Kasen, Lawrence M.

Ted Kapke is an associate attorney with Kapke & Willerth LLC and practices in the area of civil litigation and employment advice and consulting. Prior to joining Kapke & Willerth LLC, Ted was an associate with Husch & Eppenberger, LLC and the employment law firm Seyferth, Blumenthal and Harris. Ted has significant experience in all phases of litigation from initial investigation through appeal. Notably, Ted has extensive experience trying lawsuits to juries including experience as lead trial counsel in multiple employment law trials. In addition to experience as lead trial counsel in employment matters, Ted has represented a variety of individuals and entities in commercial disputes, real estate disputes, civil rights litigation, consumer protection litigation and personal injury matters.

Ted serves as an adjunct professor of trial advocacy at the University Missouri Kansas City School of Law and serves on the Trial Advocacy Board for UMKC. In addition to teaching, Ted serves his profession and community as a member of the Eastern Jackson County Bar Association Board of Directors and volunteers with the Newhouse Domestic Violence Shelter.

Education

Ted attended law school at the University of Missouri Kansas City. While in law school, Ted was a member of the National Moot Court Team, National Trial Advocacy Team, a member of the Moot Court Board, a member of the Order of the Barristers, and was awarded the Thomas E. Deacy Memorial Trial Practice Award presented each year to the outstanding trial advocate. Additionally, Ted volunteered as a defense attorney in connection with honor court prosecutions. In this capacity, Ted defended students charged with violating UMKC honor code. Prior to law school, Ted earned his undergraduate degrees in history and political science for William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. At William Jewell, Ted was a four year varsity letterman in football and a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

Municipal Representation and Experience

Ted has significant experience representing Missouri cities and villages, including representation of municipalities in contract disputes; investigation of municipal equal employment claims and representation of cities in wrongful termination and whistleblower claims, defense of cities in civil rights actions including election fraud and due process claims, and representation and advice to cities and villages in a variety of employment related issues from unemployment appeals to advice regarding sunshine act requests.

Among the greatest risks facing municipalities today are claims of harassment and discrimination arising under the Missouri Human Rights Act. Cities and Villages are not exempt from these claims. Moreover, these matters are routinely tried to juries and not summarily dismissed. The Missouri Human Rights Act permits successful plaintiff’s to recover damages for lost wages, emotional distress and attorney’s fees. Municipalities need experienced trial attorneys (not associates with billable hour requirements or litigators with no jury trial experience) to handle these matters at all stages from the initial investigation to trial. More importantly, municipalities need trial counsel, who can effectively choose a jury and communicate the city or village’s decision to a jury. The attorneys at Kapke & Willerth LLC have this experience.