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EXPERIENCE:
Robert Wells has practiced law in the Kansas City area since 1971, and for the last 20 years has handled almost exclusively injury claims. He has extensive jury trial experience, and has successfully handled a wide variety of claims, including automobile and truck collisions, premises liability, product liability, medical negligence, wrongful death, children's injuries, and industrial injuries.
After developing a successful trial practice, Mr. Wells returned to the University of Kansas where he obtained a Doctoral Degree in Communication Studies. His primary focus was the psychology of jury trial practice, and as a result of his studies he published a book entitled "Successful Trial Techniques of Expert Practitioners" as well as numerous articles for legal Journals in the United States and Canada.
After completing his graduate studies, Mr. Wells returned to the practice of law, handling exclusively injury claims. His educational background has given him a unique insight into the jury process and has enhanced his ability to present claims to Judges and juries.
EDUCATION:
B.A. Degree, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 1964-1968
Juris Doctor, University of Kansas School of Law, Lawrence,
Kansas 1968-1971
Law Review, University of Kansas School of Law--1969-1971
Ph.D. Communication Studies, University of Kansas, Lawrence,
Kansas 1981-1986
LICENSURE:
Licensed in Kansas and Missouri
BOOKS:
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"Successful Trial Techniques of Expert
Practitioners,
Trial Practice Series,"
published by
Shepard’s/McGraw-Hill Inc.
Colorado 1988; currently
published by the
West Group in their Litigation Law
Series. |
PUBLICATIONS:
“Survey of Kansas Law and Workers Compensation,"
18
Kansas Law Review, pp 478-491 (1970).
“How Lawyers View Communication,”
Journal of the
Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Vol. 5, No.3, pp. 23-25
(1981).
“Impression Formation and the Jury System: How People Form
Impressions,”
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association, Vol. 6, No. 3 pp. 19-21 (1982).
“Lawyer Credibility, How the Jury Perceives
It,"
Trial Magazine, the Journal of the Association of
Trial Lawyers Of America, Vol. 21, No. 7, pp. 69-72, July 1985.
“The Responsible Lawyer, Minimizing Professional
Liability,”
The Journal of the Kansas Bar Association,
Vol. 55, No. 4 pp. 10-11, May/June 1986.
“Establishing Product Liability and Strict Liability with
Communication Evidence,”
Journal of the Kansas Trial
Lawyers Association, Vol. X, No. 1, pp. 8-10, October 1986.
“Systematic Jury Selection,”
The Advocate,
publication of the Wyandotte County Bar Association, November 1987.
"Juror Credibility Assessments in Civil Trials,"
The Trial Practice Newsletter, Shepards/McGraw-Hill, Inc., Vol. 2, No.2, pp. 1, 4-9, November 1987.
“Lawyer: Know Thyself, How to develop a Successful
Practice,”
Trial Magazine, The Journal of the Association
of Trial Lawyers of America, pp. 66-67, September 1988.
“The Plaintiffs Lawyer’s Persona,“
Journal of the
Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Vol. 13, No.1 pp. 4-6,
September 1989.
“Sign Posts to Success, an Interview with Russ
Herman,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association, Vol.13, No. 2, pp. 5-7, November 1989.
“Sign Posts to Success, an Interview with Bob
Gibbons,”
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 6-8, January 1990.
“Sign Posts to Success, an Interview with Leonard
Decoff,”
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association, Vol. XIII, No. 5, May 1990.
“Sign Posts to Success, an Interview with Scott
Baldwin,”
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association, Vol. 13 No.6, pp. 6-7, July 1990.
“Trends in Litigation, an Interview with Robert
Habash,"
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association, Vol.14, No. 1, pp 5-7, September of 1990.
“An Interview with Gerry Spence: Reflections on the Marcos
Trial and Suggestions on How to Do Well in the
Courtroom,”
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 6-8, November 1990.
“Trying Soft Tissue Damage Cases,"
Journal of the
Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Vol.14, No. 3, pp. 6-11,
January 1991.
“Defending the American Jury System, an Interview with Michael
Maher,”
Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp 7-8, March 1991.
