Thomas C DeVoto

Thomas C DeVoto

The DeVoto Law Firm
  • Personal Injury, Products Liability, Workers' Compensation
  • Missouri
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Biography

MY FIRM'S MISSION STATEMENT - IT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE USUAL STANDARD STATEMENTS BY MANY PERSONAL INJURY FIRMS OR LAWYERS. We all see statements such as: "We care about you" Do you really think any law firm would advertize or have a mission statement that they don't care! Here is another interest tag line. "Experienced and Professional" I have never seen an ad or mission statement that we have no experience and we are unprofessional. For Pete's sake, lawyers are all professionals licensed by the Missouri Bar. Likewise you will see words such as "aggressive", "compassionate" "serious" or statements such as "no recovery - no fee", "we can help", "Quality Legal Representation" and of course the always "free initial consultation". Every person and every case are different. There is no cookie cutter method of handling personal injury cases. I know that there are hundreds of lawyers in the metropolitan area who "handle personal injury cases" Our goal is to provide you with the most information possible to help you understand how the system works and if you choose to hire my firm to advise you and keep you informed throughout the process. We want to make certain you have all the information to make the right decisions for you and or your family starting with the basics: 1. Do I need a lawyer? 2. How do I hire the right lawyer? 3. Can I settle my property damage claim separately from my injury claim? 4. Do I need a lawyer for my property damage claim? 5. Should I talk to the other guy's insurance adjuster? 6. Should I let them record a statement? 7. Should I give them the names of the doctor's and hospitals where I was treated? 8. Should I sign medical authorizations to let the other guy's insurance company? 9. Should I notify my insurance company? It has happened to me and my family: 1. My father was killed by a young driver who was under the influence of alcohol when I was 21. The horrific damage and effects of that accident are damaging my family today, as you read

Education
Saint Louis University
J.D. | Law
Saint Louis University Logo
Fairfield University
B.A. (1972) | History, English, Political Science and Spanish
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Professional Experience
Attorney
The DeVoto Law Firm
- Current
Senior Partner
Wuestling, James & DeVoto
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Associate/Junior Partner
Gray & Ritter
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Evidence at Trial: The Essentials. Practical Evidence for Civil Litigators
Case Law Update
The Opening Statement
Supplement Chapter 9 Missouri Civil Practice MoBar CLE
The Opening Statement
Chapter 9, Missouri Civil Practice, MoBar CLE
Agency
Supplement to Chapter 7, Problems of Proof
Employer's Liability for Negligence
Supplement Chapter 4, Missouri Tort Law, Vol. 1
Innkeepers Liability
Supplement, Torts II
Death and Derivative Actions
Missouri Problems of Proof
Juveniles and the Law
St. Louis Bar Journal
Awards
Plaintiff's Product Liability
Best Lawyers in America
100 Top Trial Lawyers
National Trial Lawyers Association
Super Lawyer
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Magazine
Super Lawyer
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyer Magazine
Plaintiff's Personal Injury
Marquis Who's Who In American Law
Super Lawyer
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Magazine
Five years 2008-2013
Trial Attorney Award
Lon Hocker
Fifty years ago, Mary B. Hocker established the Lon O. Hocker awards to memorialize her husband's faith in our system of law. Lon O. Hocker loved the law and believed the law was the foundation of our freedom. Further, he believed that the courts, and only the courts, could preserve that law, and he believed the trial lawyer was the key to our system of justice. In Mary's words, Lon O. Hocker recognized the importance of trial lawyers "in seeing that all who came before the courts of justice were given a fair trial regardless of race, color, condition of purse, or religion." The award is presented annually to three lawyers 36 years of age or younger - one each from the St. Louis, Kansas City and outstate Missouri areas - in recognition of outstanding trial work. Past recipients are among the finest lawyers in the profession.
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
The Martindale-Hubbell® PEER REVIEW RATINGS™ are an objective indicator of a lawyer's high ethical standards and professional ability, generated from evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States and Canada. The first review to establish a lawyer's rating usually occurs three years after his/her first admission to the bar.
Professional Associations
Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
Member
Current
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Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Member
Current
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The Missouri Bar Foundation
Fellow
- Current
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American Association for Justice
Member
- Current
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The Lawyers Association of St. Louis
Sustaining Member
- Current
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Missouri Bar
Member
- Current
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American Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Lawyers Association of St. Louis
Executive Committee
-
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Missouri
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6th Circuit
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7th Circuit
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8th Circuit
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U.S. Supreme Court
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Practice Areas
    Personal Injury
    Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
    Products Liability
    Drugs & Medical Devices, Motor Vehicle Defects, Toxic Torts
    Workers' Compensation
Additional Practice Areas
  • Brain and Spinal Injury
  • Car Accidents
  • Natural and Propane Gas Explosion
  • Semi Truck Accidents
  • Tanker Truck Explosions
  • Unisured and Underinsured Motorist
Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Blog
St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney - Thomas DeVoto
Videos
Grain Elevator.wmv

Hi, I'm Tom DeVoto, St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney. A couple of weeks ago, I posted a video on the Indiana St. Fair stage collapse tragedy in response to questions that clients, friends and family members had about the tragic situation. I indicated that the Indiana law had a waiver of liability with a personal liability cap of $750,000 and an aggregate cap of $5 million depending on how many people have been injured, the money would be split up among the victims. 

