(816) 421-6620
“Justice is uniform fairness, tempered with wisdom and a recognition that exceptions do exist.”
William Shakespeare wrote, “Lawless are they that make their wills their law.” When those with power abuse that power by ignoring or twisting the law to protect themselves, someone has to step up and fight such “lawless men.” Kip Richards is one of those defenders.
Drawing from the values of family and community, from his positions of leadership and academic achievements, and from his experience as a trial lawyer and partner with Walters Renwick Richards Skeens & Vaughan, P.C., Kip embraces his role as a guardian of what is just and right.
Firm in the belief that order, rules, and justice are the surest guarantees of our personal liberties, Kip chose to practice law to help people, something he’s done time and again throughout his career in Missouri and Kansas and in matters as diverse as consumer protection, personal injury, toxic tort, patent and copyright infringement, shareholder oppression, securities fraud, product liability, construction defect, insurance bad faith, and interstate and international cargo loss.
Over the last 13 years, Kip has devoted a significant part of his practice to protecting consumers from the predatory lending practices of large-scale financial institutions. These class action cases are legally and factually complex, and vigorously defended by prominent law firms.
Despite the challenges involved, Kip’s efforts and work as Class Counsel have produced extraordinary results for thousands of Missouri borrowers, with settlements totaling in excess of $662 million for consumer-borrowers in several second mortgage class action cases, with the net recoveries often averaging more than $20,000 per loan.
McLean, et al. v. First Horizon Home Loan Corp., Case No. 00CV-228530 (Jackson County) – Kip was a member of the WRRSV trial team who successfully prosecuted and negotiated a class settlement of $36,000,000.00.
Daniel and Amy Thompson vs. Sovereign Bank, N.A., Case No. 1216-CV09804 (Jackson County) – Kip was a member of the WRRSV trial team who successfully prosecuted and negotiated a class settlement of $3,300,000.00.
DeAnthony Thomas v. U.S. Bank National Association, N.D., Case No. 11- 06013-CV-SOW (Jackson County) – Kip was a member of the WBSV trial team who successfully prosecuted and negotiated a class settlement of $92,000,000.00.
Jack L. Beaver, et al. v, U.S. Bank, National Association, et al., Case No. 1216-CV21345 (Jackson County) – Kip was a member of the WBSV trial team who successfully prosecuted and negotiated a class settlement of $68,300,000.00.
Steven and Ruth Mitchell v. Residential Funding Corp., et al, Case No. 03-CV-220489-01 (Jackson County) – Kip was a member of the WBSV trial team who successfully prosecuted and tried this second mortgage class action in a month-long trial before a Jackson County Missouri jury. Kip also briefed and argued the post-trial appeals before the Missouri Court of Appeals, reported at 334 S.W. 3d 477 (Mo.App.2010). The total recovery obtained in the case from the various defendant-lenders by judgment and settlement exceeded $15 million.
James and Jill Baker, et al. v. Century Financial Group, Inc., et al., Case No. CV100-4294-CC (Clay County) – Kip was a member of the WRRSV trial team who successfully prosecuted and negotiated a class settlement of $8,426,668.33.
Michael and Shellie Gilmor v. Preferred Credit Corp., et al., Case No. 4:10-cv-00189-ODS (W.D.Mo) – Kip was a member of the WRRSV trial team who successfully prosecuted and negotiated a class settlement of $10,427,593.38.
Schwartz, et al. v. Bann-Cor Mortgage, et al., Case No. 00CV22639 (Jackson County) – Kip was a member of the WRRSV trial team who successfully prosecuted and negotiated a class settlement of $4,000,000.00. Kip also argued an appeal on the case, reported at 197 S.W.3d 168 (Mo.App. 2006).
Shokere, et al v. Residential Funding Company, et al., Case No. 1116-CV30478 (Jackson County) – Kip was a member of the WRRSV trial team who successfully prosecuted and negotiated a class settlement of $36,000,000.00.
Danita S. Couch, et al. v. SMC Lending, Inc., et al., Case No. CV100-4332-CC (Clay County) – Kip was a member of the WRRSV trial team who successfully prosecuted and negotiated a class settlement of $4,255,437.84.
Jack L. Beaver, et al., v. U.S. Bank Trust National Association, et al., Case No. 00CV215097-01 (Jackson County) – Kip was a member of the WRRSV trial team who successfully prosecuted and negotiated a class settlement of $312,989.96.
Missouri Bank and Trust Co. of Kansas City v. OneBeacon Ins. Co., 688 F.3d 943 (8th Cir. 2012) (briefed and argued appeal that affirmed summary judgment in favor of plaintiff bank on insurance coverage issue).
Washington v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 655 F.3d 869 (8th Cir. 2011), (briefed and argued successful appeal in second mortgage case), abrogating Mayo v. GMAC Mortg., LLC, 763 F.Supp.2d 1091 (W.D. Mo. 2011).
Thomas v. U.S. Bank Nat. Ass’n ND 575 F.3d 794 (8th Cir. 2009), cert. denied, 130 S. Ct. 3504 (2010) (second mortgage case, see above).
McGinley v. Franklin Sports, 262 F.3d 1339 (Fed.Cir.2001), (briefed and argued successful appeal, which resulted in reversal of judgment as a matter of law in favor of defendant infringer – patent held valid over challenge of obviousness).
Mitchell v. Residential Funding Corp., 334 S.W.3d 477 (Mo.App.2010) (briefed and argued appeal in jury-tried second mortgage case, see above).
Schwartz v. Bann-Cor Mortg., 197 S.W.3d 168 (Mo.App. 2006) (briefed and argued successful appeal, which resulted in the reversal of motions to dismiss, see above).
Mizner v. North River Homes, Inc., 913 S.W.3d 23 (Mo.App.1995) (briefed and argued successful appeal upholding determination that federal law did not preempt plaintiffs’ state law toxic tort claims).
City of Kansas City ex rel. Jennings v. Integon Indem. Corp., 857 S.W.2d 233 (Mo.App.1993) (successful prosecution and appeal of prevailing wage claim).
Cruce v. Auto-Owners Mut. Ins. Co., 851 S.W.2d 10 (Mo.App.1993) – (novel evidentiary issues concerning claims of Fifth Amendment Privilege in civil case).
R.K.-T.S. by V.T. v. R.S., 819 S.W.2d 749 (Mo.App.1991) – (briefed and argued novel case involving name change of minor child).
Linde, Thomson, Langworthy, Kohn & VanDyke, P.C.
J.D., University of Kansas School of Law, 1989
B.A., summa cum laude, Baker University, 1986
AV (highest) rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, a peer rating system for attorneys
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
America’s Top 100 Attorneys, Missouri
Missouri Bar Association
Kansas Bar Association
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
Johnson County Bar Association
Missouri
Kansas
Supreme Court of the United States
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri – Bankruptcy
U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers
Kansas Association for Justice
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