THE ACCURSO LAW FIRM - Key Persons
Andy McCue joined The Accurso Law Firm in January 2012. He has over 25 years of experience as a trial attorney, having tried some 30 cases to a verdict or judgment. He has likewise briefed and argued multiple appeals in the state and federal courts in which he is licensed in Missouri and Kansas.
Andy's current practice consists almost exclusively of plaintiff cases. However, his experience includes representing both plaintiffs and defendants in matters involving personal injury, products liability, professional negligence, employment discrimination, and commercial disputes. The Accurso Law Firm believes that Andy's previous work on the defense side of the bar, as well as his continued involvement in appellate practice, provides him with a unique perspective from which to advocate for the firm's clients.
Burt Haigh is a Trial Attorney at The Accurso Law Firm with over twenty years of trial experience. Mr. Haigh specializes in civil litigation with primary emphasis on personal injury, products liability, negligence, insurance coverage and commercial litigation. As "first chair" Mr. Haigh has tried nearly forty cases to verdict in his career and has been an integral part of obtaining numerous seven and eight figure results for our clients. In 2015 Burt and Lou were awarded Missouri Lawyer's 2015 award for largest settlement in the state for their $10.8 Million settlement of an asbestos wrongful death case.
Christopher Accurso joined The Accurso Law Firm in April 2018. He spent the first four years of his career at the Jackson County Prosecutor's office. As an assistant prosecuting attorney Christopher tried nearly 25 cases to verdict.
Clayton "Clay" Gillette is an Appellate Attorney at The Accurso Law Firm with significant civil litigation experience. Before entering private practice, he served as law clerk to Chief Justice William Ray Price, Jr., Supreme Court of Missouri. Clay then took a position as an Appellate Attorney at one of the largest law firms in the Midwest, handling appeals in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, and in Federal Court. At this firm, he also gained valuable civil litigation experience.
In 2012, Clay started Gillette Law Office, LLC, where he handled a substantial number of criminal and civil appeals on behalf of individuals. He has filed briefs and argued cases in the Courts of Appeals for Missouri and Kansas, The Supreme Courts of Missouri and Kansas, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Clay also volunteers as a guardian ad litem, representing the best interests of minors in and around the Jackson County, Missouri metropolitan area.
Clay now uses his experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants at trial and on appeal to advocate for The Accurso Law Firm's clients. The Firm believes that this experience helps its clients obtain the best results at trial and keep those results on appeal.
Donna M. Young is a paralegal at the law firm. She graduated from Missouri Western State College, Magna Cum Laude, in 1988. She has been employed at The Accurso Law Firm since September of 1989. Prior to that she worked at the law firm of Spradley, Wirken Riesmeyer & King from June 1988 - September 1989. She interned at this law firm during the summer of 1987 where she met and began working with Mr. Accurso.
Donna is involved in all aspects of the firm's litigation. She assists the attorneys from initial case review and filing, handling of documents, expert engagement and preparation, client contact, discovery, trial preparation and trial support.
She is a member of the Kansas City Paralegal Association, Heartland Paralegal Association and the National Association for Legal Professionals (NALS). She is a member of the Paralegal AIEG and a paralegal member of the American Association of Justice.
Prior to Fred Branson's arrival at the firm, he spent a decade working for a well-known Missouri injury attorney who specialized in bad faith / extra contractual recovery. During his 12+ years of experience, Mr. Branson handled all aspects of litigation and trial preparation in personal injury and wrongful death cases. He has extensive experience working cases up to maximum value as well as recognizing improper claims handling and obtaining extra contractual recovery in those unique scenarios. Identifying potential bad faith claims handling and refusal to timely settle have been core components of Mr. Branson's legal training and experience. Clients seeking to maximize their potential recovery need an attorney who is highly experienced with effectively surpassing the stated insurance policy limits in certain coverage situations.
Kathy Mullin is a paralegal at the law firm. She graduated from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor Degree in Business Management in 2001. Kathy graduated in 2005 with a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Johnson County Community College. She joined The Accurso Law Firm in September 2017. Kathy assists the attorneys from initial case review and filing, handling of documents, client contact, discovery, trial preparation and trial support.
Mr. Accurso specializes in civil litigation with primary emphasis on personal injury, products liability, negligence, insurance coverage and commercial litigation. Mr. Accurso has extensive jury trial experience withnumerous jury trials as lead attorney in State and Federal Courts. Mr. Accurso has experience in pursuing personal injury and product liability lawsuits in 8 different states. He has been a speaker at numerous seminars on the subjects of personal injury, products liability and insurance issues.
Mr. Accurso was the recipient of The Lon O. Hocker Memorial Trial Lawyer Award 1990, given annually by the judiciary to the outstanding trial attorney in the State of Missouri under the age of 36. After founding The Accurso Law Firm in 1988 Mr. Accurso quickly built an astonishing record of success that has contributed greatly to the benefit of his clients and to improve safety warnings for dangerous products and better safety standards in dangerous industries.
Robert F. Schroeder is an emeritus paralegal/investigator. He served in the US Army from November 1966 - November 1968. He attended college at the University of Missouri St. Louis. He began working at the law firm of Spradley & Wirken in 1980. He met and began working with Mr. Accurso in 1985. He is semi-retired at the present time.
Bob was involved in all aspect of the firm's litigation. He investigated cases by traveling to the scenes of the accidents, interviewing and taking statements of eyewitnesses, law enforcement, fire and emergency personnel. He prepared medical damage information and summaries and worked with numerous physicians across the country. His duties have also involved extensive research, as well as trial preparation and trial support. In his semi-retirement, Bob still works on various case projects.
Roger Elliott is a legal assistant at the law firm. He graduated from Richmond High School in 1986 and attended Central Missouri State University and studied Criminal Justice. He completed the Police Academy at CMSU in 1993. He has a Law Enforcement and Legal background. Prior to joining The Accurso Law Firm in March of 2017 he worked as a Private Investigator since 1999 and worked for numerous attorney's in the Kansas City Area.
Stephanie Vogl is a legal assistant at the law firm. She joined The Accurso Law Firm in 2017. Stephanie assists the attorneys from initial case review and filing, handling of documents, client contact, discovery, trial preparation and trial support.
Susan L. Donovan is the Office Administrator/Bookkeeper at the law firm. She graduated from Maples Wood Community College with an Associates Degree in Legal Secretarial Science in 1976 She has been employed at The Accurso Law Firm since 1988. Prior to that she worked at the law firm of Spradley, Wirken, Riesmeyer & King. This is where she met and began working with Mr. Accurso in 1985.
Susan is involved in all aspects of the management of the daily operations of the law firm in her role as office administrator. She is also the bookkeeper at the law firm and handles the payment of all bills and the daily bookkeeping operations of the law firm, as well as payroll.
Tina Tekippe is a legal assistant at the law firm. She graduated from The University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Minor in History in 2002. Tina graduated in 2014 with a Certificate in Paralegal studies from Johnson County Community College. She joined The Accurso Law Firm in August 2015.
Travis J. Jackson is a paralegal at the law firm. He graduated from Missouri Western State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Legal Studies, where he also obtained his Paralegal Certificate in 2017. Travis interned for the Accurso Law Firm prior to becoming a full time paralegal.
His roles in the law firm include drafting of pleadings, case review, trial preparation, and trial support.