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“Mastering the subject matter is not nearly enough. Achieving justice requires hard work, a belief in the cause, and an ability to listen.”
Sometimes it’s about righting wrongs, protecting her clients’ interests, and knowing that without her legal skills and involvement someone would be taken advantage of. Other times, it’s getting life-changing results for a well-deserving client who has been terribly wronged.
Recently, Karen represented a child who was sexually abused by her coach. She obtained a $5 million judgment on her behalf. When the insurer failed to pay, Karen pursued claims for coverage and insurer bad faith, obtaining a total of $11.5 million for her client. The total recovery was ranked in Missouri Lawyers Weekly as a Top Win in the State of Missouri, ranking 13th in overall recovery.
This is the kind of justice that Karen relentlessly pursues for her clients, whether their cases involve sexual abuse, insurer bad faith, personal injury, construction, or consumer protection.
Money can’t give her clients back their health, their innocence, their ability to work and earn a living, or whatever the loss—but for Karen Wedel Renwick, nothing is more gratifying than getting her clients fair compensation and making a positive difference in their lives.
Conscientious, reliable, and experienced, Karen fights for her clients, never hesitating to take a case to trial if a fair settlement is not possible.
Obtained a recovery of more than $11.5 million for a child who was sexually abused by her swim coach, a recovery ranked 13th in the top plaintiff wins in Missouri in 2012. Karen achieved a life-changing recovery for a young girl who was sexually abused by her swim coach. While the underlying facts are horrific, the result was extraordinary. The trial of the underlying claim against those responsible for supervision of the minor and the perpetrator resulted in a judgment on behalf of the minor for $5,040,000. When the insurance companies refused to pay the judgment, Karen vigorously pursued claims against the carriers for coverage and insurance bad faith. The firm ultimately recovered more than $11.5 million for the victim, in addition to a confidential settlement from another insurer. Doe v. Lexington Insurance Company, et al.
Recovered a significant confidential settlement for two bicyclists hit by a car while training for the MS 150. Karen represented two athletes who were training on their bicycles for the MS 150 when they were hit by a car at a high rate of speed. The athletes were thrown from their bikes and severely injured. Judgment was entered in favor of the athletes and against the errant driver for $3,000,000. When the insurer failed to pay the judgment, suit for vexatious failure to pay and bad faith was filed against the insurer. The case was ultimately resolved by the payment of a substantial, but confidential sum. Lutz et.al. v. TIC
Obtained a multimillion dollar substantial confidential settlement for the defective design and construction of the concrete floor of an 800,000 square foot distribution facility. Karen and the WRRSV trial team obtained a multimillion dollar confidential settlement for the defective design and construction of the concrete floor of an 800,000 square foot distribution facility. The claim was brought for the benefit of the owner by the general contractor on the project who pursued recovery from its subcontractors for their defective work.
Complete recovery in arbitration. After a week-long trial in arbitration, a couple that hired a foundation repair company to do work at their family home obtained a complete recovery on their claims in arbitration for the company’s defective work. The no-offer case, which was tried to an arbitrator, resulted in the recovery of all damages incurred by the couple, including all sums paid to the contractor, all repair costs, and all attorneys’ fees, and litigation costs for a total recovery of $178,658.76. In the Matter of Arbitration between Jones and Olshan Foundation Repair (AAA)
Successfully prosecuted case on behalf of a father of two disabled children who was severely burned after a collision at a railroad crossing and ultimately died from his injuries. In this personal injury and wrongful death case, Karen represented two disabled children who lost their father in a tragic railroad crossing accident. Their father was severely burned at the scene and ultimately died from the injuries. The proceeds from the third party and workers’ compensation recoveries provided financial security for his children and the funds were placed for their protection in Special Needs trusts. Lunn v. Union Pacific Railroad
Achieved a confidential settlement for a man injured when he fell backwards down an open elevator shaft because the locking device on the door malfunctioned. Karen represented a worker who fell backwards down an open elevator shaft after the locking device on the door malfunctioned. The client sustained substantial injuries, including a permanent closed head injury. At the request of the defendants, the amount of recovery is confidential. Burkhart v. Pflow et al.
Represented two individuals who suffered severe burn injuries after a propane explosion in a manufacturing facility. Karen obtained significant workers’ compensation and confidential third party recoveries for two workers who suffered severe burn injuries after a propane explosion and fire in the manufacturing plant where they were employed.
Obtained significant recoveries for two children in an insurance fraud case. Karen successfully represented the family of two young children whose parents enrolled their family in what they thought was health insurance and paid premiums to the “insurer” for family coverage. After the children were diagnosed with serious illnesses that required extensive medical treatment and rendered them uninsurable, the family learned that the “insurer” was a fraud and its owner was using the premiums paid by its members to support his elaborate lifestyle. While the company itself ended up bankrupt, several other individuals and entities were held accountable for their role in creating and promoting a health care plan that was an illegal MEWA (multiple employer welfare arrangement) and a fraud.
Unsafe condition results in jury verdict for plaintiff. When the cleaning solution used on the floor of a Wal-Mart store created an unsafe condition, causing an elderly lady to fall and break her hip, Wal-Mart refused to make any settlement offer. After a week-long trial, the jury awarded $600,000 in favor of the injured client and her spouse. Locke v. Wal-Mart
Successfully prosecuted several cases against Missouri Highway and various developers for inadequate erosion control. Through Clean Water Act and inverse condemnation litigation, Karen and the trial team at WRRSV successfully prosecuted several cases against Missouri Highway and various developers for inadequate erosion controls on behalf of a 274-acre lake. In addition to monetary recovery, ongoing developments in the watershed were required to change their erosion control practices to protect the lake from the adverse effects of storm-water runoff and sedimentation stemming from the developments.
Obtained defense verdict after week long jury trial on behalf of engineering firm alleged to have improperly designed a hospital’s HVAC system. Travis v. HNTB
Personal Injury and Sexual Abuse of Children
J.D., Washburn University School of Law, Cum Laude, 1984
B.S. in Business, Kansas State University, 1980
AV (highest) rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, a peer rating system for attorneys
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2010−2022
The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100, 2014 – 2022
Lester Goodell Memorial Award
Selected to Panel of Candidates for position of U.S. Magistrate for the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
“Consumers: Are They a Class Act?” John Shamberg Memorial CLE (Johnson County Bar Foundation), 2013
Trying a Case with Class (Kansas Association for Justice), 2010
Using Technology to Present Your Case (Missouri Bar Association), 2009
The Best of CLE (Kansas Association for Justice), 2005
Making Your Case with PowerPoint (Missouri Bar Association), 2004
Conducting a Mock Jury Trial on a Budget (Kansas Association for Justice), 2004
Tips on Cross Examination (Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys), 2003
Hearsay (KCMBA), 1997
Kansas Trial Lawyers Association
Legacy of Justice Foundation
Kansas Bar Association
Association of Women Lawyers Foundation
Missouri Bar Association
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers
Missouri
Kansas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, Washington, D.C.
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