Personal Injury Attorney Kansas City

Medical Malpractice Attorney Kansas City

ABOUT THE WELLS LAW FIRM

EXPERIENCE:

Robert Wells has practiced law in the Kansas City area since 1971, and for the last 30 years has handled almost exclusively injury claims. He has extensive jury trial experience, and has successfully handled a wide variety of claims, including automobile and truck collisions, premises liability, medical malpractice/negligence, wrongful death, workers' compensation, children's injuries, and industrial injuries.

After developing a successful trial practice, Mr. Wells returned to the University of Kansas where he obtained a Doctoral Degree in Communication Studies. His primary focus was the psychology of jury trial practice, and as a result of his studies he published a book entitled "Successful Trial Techniques of Expert Practitioners" as well as numerous articles for legal Journals in the United States and Canada.

After completing his graduate studies, Mr. Wells returned to the practice of law, handling exclusively injury claims. Since that time the primary focus of his practice has been as a Kansas City Medical Malpractice attorney and Kansas City personal injury attorney. His educational background has given him a unique insight into the jury process and has enhanced his ability to present claims to Judges and juries.

EDUCATION:

• B.A. Degree, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 1964-1968
• Juris Doctor, University of Kansas School of Law, Lawrence, Kansas 1968-1971
• Law Review, University of Kansas School of Law--1969-1971
• Ph.D. Communication Studies, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 1981-1986

LICENSURE:

• Licensed in Kansas and Missouri

BOOKS:

"Successful Trial Techniques of Expert Practitioners, Trial Practice Series,"

published by Shepard's/McGraw-Hill Inc. Colorado 1988; currently published by the West Group in their Litigation Law Series/Clark Board Callaghan

PUBLICATIONS:

"Survey of Kansas Law and Workers Compensation,"
18 Kansas Law Review, pp 478-491 (1970).

"How Lawyers View Communication,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Vol. 5, No.3, pp. 23-25 (1981).

"Impression Formation and the Jury System: How People Form Impressions,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Vol. 6, No. 3 pp. 19-21 (1982).

"Lawyer Credibility, How the Jury Perceives It,"
Trial Magazine, the Journal of the Association of Trial Lawyers Of America, Vol. 21, No. 7, pp. 69-72, July 1985.

"The Responsible Lawyer, Minimizing Professional Liability,"
The Journal of the Kansas Bar Association, Vol. 55, No. 4 pp. 10-11, May/June 1986.

"Establishing Product Liability and Strict Liability with Communication Evidence,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Vol. X, No. 1, pp. 8-10, October 1986.

"Systematic Jury Selection,"
The Advocate, publication of the Wyandotte County Bar Association, November 1987.

"Juror Credibility Assessments in Civil Trials,"
The Trial Practice Newsletter, Shepards/McGraw-Hill, Inc., Vol. 2, No.2, pp. 1, 4-9, November 1987.

"Lawyer: Know Thyself, How to develop a Successful Practice,"
Trial Magazine, The Journal of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, pp. 66-67, September 1988.

"The Plaintiffs Lawyer's Persona,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Vol. 13, No.1 pp. 4-6, September 1989.

"Sign Posts to Success, an Interview with Russ Herman,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Vol.13, No. 2, pp. 5-7, November 1989.

"Sign Posts to Success, an Interview with Bob Gibbons,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 6-8, January 1990.

"Sign Posts to Success, an Interview with Leonard Decoff,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Vol. XIII, No. 5, May 1990.

"Sign Posts to Success, an Interview with Scott Baldwin,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Vol. 13 No.6, pp. 6-7, July 1990.

"Trends in Litigation, an Interview with Robert Habash,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Vol.14, No. 1, pp 5-7, September of 1990.

"An Interview with Gerry Spence: Reflections on the Marcos Trial and Suggestions on How to Do Well in the Courtroom,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 6-8, November 1990.

"Trying Soft Tissue Damage Cases,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Vol.14, No. 3, pp. 6-11, January 1991.

"Defending the American Jury System, an Interview with Michael Maher,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp 7-8, March 1991.

"Evaluating Warnings and Instructions in Product Liability Claims,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Layers Association, Vol. 14, No. 5, pp. 6-10, May 1991.

