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“The quality and character of our attorneys, the breadth of our experience, our work ethic, and dedication to our clients—you wouldn’t want any other lawyers working on your side.”
Originally from Queens, New York, and raised in a small town in Maine, Vanessa Scorcia Herman lived in Boston, Germany (as a Fulbright Fellow), and New Orleans before settling down in Kansas City—her first taste of life in the Midwest.
Despite her diverse habitats, worldly adventures, and the fact that she’d never been to the Heartland before, Vanessa brings a decidedly Midwestern work ethic to Walters Renwick Richards & Vaughan, P.C. With her unwavering commitment to her clients and uncompromising pursuit of justice, she fits right in.
Vanessa’s strengths lie in discovering, analyzing, and synthesizing complex legal issues. Much of her work has been in the discovery phase of trial: gathering and producing documents, overseeing document review projects, sorting through eDiscovery issues, and preparing her team for depositions and hearings.
Recently, her practice has centered on representing plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death matters and consumer protection class actions. Vanessa has also represented defendants in complex commercial litigation matters, class actions and multi-district litigation proceedings, including cases alleging fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and deceptive trade practices in life insurance and annuity sales.
Whether defending or prosecuting a case, Vanessa’s clients know that her experience and dedication will yield results.
Represented consumer plaintiffs and with trial team obtained a multimillion-dollar settlement in Missouri class action against property insurance company.
Represented and with trial team obtained favorable result for insurance company in action brought by Attorney General of Pennsylvania seeking more than $3 million in damages and penalties for alleged consumer protection violations related to the sale of annuities.
Successfully defended financial services company in series of nationwide lawsuits arising from the use of insurance products to fund benefit plans under IRC Sections 419 and 412(i).
Represented an insurance company defendant in a purported nationwide class action in Texas relating to IRC Sec. 412(i) plans. Case was dismissed with prejudice.
Part of team that obtained early dismissal of complaint, without leave to amend, in a Wisconsin state court case involving an IRC Sec. 412(i) plan.
Was appointed to represent a father in a termination of parental rights case in Jackson County, Missouri. Vanessa successfully defended client’s rights at trial, causing the Juvenile Officer to dismiss the case against the father, who is now raising his daughter.
Personal Injury
Class Action
Consumer Protection
Tort Claims
Legal Assistant Clerk, Palmer & Dodge, LLP
J.D., cum laude, Tulane University School of Law, 2005
B.A., magna cum laude, Tufts University, 1999
Missouri Bar Association
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
Missouri
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
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