Amy Collignon Gunn

My focus for more than 25 years has been to advocate fearlessly for clients who have been injured because of the negligence and recklessness of others. Whether you have been hurt by a healthcare provider’s error, a driver’s wrongful actions, or a corporation’s decision to sell a defective product, I have the expertise and insight to right that wrong. My clients hire me to take on their problems and solve them.

Having tried nearly 50 cases to jury verdict brings an intensity and focus to my work that is reflected in the exceptional preparation and great care I take with every case and client. Opposing counsel and their clients know which attorneys try cases, and which do not.  That knowledge is commonly reflected in higher settlement offers in cases where defendants know the attorneys are not too intimidated to show up at trial. I am not afraid, and I will always show up.

Below are some of my results from jury trials and settlements:

• $22 Million – Product Liability 
• $10 Million – Mass Tort/Product Liability
• $10 Million – Medical Malpractice 
• $6.5 Million – Medical Malpractice
• $6 Million – Product Liability
• $7 Million – Medical Malpractice 
• $5.75 Million – Medical Malpractice
• $2.8 Million – Product Liability/Medical Malpractice
• $3 Million – Medical Malpractice
• $2 Million – Product Liability/Wrongful Death
• Numerous settlements in excess of $1 Million in Product Liability, Medical Malpractice, and Motor Vehicle Collision cases

My motto is simple: “I’m nice, until I’m provoked.” 

In practice, if my opponents treat me, my team, and our clients with respect, they will happily get the same in return. If that practice ever changes, I will forever maintain my composure, but I will not tolerate incivility, and there will be measurable consequences. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, and I will ensure that result.  

I am not satisfied until justice is served—whether that takes weeks or years, and whether it happens through a settlement or a jury trial. I’m a serious person with serious responsibilities that I do not take lightly. I will guide you through the complexities of the legal proceedings and lead you to a resolution that will enable you or your loved one to move forward. Put simply, I will fight tirelessly for you and earn your trust.  Isn’t that what you are looking for in a lawyer? If so, call me, so I can help.  

TEACHING

• Missouri Association of Defense Lawyers (MODL) Trial Academy, Faculty Member and Presenter, 2013–2015, 2022, 2023 
• Attorneys Information Exchange Group (AIEG), Trial College Faculty Member, 2019, 2022 
• Guest Lecturer at Missouri State University, Department of Public Health and Sports Medicine, A Discussion of Legal Liability in the Setting of Athletic Training Professionals, November, 2020 
• Attorneys Information Exchange Group (AIEG), Trucking Seminar, Faculty Member, November, 2017, 2018 
• Guest Lecturer at Saint Louis University School of Law, Law and the Regulation of Science, Spring, 2016 
• Adjunct Professor of Pretrial Litigation at Washington University School of Law, Fall, 2001–2015 (recipient of 10 years of service recognition, 2011)
• Guest Lecturer at Washington University School of Law, Product Liability Class, Spring Semester, 2010, 2012 
• American Association of Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition, Coach for Saint Louis University School of Law Team, 2009

APPOINTMENTS

• Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees, 2023–present
• Saint Louis University High School Board of Trustees, 2023–present 
• Eastern District of Missouri Merit Selection Panel for the Appointment of Magistrate Judges, Chair, 2022
• Eastern District of Missouri Merit Selection Panel for the Re-Appointment of a Magistrate Judge, Chair, 2022 
• Missouri Supreme Court Civil Rules Committee, 2017–present

REPORTED CASES

• Shallow, et al. v. Follwell, et al., 554 S.W.3d 878 (Mo. banc 2018) 
• Shallow, et al. v. Follwell, et al., ED No. 103811 (Mo. App. E.D. 2017) 
• Jefferson ex rel. Jefferson v. Missouri Baptist Medical Center, 447 S.W.3d 701 (Mo. App. E.D. 2014) 
• Block v. Toyota Motor Corp., 665 F.3d 944 (8th Cir. 2011)