"Profile of a Trial Lawyer,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyer Association, Vol. 14, No. 6, pp. 6-17, July 1991.

"Trying Soft Tissue Damage Cases,"
The Barrister, the Journal of the Alberta, Canada Trial Lawyers Association, Issue 21, pp. 16-19, September 1991.

"Trying Soft Tissue Damage Cases,"
Verdict in Brief, Journal of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, Orange County, California, May, 1992.

"The Nature of Meaning: The Role Of The Trial Lawyer In Creating And Shaping Meaning,"
American Journal Of Trial Advocacy, Cumberland School Of Law, Samford University, Birmingham Alabama, Volume 32:2, Fall 2008.

PRESENTATIONS:

"The Psychology of Trial Tactics," sponsored by the Joint CLE Committee of the Kansas Bar Association, The University of Kansas School of Law and the Washburn University of Topeka Law School, presented at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, September 27,1980.

"Source Credibility: Factors the Jury Will Consider in Determining Belief," presented at Symposium entitled "Tactics of Successful Communication for Trial Attorneys" sponsored by the University of Kansas Department of Communication Studies in cooperation with the University of Kansas School of Law, held at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, June 3, 1983.

"Source Credibility, Impression Formation, and Communication Skills for Lawyers" presented at the Fourth Annual Trial Tactics and Techniques Institute held by the Kansas College of Advocacy and the Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas, July 14-20,1984.

"Systematic Jury Selection," presented at "Trial Techniques Seminar" sponsored by the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Education Fund, Inc., Topeka, Kansas, October 6, 1984.

"Voir Dire," presented at seminar entitled, "The Psychological Aspects Of a Jury Trial," sponsored by the Kansas Trial Lawyer Association Educational Fund, April 26, 1985, Wichita, Kansas.

"Jury Selection in Products Liability and Medical Malpractice Cases," presented at seminar entitled, "How to Recognize and Litigate a Products Liability or Medical Malpractice Case," sponsored by the Kansas Trial Lawyer Association Educational Fund, April 15, 1988, Wichita, Kansas.

"Speaking to the Jurors-Voir Dire, Opening Statement, Closing Statement and Jury Deliberation," panel member at seminar entitled "The Automobile Case," sponsored by the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Educational Fund, in Overland Park, Kansas, May 5, 1989.

"Voir Dire in Automobile Cases," presented at seminar entitled "Trial by Fire," sponsored by the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Educational Fund in Kansas City, Kansas on April 24, 1992.

"Voir Dire in Automobile Cases," presented at seminar entitled "The Best of Continuing Legal Education," sponsored by the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Education Fund at Overland Park, Kansas on June 19, 1992.

"Voir Dire Examination," sponsored by the Wyandotte County Bar Association at Kansas City, Kansas September 16, 1992.

"Automobile Litigation, the Plaintiffs Perspective," presented at Seminar entitled "Stairway to Success, Advanced Techniques, sponsored by the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Overland Park, Kansas, April 16, 1993.

"Doctor-Patient Communication," presented to the Clinical Science II class at the University of Kansas Medical Center at Kansas City, Kansas on February 5, 1996.

"Jury Selection, Opening and Closing Statement," presented at the Wyandotte County CLE Seminar, Kansas City, Kansas, June 16, 1999.

"Workers' Compensation, The Claimant's Perspective," presented at Seminar entitled "Fundamental's of Workers' Compensation," sponsored by Sterling Educational Services at Kansas City, Missouri, April 23, 2003.

"How To Persuade A Jury," presented at Seminar entitled "Film And The Law Series Presents: Jury Selection And Influence," sponsored by The University of Missouri At Kansas City, November 1, 2007.

"Workers' Compensation And Ethics," presented at Seminar entitled "Workers' Compensation Practice And Procedure," sponsored by Sterling Educational Services at Kansas City, Missouri, October 5, 2012.

"Workers' Compensation, Ethics And Practice Management," presented at Seminar entitled "Fundamental's of Workers' Compensation," sponsored by Sterling Educational Services at Kansas City, Kansas, June 14, 2013.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

• Kansas Bar Association
• Missouri Bar Association
• Johnson County Bar Association
• Wyandotte County Bar Association