POMERANTZ SHERMAN - Key Persons
Lori Koch began her career in the Firm's Litigation Practice over 30 years ago, but now divides her time between the Firm's Litigation Practice and the Firm's Business Practice. She has handled the majority of the Firm's appellate matters for the past 25 years, writing appellate briefs and presenting oral argument in state and federal appellate courts in Missouri and Illinois.
Lori was instrumental in a number of appellate decisions recognizing new causes of action and doctrines, including the doctrine of comparative fault on the part of an insured for failing to read the insurance policy and recognition of a subrogation claim against the test driver of a dealership's automobile.
Most recently, Lori wrote the briefs for an Illinois Supreme Court case which reversed an Illinois appellate court opinion requiring expert testimony in order to admit photos of vehicle damage in a low impact motor vehicle accident case. Lori specializes in defending insurance brokers, real estate brokers, appraisers, and accountants from professional negligence claims. She routinely participates in educational programs designed to teach insurance brokers "best practices" to avoid claims.
When not working, Lori likes to spend time with family, enjoys gardening and hiking and is an avid auto racing fan.
Bob Tucker is a civil trial lawyer and St. Louis native who has practiced in St. Louis County, City and other venues for more than 30 years. He is past president of the Lawyers Association of St. Louis and former law clerk to Missouri Supreme Court Justice Albert Rendlen. Bob concentrates his practice in the field of civil litigation. His civil litigation practice has been extremely diverse, representing individuals and businesses as plaintiffs and defendants in various types of professional, product and premises liability cases as well as personal injury, wrongful death, property, construction, commercial, title and insurance disputes. He is experienced in appellate practice and has a particular specialty defending insurance brokers.
His verdicts have ranged from a $1 million plus recovery after a three-week trial for an O'Fallon, Missouri subdivision in a construction defect case, a defense verdict for an insurance agency sued in the city of St. Louis for damages exceeding $3 million arising from a brain injury to a boxer at a downtown hotel - named as one of the top 10 Missouri defense verdicts in 2014 by the Missouri Lawyers Weekly, and a $703,000 verdict for owners of a Hazelwood, Missouri apartment complex denied insurance coverage following a 2011 storm loss.
Bob has been a lecturer at CLE programs on litigation and trial practice and is a member of the Missouri Supreme Court's Judicial Performance Review Committee. Bob balances the stress of litigation by spending time with grandchildren, in the pool as a longtime masters swimmer, or somewhere on a river whitewater paddling or canoe-camping.