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL)
  • Trial Tested: A Podcast by the American College of Trial Lawyers, Host
  • Chair of the podcast ACTL Trial Tested Committee, 2023–present
  • Vice Chair ACTL National Outreach Committee, 2020–2022
  • Member of the State Committee, 2019–present
• Fellow, International Academy of Trial Attorneys 2022–present
• American Association for Justice (AAJ)
  • Member of the Women’s Caucus
• American Bar Association
• American Bar Foundation, Fellow (State Co-Chair, 2016–2018)
• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) 2017–present
  • Secretary/Treasurer (2019–2020)
  • Vice President (2020–2021)
• Attorneys Information Exchange Group (AIEG), Board of Governors, 2018–present
  • Co-Chair Medical Malpractice Committee, AIEG, 2023–present 
  • CLE Co-Chair, 2021–2023 
  • Founder of AIEG Women’s Caucus, 2019–present 
• Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL)
  • Treasurer, 2013–2015 
  • Women in the Legal Profession Committee 
  • Bench and Bar CLE Planning Committee 
  • John C. Shepherd Professionalism Award Committee
• Chambers USA–Band 1 
• Illinois Bar Association
• Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA)
  • President, 2023–2024 
  • Vice-President, 2022–2023 
  • Board of Governors, 2005–present 
• Missouri Bar Association
• Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees, 2023–present
• Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater St. Louis
  • President, 2017
  • President-Elect, 2016
  • Board Member-At-Large, 2008–2013

MARTINDALE-HUBBELL RATING

• AV Peer Review Rating for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability
• Women’s AV Preeminent Rating

MEDIA

• Heels in the Courtroom podcast, host and founding member, 2020–present
• Trial Tested podcast by the American College of Trial Lawyers, host and founding member, 2021–present 
• The Jury is Out, podcast, occasional guest, 2020–present
• Occasion guest on The Charlie Brennon Show, KMOX, AM 1120
• Occasion guest on the Mark Reardon Show (when hosted by Brad Young), KFTK, FM 97.1
• Appearance on Fox 2 Now, December 3, 2024: Simon Law Helps Victims Of Misdiagnosis 
• Guest, Stand and Fight with Nick Schroer, radio show, on the topic of the effort by Bayer to legislate immunity for failure to warn claims re: Roundup, April 28, 2024 
• KSDK guest appearance for 3M combat arms news story, May, 2022: https://www.ksdk.com/video/news/verify/verify-yes-ads-targeting-service-members-who-used-3m-earplugs-are-a-common-practice-by-law-firms/

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Screening Your Medical Malpractice Cases: Increasing Your Chances Of Litigation Success, AIEG VOICE, Medical Malpractice Edition, Winter 2023
• Witness Impeachment 101, TRIAL, Vol. 59, No. 5, May 2023
• Why We Should All Be Listening: An Interview with Journalist Kate Murphy, JOURNAL THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF TRIAL LAWYERS, Issue 99, Summer 2022
• Changes to Missouri Supreme Court Rules of Civil Procedure, No Longer “Purported” to be Amended, THE MISSOURI TRIAL ATTORNEY, Summer 2021
• Hospitals off the hook, Patients. . . out of luck. AIEG VOICE, Medical Malpractice Edition, Winter 2020 (co-written with Elizabeth S. Lenivy)
• Danger Ahead: The Risks of Truck Platooning and Status of State Legislation, AIEG VOICE, Spring 2019 (co-written with Elizabeth S. Lenivy)
• On Women Lawyers, ST. LOUIS LAWYER, Vol. 69, Nov. 2018 
• Daubert: Yes! No! Maybe?, THE ST. LOUIS BAR JOURNAL, Vol. 65, No. 1, Summer 2018 (co-written with Elizabeth S. Lenivy)
• President’s Message, Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater St. Louis Newsletter, Fall, 2017, Spring 2018, Summer 2018
• The Value of Medical Bills? The Wait is Over, THE MISSOURI TRIAL ATTORNEY, Fall 2009
• Medical Device Preemption: Riegel v. Medtronic, Inc. and Its Aftermath, THE MISSOURI TRIAL ATTORNEY, Summer 2009
• The Rewards of Giving Back, SAINT LOUIS BRIEF, Spring 2009
• Life is a Spinning Plate, and I Want to Balance It!, WLA Newsletter, Spring 2008
• Let’s Thank the Role Models, ST. LOUIS LAWYER, Jan. 2008
• Since When Is “Too Nice” A Fault?, XLV ST. LOUIS LAWYER 12, 2007
• Tort Immunity for Public Service Not-For-Profit Corporations, 4 IDC QUARTERLY 6, 1997
• Structural Work Act Repeal Retroactive?, 4 IDC QUARTERLY 50, 1996
• Searching for an Acceptable Reasonable Doubt Jury Instruction in Light of Victor v. Nebraska, 40 ST. LOUIS U. L.J 145, 1996