“Evaluating Warnings and Instructions in Product Liability
Claims,”
Journal of the Kansas Trial Layers
Association, Vol. 14, No. 5, pp. 6-10, May 1991.
“Profile of a Trial Lawyer,”
Journal of the Kansas
Trial Lawyer Association, Vol. 14, No. 6, pp. 6-17, July 1991.
“Trying Soft Tissue Damage Cases,”
The
Barrister, the Journal of the Alberta, Canada Trial Lawyers
Association, Issue 21, pp. 16-19, September 1991.
"Trying Soft Tissue Damage Cases,"
Verdict in Brief, Journal of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, Orange County, California, May, 1992.
“Evaluating Dental Negligence,”
Journal of the
Kansas Trial Lawyer Association, Vol. 16 No. 4, pp. 10-12, March
1993.
PRESENTATIONS:
"The Psychology of Trial Tactics," sponsored by the Joint CLE
Committee of the Kansas Bar Association, The University of Kansas
School of Law and the Washburn University of Topeka Law School,
presented at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, September
27,1980.
"Source Credibility: Factors the Jury Will Consider in
Determining Belief," presented at Symposium entitled "Tactics of
Successful Communication for Trial Attorneys” sponsored by the
University of Kansas Department of Communication Studies in
cooperation with the University of Kansas School of Law, held at the
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, June 3, 1983.
"Source Credibility, Impression Formation, and Communication
Skills for Lawyers" presented at the Fourth Annual Trial Tactics
and Techniques Institute held by the Kansas College of Advocacy and
the Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas, July
14-20,1984.
"Systematic Jury Selection," presented at "Trial
Techniques Seminar" sponsored by the Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association Education Fund, Inc., Topeka, Kansas, October 6, 1984.
“Voir Dire,” presented at seminar entitled, “The
Psychological Aspects Of a Jury Trial,” sponsored by the Kansas
Trial Lawyer Association Educational Fund, April 26, 1985, Wichita,
Kansas.
“Jury Selection in Products Liability and Medical Malpractice
Cases,” presented at seminar entitled, “How to Recognize and
Litigate a Products Liability or Medical Malpractice Case,”
sponsored by the Kansas Trial Lawyer Association Educational Fund,
April 15, 1988, Wichita, Kansas.
"Speaking to the Jurors-Voir Dire, Opening Statement, Closing
Statement and Jury Deliberation," panel member at seminar
entitled "The Automobile Case," sponsored by the Kansas Trial
Lawyers Association Educational Fund, in Overland Park, Kansas, May
5, 1989.
"Voir Dire in Automobile Cases," presented at seminar
entitled "Trial by Fire," sponsored by the Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association Educational Fund in Kansas City, Kansas on April 24,
1992.
"Voir Dire in Automobile Cases," presented at seminar
entitled "The Best of Continuing Legal Education," sponsored by the
Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Education Fund at Overland Park,
Kansas on June 19, 1992
"Voir Dire Examination," sponsored by the Wyandotte County
Bar Association at Kansas City, Kansas September 16, 1992,
"Automobile Litigation, the Plaintiffs
Perspective," presented at Seminar entitled "Stairway to
Success, Advanced Techniques, sponsored by the Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association, Overland Park, Kansas, April 16, 1993.
"Doctor-Patient Communication," presented to the Clinical
Science II class at the University of Kansas Medical Center at
Kansas City, Kansas on February 5, 1996 .
"Jury Selection, Opening and Closing Statement," presented
at the Wyandotte County CLE Seminar, Kansas City, Kansas, June 16,
1999.
"Fundamentals Of Workers' Compensation, The Claimant's Perspective,"
presented at Seminar entitled "Fundamental's of Workers' Compensation,"
sponsored by Sterling Educational Services at Kansas City, Missouri, April 23,
2003.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
Kansas Bar Association
Missouri Bar Association
Wyandotte County Bar Association
Johnson County Bar Association
Kansas Trial Lawyers Association
Missouri Trial Lawyers Association
Kansas City Missouri Bar Association
Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Chairman of the Board of Editors of the Kansas Trial Lawyers
Journal 1989-1991
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