MEMBER OF FIRM
Kurtis B. Reeg ((President and Managing Partner)) born St. Louis, Missouri, September 1, 1954; admitted to bar, 1979, Missouri and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri; 1980, Illinois; 1981, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois; 1984, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; 1986, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1994, U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court; 1997, U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois; 2000, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri; 2003, U.S. District Court, District of Colorado. Education: DePauw University (B.A., cum laude, 1976); St. Louis University School of Law (J.D., 1979). Pi Sigma Alpha; Phi Alpha Delta. Co-Instructor, Illinois Appellate Research and Writing, St. Louis University School of Law, 1979-1980. Listed in Who's Who in America, Midwest, American Law and Emerging Leaders in America. Member, Editorial Board, Bad Faith Law Report, Stratton Press, 1999-2000. Board of Directors, Product Liability Law & Strategy, Law Journal Newsletters, 1999-2003. Co-author: With Joseph F. Speelman, "MTBE: The Greening of Another Toxic Tort Trend," FDCC 2004 Annual Meeting, Chesapeake Bay MD (July, 2004); with Daniel R. Mawhinney and Donald G. Purdy, "Sick Buildings and Construction Litigation," Mold Summit, Joint Conference of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies; with Marshall S. Shapo, "E-Commerce and Products Liability: A Primer on Exposure at the Speed of Light," 51 Fed'n Ins. & Corp. Couns. Q. 73, 2001 (Winner, 2001 Andrew C. Hecker Award); with Maria Hahalis, "The Post-Sale Duty to Warn: An Update and Defense Strategy," LJN's Prod. Liab. Law and Strategy (June, 2001); with Robert W. Schmieder II, "WARNING: Sellers May Now Have a Post-Sale Duty to Warn," 50 Fed'n Ins. & Corp. Couns. Q. 533 (2000); with Marshall S. Shapo, "The Economic Loss Rules: Easier to State Than to Apply," 18 Leader's Prod. Liab. Law & Strategy 5 (Aug. 1999); with C. Bebout, "What's it All About Daubert," 53 J. Mo. Bar 369 (1997); with T. Hohenstein, "Significant Environmental Insurance Coverage Issues of the 1990's: The River Runs Wide Between Missouri and Illinois," Corporate Counsel Institute, (Bar Assn. Of Metropolitan St. Louis 1994). Author: "Water Wars: Water Contamination Litigation Runs Amuck?" FDCC 2007 Mid-Year Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ (March, 2007); "Toxic Goulash: The Latest Ingredients of Toxic Tort Soup," The National Forum for Environmental and Toxic Tort Issues (FETTI), Chicago, IL (October 5, 2006); "American Idolatry: The Mold Rush Comes to Canada," Canadian Defense Lawyer Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (May 12, 2005); "Pressure Treated Wood: Arsenic and Lace," Declarations (Excess and Surplus Lines Claims Association, Summer 2003); "An Analysis of Toxic Tort Trends,: Environmental Watch, American Airlines, www.skyradionet.com (August 2003); "The Plague of the New Millennium: Construction Defect Claims, Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EFIS), Mold and the Like," presented as part of "Comprehensive General Liability Policies and Construction Defects and Loses, Including Mold: The Road to Perdition," FDCC 2003 Annual Meeting, La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada (July 2003); "Tenth Report on Carcinogens (2000)," National Toxicology Program, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, FDCC 2003 Annual Meeting, La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada (July 2003); "Pressure Treated Wood: A Rising Litigation Phoenix," FDCC Annual Meeting, La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada (July 2003); The Mold Rush: There's a Fungus Among Us," St. Louis Chapter of the CPCU Society (January 14, 2003); The Daubert Compendium 2002, Chapter 4, "Acceptance in the Scientific Community," (Defense Research Institute, 2002); "Real Life Applications of Daubert: How To Make It Work Effectively For You," Excluding Evidence Under Daubert/Kuhmo (Defense Research Institute, 2002); "Mold Litigation- It's Not Asbestos Déjà Vu All Over Again," 17 Environmental Compl. & Lit. Strategy 4, Nov., 2001; "Private Actions and Unfair Claims Handling and Settlement Statutes," 42 For the Defense (No. 7) 14, (July 2000); "Private Civil Actions Under State Unfair Claims Settlement Statutes and Regulations: Private Right or Public Harm, Sword or Shield," Insurance Law Symposium (Defense Research Institute, 1999); "Reservation of Rights: Perfection and Pitfalls," Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium (Defense Research Institute, Inc., 1997); Contributor: Protecting the Privilege: A State-By-State Survey of Cases in Which Courts Have Considered Policyholder Efforts to Deny the Protection of the Attorney-Client Privilege or Work Product Doctrine to Communications Between Insurers and Counsel (Ad Hoc Privilege Task Force, Insurance Law Committee, Defense Research Institute, 2001); Fifty State Survey of FDCA-Related Tort Causes of Action: A Report of the Pharmaceuticals and Biologicals Subcommittee (American Bar Assn. 2001); 2001 Compendium of State Unfair Claim Practices Regulations and Statutes (Defense Research Institute, 2001); State-By-State Survey of the Law Regarding Potential Liability for Off Label Use of Drugs and Medical Devices: A Report of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Sub-Committee, Products Liability Litigation Committee (American Bar Assn. 1999); State-By-State Survey of Ex Parte Contacts with a Plaintiff's Treating Physicians: A Report of the Subcommittee on Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices; Committee on Products Liability Litigation, (American Bar Assn. 1995); State-By-State Survey of the Effect of Compliance or Noncompliance with Federal Regulatory Standards in Pharmaceutical Products Liability Litigation: A Report of the Subcommittee on Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices, Committee on Products Liability Litigation (American Bar Assn. 1995); "Penalty Enhancement Statutes: Panacea, Anathema or Inutility," Hate Speech and Bias Crimes: Constitutional Issues Raised by Penalty Enhancement Statutes (Illinois State Bar Assn. 1993); "An Insurance Contract is Still a Contract - Unwarranted Expansion Beyond its Four Corners," Recent Developments In Insurance Law (Lorman Education Services 1993). Law Clerk to The Hon. George J. Moran and The Hon. Moses W. Harrison, II, Illinois Fifth District Appellate Court, 1979-1980. Faculty, Litigation Management College, Emory University, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel 2008. Negotiations, Litigation Plans and Budgets, Case Evaluations. Member: The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis; Illinois State (Member, Sections on: Tort Law; Civil Practice and Procedure; Section Council, Section on Individual Rights and Responsibilities, 1989-1994; Vice-Chair, 1991-1992; Chair, 1992-1993; Section Council, Insurance Law Section, 1997-2000; Task Force on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, 2000-2002) and American (Member, Sections on: Litigation and Tort and Insurance Law, Committees on: Insurance Coverage Litigation, Tort and Hazardous Substances and Environmental Law; Chairman, Products Liability Subcommittee, 1996-1999; ADR Subcommittee) Bar Association; Missouri Bar (Certified Neutral; Member: Bench and Bar Committee, 1981-1984; Tort Law Committee; Federal Practice and Procedure Committee; Division Special Representative, Bar Committee of the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, 1985); International Association of Defense Counsel (Member, Committees on: Casualty Insurance, Product Liability, Toxic and Hazardous Substances Litigation and Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Biotechnology Substantive Law); Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (Member, Sections on: Toxic Tort and Environmental Law; Chair, 2001-2003; Vice Chair, 2000-2001; Auto, Land, Air Transportation and Casualty Insurance; Trial Tactics, Practice and Procedure; Insurance Coverage; Pharmaceutical Litigation, Products Liability); Defense Research Institute (Member, Committees on: Insurance Law, Products Liability and Drug and Medical Devices); Missouri Association of Defense Trial Counsel; The National Forum for Environmental and Toxic Tort Issues; Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (Subscriber); Sustaining Member, Product Liability Advisory Counsel (PLAC), 2008. Reported Cases: American States Ins. Co. v. Capital Associates of Jackson County, Inc., 392 F.3d 939 (7th Cir. 2004), rehearing denied (2005) (on the briefs); Loughridge v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 281 F.Supp.2d 1252 (D. Colo. 2003); Loughridge v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 192 F.Supp.2d 1175 (D. Colo. 2002); In re Chiles Power Supply Company, Inc., 264 B.R. 533, 46 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 1109 (W.D.Mo. 2001); Travelers Ins. Co. v. Eljer Mfg., Inc., 2000 ILL. Lexis 1712 (Ill. 2000); Maryland Casualty Co. v. W.R. Grace and Company, 218 F.3d 204 (2d Cir. 1999); rehearing denied (2000); The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company v. Chiles Power Supply, Inc. 190 F.R.D. 532 (S.D. Ind. 1999); Olean Associates, Inc. v. Knights of Columbus, 5 S.W. 3d 518 (E.D. MO. App. 1999); International Ins. Co. v. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, 938 F. Supp. 568 (E.D. MO. 1996); Bucklew v. G.D. Searle v. Co., 138 Ill. 2d 282, 562 N.E. 2d 186, 149 Ill. Dec. 722 (1990); Roadmaster Corp. v. Prod. & Maint. Employees' Local 504, Laborers' Int'l Union of N. America, 655 F.Supp. 1460 (S.D. Ill. 1987). Practice Areas: Asbestos; Silicosis Litigation; Toxic Tort Class Actions; Toxic Torts; Products Liability; Drug and Medical Devices; Food Borne Disease; Food Products Liability; Welding Products Liability; Torts; Insurance; Insurance Bad Faith; Insurance Coverage; Environmental Law; Personal Injury; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Civil Litigation; Class Actions; Complex Litigation; Federal Civil Litigation; Trial Practice; Appellate Practice.Email: Kurtis B. Reeg
ASSOCIATES
Hollie R. Birkholz (Associate) born Garrison, North Dakota, 1978; admitted to bar, 2003, Missouri, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois; 2004, Illinois. Education: Missouri Valley College (B.S., Criminal Justice and Sociology, summa cum laude, 2000); University of Missouri School of Law (J.D., 2003). Ms. Birkholz is an associate attorney, practicing in a multitude of areas of civil litigation. She has represented corporations in contract disputes, property damage actions and in general commercial litigation. Ms. Birkholz has experience in insurance defense and insurance coverage matters. She has defended individuals and physicians against a variety of claims, including wrongful death and personal injury claims. Further, Ms. Birkholz has represented Fortune 500 companies in toxic tort matters. Early in her career, she was a law clerk for Federal Magistrate Judge David D. Noce, and has assisted in teaching Legal Research and Writing classes at the University of Missouri School of Law. Ms. Birkholz is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Illinois.