PRESENTATIONS

• Medical Malpractice 101, Panelist, AIEG Spring Conference, April 4, 2024 
• Panelist, AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus Leadership Summit, February 9, 2024 
• Report on Whip-It Verdict, AIEG Fall Conference, October 19, 2023 
• Keynote Speaker at the Wisconsin Association for Justice, Women’s Caucus Retreat, Sept. 2023 
• MATA President’s Address, June 2023 
• Audit Trails: Don’t Take No For An Answer, AIEG Spring Conference, April 19, 2023 
• Keynote Panel Speaker, Arizona Women Lawyers Association 43rd Annual Convention, Oct. 2022 
• Medical Malpractice Cases Post-COVID, AIEG Spring Conference, July 30, 2021 
• Medical Malpractice: Preparing to Litigate and Mediate, USA&M Best Practices Series, June 24, 2021 
• This Year in the Missouri Legislature, Annual Simon Seminar for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, June 22, 2021 
• Work-Life Balance, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Women in the Legal Profession Committee, Panel Discussion, May 21, 2021 
• Imposter Syndrome, University of Missouri School of Law, Women’s Lawyer Association, Panel Discussion, February 24, 2021 
• Guardianship/PR for Plaintiff: How Does It Work and Why Should You Consider It? AIEG Virtual Trucking Symposium, February 11, 2021 
• A Survey of Legal Podcasts, AIEG Virtual Symposium, November 19, 2020 
• Communicating with Judges: Motions, Conferences and More, NBI, Moderator, May 1, 2020 
• Managing Home and Office: Worlds Colliding, AIEG, Panelist/Moderator, April 1, 2020 
• Women Who Lead in Law, Panel Discussion, June 27, 2019 
• Legislative and Mass Tort Changes in Missouri, The Simon Law Firm P.C. Hon. Richard B. Teitelman Memorial Seminar to Benefit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, June 25, 2019 
• Personal Injury Litigation, Secrets and Insider Tips, NBI, June 14, 2019 
• Trial Wars Return of the Jury, Mock Trial Presenter, American College of Trial Lawyer/BAMSLs, June 11, 2019 
• AIEG, Trial College, Coach, June 5–7, 2019 
• Young Lawyer—How to Optimize your Resources, BAMSL, Bench and Bar Conference, May 30, 2019 
• As Judges See It: Top Mistakes Attorneys Make in Civil Litigation, NBI, Moderator, May 10, 2019 
• Advanced Mediator Training, USA&M, Negotiation & Mediation of Medical Malpractice Cases, September 29, 2018 
• Legislation Impacting Litigators, Missouri Bar Annual Conference, Moderator, September 27, 2018 
• Plaintiff’s Auto Injury Litigation, NBI Video Webcast, September 17, 2018 
• Closing Arguments, BAMSL, Bench and Bar Conference, May 31, 2018 
• What Judges Think: Real-World Scenarios in Civil Court-An Interactive Workshop, NBI, Moderator, April 6, 2018 
• Missouri Adopts Daubert: What You Need to Know, BAMSL Friday Fundamentals, November 3, 2017 
• Saint Louis University School of Law Outlaws Panel on Implicit Bias, October 17, 2017 
• Local Government Law From Start to Finish, Government Attorney Ethics: Protect Your Client and Yourself, NBI, September 19, 2017 
• Making Objections at Trial, Missouri Bar Webinar, July 25, 2017 
• Personal Injury from A to Z, NBI, June 30, 2017 
• Legislative and Mass Tort Changes in Missouri, The Simon Law Firm Annual Seminar to Benefit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, June 20, 2017 
• Saint Louis University School of Law Deline Ethics and Professionalism Program for First-Year Law Students, March 27, 2017 
• 5th Annual E-Discovery Symposium, Ethical Collection (Panel Discussion), October 21, 2016 
• Plaintiff’s Auto Injury Litigation, NBI Video Webcast, May 13, 2016 
• Advanced Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Law, NBI, April 21, 2016 
• First Chair Society, Guest Speaker, Saint Louis University School of Law, February 23, 2016 