On September 1, 2011, the State of Indiana announced that a fund with the $5 million was set up for funerals, medical bills and other related needs. The State of Indiana will no longer have responsibly after the $5 million has been spent. 

The interesting question is; "How the money will be divided among the victims?"

Will setting up a fund, prevent an individual from setting up a personal lawsuit to get a larger portion of the settlement? Sugar Land Stage Collapse Settlement Response from a St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney

Hi, I'm Tom DeVoto, St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney. A couple of weeks ago, I posted a video on the Indiana St. Fair stage collapse tragedy in response to questions that clients, friends and family members had about the tragic situation. I indicated that the Indiana law had a waiver of liability with a personal liability cap of $750,000 and an aggregate cap of $5 million depending on how many people have been injured, the money would be split up among the victims. On September 1, 2011, the State of Indiana announced that a fund with the $5 million was set up for funerals, medical bills and other related needs. The State of Indiana will no longer have responsibly after the $5 million has been spent. The interesting question is; "How the money will be divided among the victims?" Will setting up a fund, prevent an individual from setting up a personal lawsuit to get a larger portion of the settlement?

St Louis Personal Injury Attorney, Thomas DeVoto speaks about the limit caps and aggregate gaps that the Indiana may have to pay if a lawsuit is won from a defendant of this tragedy. Many questions and many lawsuits may come out of this event. Sugarland Indiana Stage Collapse Thoughts from a Personal Injury Attorney

St Louis Personal Injury Attorney, Thomas DeVoto speaks about the limit caps and aggregate gaps that the Indiana may have to pay if a lawsuit is won from a defendant of this tragedy. Many questions and many lawsuits may come out of this event.

This video subject is about getting into a car accident and the things you need to do when in a car accident. This information is very important in any car accident case. The things you need to get is:

Things to record about yourself
• Date and Time of accident
• Location of accident
• The direction the car was headed

Information about the other driver
• Driver Name
• Address
• DOB
• License 

Owner of information if car is owned by someone else besides the driver
• Address
• Date of Birth

Other Vehicle Information
• Make and Model of other Vehicle
• Drivers Plate Number
• VIN if possible
• Witnesses are also important
• Name and Address
• Date of Birth
• Contact Phone Number

Do not leave the scene until the police arrive. Get the police officers name, case number and the officer's department service number. St Louis Personal Injury Attorney talks about what to do while in an accident

This video subject is about getting into a car accident and the things you need to do when in a car accident. This information is very important in any car accident case. The things you need to get is: Things to record about yourself • Date and Time of accident • Location of accident • The direction the car was headed Information about the other driver • Driver Name • Address • DOB • License Owner of information if car is owned by someone else besides the driver • Address • Date of Birth Other Vehicle Information • Make and Model of other Vehicle • Drivers Plate Number • VIN if possible • Witnesses are also important • Name and Address • Date of Birth • Contact Phone Number Do not leave the scene until the police arrive. Get the police officers name, case number and the officer's department service number.

This Supreme Court case was brought by a California couple who objected to a $30 charge for what was said to be a free cellphone. They had signed a "take it or leave it" standard contract from AT&T Mobility that required them to resolve disputes through arbitration and barred them from banding together with others to seek class-action treatment, whether in arbitration or in traditional litigation in court. Supreme Court Allows Contracts That Prohibit Class-Action Arbitration in the AT&T Arbitration Case

This Supreme Court case was brought by a California couple who objected to a $30 charge for what was said to be a free cellphone. They had signed a "take it or leave it" standard contract from AT&T Mobility that required them to resolve disputes through arbitration and barred them from banding together with others to seek class-action treatment, whether in arbitration or in traditional litigation in court.

The United States Supreme Court held in Pliva, Inc. v. Mensing that federal drug labeling laws directly conflict with, and therefore impliedly preempt, state law failure-to-warn claims against generic drug manufacturers. Mensing is the latest in a series of federal preemption cases involving the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Generic Drug Preemption

The United States Supreme Court held in Pliva, Inc. v. Mensing that federal drug labeling laws directly conflict with, and therefore impliedly preempt, state law failure-to-warn claims against generic drug manufacturers. Mensing is the latest in a series of federal preemption cases involving the pharmaceutical and medical device industry.

St Louis Product Liability Attorney Talks About Kia Seat Belt Product Liability Video

St Louis Texting While Driving Attorney

Ryan Dunn - Jackass Star - Drunk Driving Possible Wrongful Death Suit Ryan Dunn - Jackass Star - Drunk Driving Possible Wrongful Death Suit

Ryan Dunn - Jackass Star - Drunk Driving Possible Wrongful Death Suit

Contact & Map
The DeVoto Law Firm
7646 Watson Rd
St. Louis, MO 63119
Toll-Free: (866) 961-0330