Matthew Gist stands out as one of Missouri's preeminent litigators in the areas of employment and police liability defense. He has built a reputation for tackling some of the most high-stakes and complex cases in these fields—especially employment discrimination lawsuits and police liability. By many accounts, he has likely tried more employment discrimination jury trials than any other defense attorney in the Kansas City area-a testament to both his extraordinary courtroom skill and his deep familiarity with the nuances of Missouri employment law. Mr. Gist's client roster includes a host of public-sector clients and public entity risk pools who rely on his counsel when facing sensitive or potentially precedent-setting litigation. His track record includes multiple defense verdicts in state and federal courts, and he has successfully argued on behalf of his clients before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District. Whether representing a municipality in a police liability claim or defending an employer against a high-exposure discrimination lawsuit, Matthew Gist delivers top-tier advocacy, strategic acumen, and an unwavering commitment to achieving optimal outcomes for his clients.
EDUCATION
University of Kansas, B.S (1998)
University of Kansas, J.D. (2002)
BAR ADMISSIONS
Kansas (2002)
Missouri (2003)
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri (2002)
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (2004)
United States District Court for the District of Kansas (2002)
AFFILIATIONS
American Bar Association
The Missouri Bar
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
RESULTS
DEFENSE VERDICT
Matthew Gist and Remington Smith obtained a defense verdict on behalf of Lee's Summit R-7 School District. Plaintiff alleged Gender Discrimination, Disability Discrimination, and Retaliation under Missouri Human Rights Act.
Brandi Markle v. Lee’s Summit R-7 School District—Jackson County Circuit Court, Case No. 1516-CV13364
SUCCESS AT THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
Matthew Gist and Chris Napolitano obtained a favorable opinion from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirming the District Court's granting of summary judgment in favor of their clients in a case brought by seven former sheriff deputies who were terminated after Sheriff Brad Cole was elected Sheriff in 2015. The former deputies sued under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 claiming their First Amendment rights were violated because, as they alleged, they were terminated for supporting Sheriff Cole's political opponent during a 2015 special election. Chris and Matt argued that sheriff deputies in Missouri are the agents of the sheriff and owe the sheriff a duty of loyalty. As a result, the former deputies had no First Amendment right to be the agent of a Sheriff they did not support. The Eighth Circuit agreed and affirmed summary judgment.
John Burns et al v. Brad Cole, et al. Case No. 20-2961 (8th Cir. 2021)
