PADBERG, CORRIGAN & APPELBAUM - Key Persons
Our mission at Padberg, Corrigan & Appelbaum is to provide unparalleled and unrivaled representation to personal injury victims of wrongdoing. We seek to obtain full and complete compensation for losses caused by neglect, malfeasance or wrongful acts by corporations or individuals. And, we believe that by holding corporations and individuals accountable for their actions that we help promote a safer community. At Padberg, Corrigan & Appelbaum we fight for the rights of all people, regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or economic status, and we treat each client with equal respect and dignity.
Since 1954, our founder, Godfrey Padberg, instilled a philosophy of providing to each client the highest level of intellect, dedication, integrity and compassion. Our attorneys are well-respected, highly trained and experienced, and fully dedicated to obtaining justice for our clients. Our professional staff, many of whom have been with our firm for more than 25 years, is dedicated and committed to serving our clients. Together, we provide collaborative teamwork to offer each client the utmost in personal attention by maintaining honest and open lines of communication and providing compassionate and caring support throughout the duration of our representation.
At Padberg, Corrigan & Appelbaum, we have obtained millions of dollars in results for our clients and continue to achieve the best results because we are trial lawyers. Based upon our record and experience, our opponents understand that we will hold them accountable by trying our cases in a court of law. Consequently, we are well-respected by our peers and our opponents.
Padberg, Corrigan & Appelbaum is a small firm with unmatched experience, dedication and compassion. Our team of experienced lawyers and professional staff would be happy to hear from you with any questions you many have.
Job Titles:
- Registered Nurse
- Legal Nurse Consultant
Kelly Casey is a registered nurse. She joined the Padberg, Corrigan & Appelbaum law firm as a Legal Nurse Consultant in 2002. In her nearly 15 years with the firm, she has reviewed and advised on more than 2,000 medical malpractice claims, as well as managed all medical records. Kelly also prepares cases, conducts medical research, and acts as the liaison with expert witnesses.
Kelly graduated from Jewish Hospital School of Nursing, now Goldfarb School of Nursing, in 1991. She then worked for six years as a clinical nurse at Barnes-Jewish Hospital on the telemetry, general medicine and surgical floors. Prior to joining the Padberg, Corrigan & Appelbaum team, Kelly worked as a Nurse Case Manager for five years at Missouri Baptist Hospital where she directed and collaborated with staff nurses and physicians on patient care, intensity of service, and discharge planning for pediatric, neurology, cardiac, obstetrics, intensive / critical care, rehabilitation, oncology and emergency room services. Her role as a case manager also included reviewing patient medical records when medical mismanagement was a concern to determine if they warranted peer review.
A St. Louis native, Kelly enjoys traveling and watching Cardinals' games with her husband, and spending time with their three children. She is also active in her community and volunteers at her church and Marian Middle School.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Principal
- Adjunct Professor of Law at St. Louis University
For more than 35 years, Matthew J. Padberg has concentrated his law practice in representing individuals and families who have been impacted by either injury or death, in the areas of civil litigation, medical malpractice, aviation law, workers' compensation, general personal injury law, and wrongful death.
Prior to entering the private practice, Matt received his law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1983. While in law school, he worked at the Missouri Supreme Court and was a law clerk for the Eastern District Court of Appeals. After graduating law school, Matt clerked for Judge Jack K. Regan, a United States District Judge, Eastern District of Missouri. He then went on to practice at Padberg, McSweeney, Slater & Merz, from 1984 to 1999. In 1999, he founded the Padberg, Corrigan & Appelbaum law firm where he continues to serve as a principal and partner.
Michael Corrigan founded the Padberg, Corrigan & Appelbaum law firm in 1999, and focuses his practice on representing clients who are injured in automobile accidents, truck accidents, work accidents, product liability, medical malpractice and wrongful death. Mike has successfully obtained hundreds of settlements throughout his career and has tried more than 60 personal injury cases in Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky courts, including multiple cases exceeding $1,000,000.00 recoveries for trucking accident victims and their families.
Over the past 29 years, Mike has been awarded and recognized for his outstanding ability to represent clients. In 2000, he was one of only three attorneys who received the prestigious Lon 0. Hocker Trial Lawyer Award by The Missouri Bar. Then in 2008, the National Trial Lawyers Association named him one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers. Additionally, Mike is a member of The Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America working to eliminate unsafe and illegal interstate trucking practices.
Before founding Padberg, Corrigan & Appelbaum, Mike attended the University of Missouri - Columbia where he earned his J.D in 1990 and a Bachelor Degree in economics in 1987.
Mike was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where his father, William Corrigan, served as a St. Louis County Circuit Judge for 35 years. Mike has been married to his wife, Leslie, for more than 25 years and they have three beautiful children, Jenny, Sarah, and Joe. Mike is an active member in the Catholic Church, and enjoys coaching his children's basketball, soccer and football teams.
Nicole Burlison Knepper dedicates her practice to people who have been injured. She has broad experience and a proven track record with complex personal injury cases involving auto accidents, workplace injuries, defective products, premises liability, and other types of cases. Throughout her career, Nicole has litigated cases in state, federal and appellate courts. She understands the challenges facing injured people and is a devoted representative of her clients.
In addition to her legal practice, Nicole serves on the Executive Committee of the Lawyers' Association of St. Louis. She volunteers her time helping children who have been affected by the criminal justice system, as a member of BAMSL's Motion for Kids committee. Nicole is also a member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, a group of attorneys protecting the rights of individuals to pursue justice and the standards of the civil justice system among trial attorneys.
Nicole grew up in St. Charles County with her three sisters. She then moved to Columbia, Missouri to attend the University of Missouri - Columbia where she earned bachelor degrees in French and International Studies. She moved to St. Louis and attended law school at St. Louis University, where she met her husband. Today, they continue to live in St. Louis with their two children.
Theresa A. Appelbaum has been representing clients in the St. Louis metropolitan area for more than 20 years. As a partner at Padberg, Corrigan & Appelbaum, Teri focuses her practice on plaintiff's personal injury, including wrongful death, automobile collisions, medical malpractice, workers' compensation, construction accidents and premises liability. She is widely recognized for her experience in these practice areas and often authors publications and gives lectures on pertinent topics.
She serves on the Board of Governors for the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA) which is a Missouri professional organization whose purpose is to preserve the rights of injured people in the Courts. She co-chairs the MATA Amicus Committee where she authors legal briefs in Missouri Supreme Court and appellate courts statewide on legal issues impacting the victims of injury or death. Additionally, Teri serves on the Executive Committee of the Lawyers Association of St. Louis and is currently the President-Elect. The Lawyers Association of St. Louis is a St. Louis metropolitan trial lawyers organization consisting of plaintiff's lawyers, defense lawyers and judges. Its purpose is to maintain professionalism, integrity and fellowship among the members of the trial bar.
Teri attended the University of Missouri-St. Louis where she earned her B.A. in History, summa cum laude, in 1993. She then earned her law degree from St. Louis University School of Law, magna cum laude, in 1996. During law school Teri was elected to the Order of the Woolsack honor society and received academic achievement awards in the study of Evidence and Civil Procedure.
A native to St. Louis, Teri and her husband Paul and daughter Meghan live in St. Louis County. Teri is passionate about her family and her community. She is active in charitable organizations, including the BackStoppers, St. Patrick Center and St. Peter Catholic Church in Kirkwood.