's Amicus Brief Aids in Fourth Circuit Win for Auto Finance Industry

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has issued a decision confirming that transactions that finance the purchase of a motor vehicle and GAP waiver are exempt from the Military Lending Act (MLA) in an appeal in which Husch Blackwell attorneys Marci Kawski and Lisa Lawless filed an amicus curiae brief for industry trade associations.

News Releases | February 17, 2023
Husch Blackwell Authors Amicus Brief in Ninth Circuit's Psilocybin Rescheduling Dispute

Husch Blackwell prepared and filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of nearly 30 end-of-life and palliative care clinicians, urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to compel the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to initiate proceedings that could lead to a rescheduling of psilocybin for use in the end-of-life clinical setting.

News Releases | June 03, 2022
Husch Blackwell Secures Pair of Decisions Affirming Dismissal of COVID-19 Coverage Claims in the Seventh Circuit

The Seventh Circuit affirmed two district court rulings granting motions to dismiss COVID-19 business-interruption coverage claims.

News Releases | April 21, 2022
Husch Blackwell Earns Appellate Victory in Wisconsin Land Use Case

Husch Blackwell prevailed for a plaintiff landowner in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals against the City of Brookfield in a closely-watched land use case.

Media Mentions | May 28, 2021
The Regulatory Review: Week in Review
Media Mentions | April 26, 2021
C-SPAN: Guam v. United States Oral Argument
News Releases | January 10, 2020
Husch Blackwell Secures Federal Circuit Victory for Nidec Motor

The case involved complex applications of Illinois contract law to intellectual property licensing agreements.

News Releases | November 11, 2019
26 Husch Blackwell Attorneys Named to 2019 Wisconsin Super Lawyers/Rising Stars

The firm has 16 attorneys named to the Super Lawyers list and 10 attorneys named to the Rising Stars list.

The team’s expertise in the substantive legal issues, combined with the investment they made to develop a deep knowledge of our business, has made them a uniquely effective litigation partner.

Carey Bartell, Vice President, Chief Counsel – Legal & Government Affairs, Conagra Brands Inc.