Cameron Jones Originally from Zeigler, Illinois, Cameron graduated from Lindenwood University with a B.A. in Political Science. He obtained his law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law. Discover more about Cameron by clicking here!    Nicholas Bonastia  Nick is born and raised in St. Louis.  He attended law school at the University of Illinois College of Law, obtained his B.S. in Finance and MBA from Elmhurst University.     While attending the University of Illinois College of Law, he was Vice President of the Sports and Entertainme ..read more

What is Mediation?  Mediation is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) wherein an impartial person assists others in reaching a resolution of a conflict or dispute. Rule 17.01 of the Missouri Supreme Court describes mediation as “a process in which a neutral third party facilitates communications between the parties to promote settlement.” The important aspect of mediation is that, unlike the traditional court process, the parties decide the ultimate outcome of their resolution as opposed to a single decision-maker. There were several references made throughout ancient and mo ..read more

Every case is different – an adage sometimes declared when distinguishing facts of one case to the next. This approach nearly always leads to case-specific strategy considerations and, for a trial lawyer, many times the concern is how a jury will receive the evidence at trial. In some lawsuits, particularly personal injury or wrongful death cases, liability might be so clear that a lawyer or their client might consider admitting fault and instead choose to argue about causation or damages. Often, considerations here may include the length or cost of trial, whether the evidence establishing ..read more

At Gausnell, O’Keefe & Thomas, we pride ourselves not only on the exceptional legal services we provide but also on the dedicated, award winning team that supports our attorneys. As we celebrate Administrative Professionals Day, we extend our gratitude to our invaluable legal administrative support staff who play a pivotal role in our daily operations. Our legal administrative professionals are the backbone of our firm, diligently managing countless tasks with efficiency and precision. From scheduling appointments and working with deadlines to organizing documents and managing case fil ..read more

RSMo. §516.105 provides that patients have two years to file medical malpractice actions against health-care and mental-health providers subject to limited, judicially-created exceptions. In Templeton v. Orth¹, a case just handed down by Missouri’s Supreme Court, Mr. Templeton was involved in a golf cart accident on September 16, 2012, at which time he was ejected into a barbed wire fence and tree, injuring his right leg. Dr. Orth began treating him on September 18, 2012, and subsequently operated on his leg. Dr. Orth released Mr. Templeton from his care on December 6, 2012, via a clinic n ..read more

Section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against any individual with respect to their compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The central question inherent in a Section 703 case is whether a given employment-related action constitute a sufficient harm or “adverse action.” While firing or demoting an employee are clear examples of adverse employment actions, the line can otherwise be blurry when it comes to failing to promote or denying ..read more

As we embark on another year, we are immediately buffeted by industry analysts’ trend reports assessing years past and providing forward-looking advice. Universally, these experts point to continued risk of economic fluctuations and financial uncertainty as the major risk factors in the construction industry. Facing rising material costs, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and unpredictable market dynamics, the financial stability of construction projects is increasingly under threat. Adrift amongst these challenges, cost and price escalation clauses in construction contracts provi ..read more

On February 15, 2024, the Lawyers Association of St. Louis and the Mound City Bar Association presented their 29th Annual Honorable Theodore McMillian Black History Month Dinner at the modern Live! By Loews Hotel at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Gausnell, O’Keefe & Thomas sponsored the event, another capacity crowd. This event is a credit to the founding principles of the Lawyers Association, organized in 1934, and that of the Mound City Bar, established 12 years before, to improve the administration of justice; uphold the honor of the legal profession; promote professional d ..read more

On February 13, 2024, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District addressed the use of artificial intelligence (“A.I.”) by a litigant in an appeal. Kruse v. Karlen, Cause No.: ED111172 (Mo. App. E.D. Feb. 13, 2024). The ruling in Kruse is the first decision of any kind in Missouri to focus on the use of A.I. by a litigant in the preparation of pleadings. Indeed, no other Missouri case has ever mentioned A.I.—much less discussed the use of A.I. and its potential to generate fictitious cases. However, numerous other jurisdictions have dealt with litigants using A.I. and the generation of ..read more

Gausnell, O’Keefe, & Thomas, LLC is excited to announce Principal Attorney Derek P. Ruzicka has been promoted within the firm to member and co-owner. His elevation is a recognition of his loyalty, hard work, and shared vision for the continued growth of the firm. In making the announcement, co-founder and fellow member Seth Gausnell noted, “Derek is a great addition to our team and we look forward to continuing to work with him for many years to come. We are very fortunate to have him as part of GOT.” Derek will continue to focus his trial practice in a diverse range of areas, with an ..read more