• Expert Witnesses: Using Court Rules to Your Advantage, NBI Video Webcast, October 22, 2015 
• Telling Your Client’s Story With Technology—David or Goliath? (Panel Discussion), Missouri Bar Annual Meeting, October 8, 2015 
• Auto Injuries: Advanced Plaintiff Strategies, NBI, September 25, 2015 
• Take Control: Proving Doctors are Employees of Hospitals, Webinar, December 9, 2014 
• How to Avoid $1,000/day Penalties—Statutory Compliance with the Requirements of Liens, MODL/IDC, September 18, 2014 
• Stacked Deck: Dealing (Still) with Billed v. Paid, MATA Conference, June 21, 2014 
• Anatomy of a Product Liability Case, The Simon Law Firm Seminar to Benefit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, June 17, 2014 
• Product Liability 101, BAMSL, Bench and Bar Conference, May 29, 2014 
• Product Liability 101, St. Louis County Bar Association, May 16, 2014 
• Saint Louis University School of Law Deline Ethics and Professionalism Program for First-Year Law Students, April 4, 2014 
• Introduction of Medical Records and Bills into Evidence, The Best Practice Series, April 4, 2014 
• Applying Medical Knowledge of Injuries to Your Case, NBI, December 9, 2013 
• Pre-Trial Motions, The Simon Law Firm Annual Seminar to Benefit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, June 18, 2013 
• Saint Louis University School of Law Deline Ethics and Professionalism Program for First-Year Law Students, April 5, 2013 
• Medical Malpractice from A to Z, NBI, December 7, 2012 
• Tips on Deposing Lay Witnesses, BAMSL-Bench and Bar Conference, June 1, 2012 
• Medicare Set Asides in Personal Injury Litigation, February 24, 2012 
• Medical Malpractice From A to Z, December 2, 2011 
• The Mechanics of Illinois Civil Procedure, June 29, 2011 
• Where Does the Buck Stop? Dealing with Medical Bills, MATA Conference, June 26, 2011 
• Getting the Most Out of Your Evidence, November 10, 2010 
• Evidence and Expert Testimony Best Practices: Supporting Your Case, January 14, 2010 
• Trial Practice II, Master’s Program, Split Decisions: Admissibility of Medical Bill Evidence in Missouri, September 25, 2009 
• Pharmaceutical Litigation: Avoiding Preemption Pitfalls, June 26, 2009 
• The Value of Medical Bills, The Simon Law Firm Trial Practice Seminar, June 23, 2009 
• Case Evaluation and Venue, BAMSL Bench, Bar and Professional Development Conference, May 29, 2009 
• Document Management in the Trenches: How Paralegals Can Get and Stay Organized, January 29, 2009 
• How to Successfully Resolve Automobile Injury Cases, June 13, 2008 
• Successful Medical Malpractice Suits, April 22, 2008 
• Tips for Handling the Personal Injury Case, December 14, 2007 
• Litigation Case Management: Best Practices for Paralegals, October 8, 2007 
• How to Successfully Resolve Automobile Injury Cases, June 13, 2007 
• Successful Medical Malpractice Suits, April 27, 2007 
• Gaining The Best Settlement in Auto Injury Cases, March 26, 2007 
• Guest Speaker at Washington University School of Law, Health Law Association Luncheon, March 21, 2007 
• Medical-Legal Implications of Placental Pathology, January 29, 2007 
• Plaintiff’s Personal Injury From Start to Finish, June 29, 2006 
• Simon Passanante Trial Practice Seminar (moderator), 2005–2011 
• Keys to Litigating Missouri Bad Faith Cases, June 3, 2005 
• Advanced Trial Advocacy in Missouri, January 19, 2005 
• Ethics in Litigation, December 9, 2004 
• Misconceptions in Medical Malpractice Reform, October 22, 2004 
• State Civil Litigation in Missouri, May 19, 2004 
• Keys to Litigating Missouri Bad Faith Cases, March 30, 2004

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Saint Louis University High School Board of Trustees, 2023–present 
• Our Little Haven, Event Committee Member
• Let’s Start, Event Committee Member