Ms. Birkholz is also active in the community, and has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, St. Louis Children's hospital, Stray Rescue of St. Louis, and has acted as co-race director for races benefit local charities. Member: Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis; Illinois State and American Bar Associations; The Missouri Bar. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Toxic Torts; Business Litigation; Commercial Law; Insurance Defense; Medical Malpractice; Products Liability; Personal Injury.
Paul L. Knobbe (Associate) born Newark, New Jersey, June 9, 1968; admitted to bar, 1997, Missouri; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri; 2004, Illinois. Education: Maryville College (B.S., Chemistry, 1993); St. Louis University (J.D., 1997). Author: Issues on Medical Malpractice Cases, Missouri Bar, 2003. Speaker: "Common Types of Claims Being Evaluated"; Effective Discovery in Nursing Home Litigation," Nursing Home Malpractice: Evaluating and Addressing Accountability, Clayton, Missouri, 2007. Participant: Litigating Medical Malpractice Cases, ALI-ABA, Phoenix, Arizona, 2005; Annual Public Defender's Winter Trial Workshop, 2001-2002; Semi-Annual Missouri Office of Prosecution Services Seminar, 1998-2001; Prosecuting Drug Cases, Missouri Office of Prosecution Services, 2000. Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity; Volunteer Judge/Evaluator, BAMSL Mock Trial; Volunteer Speaker, BAMSL Lawyers. Associate Attorney, Eckenrode-Maupin, Attorneys at Law, 2003 - 2008. Trial Attorney, Missouri Office of the Public Defender, 2001-2003. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Washington County, Missouri, 1998-2001. Member: The Missouri Bar; Illinois State and American Bar Associations; Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis; Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers. Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Toxic Torts; Trial Practice; Medical Malpractice.Email: Paul L. Knobbe
Lynn A. Lehnert (Associate) born St. Louis, Missouri, November 15, 1974; admitted to bar, 2003, Missouri; 2005, Illinois. Education: St. Louis University (B.S., Biology, B.A., History, 1998); Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology (J.D., 2003). Lab Assistant, Human Genome Project, Genome Sequencing Center, Washington University School of Medicine, 1998-2000. Prosecutor, City of Chicago Department of Law, 2002-2003. Assistant Missouri Public Defender, 2003-2005. Member: The Missouri Bar; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Toxic Torts; Insurance; Civil Litigation; Patents; Trademarks.Email: Lynn A. Lehnert
Timothy A. McGuire (Associate) born Kansas City, Missouri, November 22, 1960; admitted to bar, 1986, Missouri; 1987, Illinois; 1989, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri; 1996, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: Creighton University (B.A., cum laude, 1983); St. Louis University (J.D., 1986). Member: Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis; The Missouri Bar. Practice Areas: Commercial Law; Business Law; Trusts and Estates; Toxic Torts; Personal Injury.Email: Timothy A. McGuire
Philip Sholtz (Associate) born Clearwater, Florida, May 20, 1980; admitted to bar, 2005, Missouri, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri; 2007, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Education: University of Missouri, Columbia (B.S.B.A., Finance and Banking, magna cum laude, 2002; J.D., 2005). Philip Sholtz focuses his practice in the areas of toxic torts and civil litigation.
Mr. Sholtz received his undergraduate degree (B.A. in Business, magna cum laude) from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2002. He received his J.D. in 2005 from The University of Missouri-Columbia, where he was a member of the Missouri Law Review.
Prior to joining Reeg Lawyers, LLC, Mr. Sholtz worked in business litigation at other St. Louis-area law firms, handling commercial litigation and class action matters as well as numerous toxic torts, product liability and eminent domain cases.
Mr. Sholtz is admitted to the Missouri and Illinois state bars, and is a member of the bars of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
In June 2008, Mr. Sholtz served as a co-presenter for "Direct Examination of In-House Scientist" at the ACI Drug & Medical Device On Trial Conference. Member: The Missouri Bar; Illinois State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Toxic Torts; Civil Litigation.
Matt Temper (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, Missouri. Education: Lindenwood University (B.A., cum laude, 1999); St. Louis University School of Law (J.D., 2007). Mr. Temper graduated from Lindenwood University in 1999 (B.A. cum laude) and received his J.D. from The Saint Louis University School of Law in 2007. He is licensed in the State of Missouri.
Previously, Mr. Temper worked in the industrial hygiene field for over fifteen years, providing Fortune 500 companies with expertise on regulatory issues concerning occupational exposures, including asbestos and lead. As a law student, he served for two years on the Saint Louis University Law Journal as a staff member and editor and held an externship with the St. Charles Juvenile Justice Center.