Practices

William E. Hanna

Partner

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1201 Walnut, Suite 2900
Kansas City, MO 64106

Recognitions Articles/Presentations overview

William has obtained successful results for clients in jury and non-jury trials in both state and federal courts in Missouri and Kansas. He has extensive lead counsel trial experience, and has handled appeals in state and federal courts. He has practiced in courts across the nation in a wide variety of complex class action, business and product liability matters. William’s practice includes ERISA and non-ERISA litigation in the life, health and disability fields. William has an "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Representative Experience

Successfully opposed class certification in case involving catastrophic damage to hundreds of property owners resulting from flood of oil refinery and subsequent oil spill.
Presently serves as national counsel for a telecommunications company in a multiple class action lawsuits across the country in which plaintiffs seek damages in the tens of millions of dollars.
Successfully defended a lending institution in a putative class action filed in California state court alleging violations of the California Unfair Competition Law and the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law. After rulings from the trial court that limited plaintiff’s ability to engage in discovery that would have exceeded the scope of the allegations raised in plaintiff’s Petition, plaintiff appealed the trial court’s rulings to both the California Court of Appeals and the California Supreme Court. Both courts affirmed the rulings of the trial court. Shortly after the ruling by the California Supreme Court, plaintiff dismissed her Petition with prejudice.
Obtained summary judgment ruling dismissing claims of negligent misrepresentation, as well as claims that a disability insurance policy’s definition of “total disability” was ambiguous, in Karlin, M.D. v. The Paul Revere Life Insurance Co., 742 F.Supp.2d 1253 (D. Kan. 2010).
Presently representing a lending institution in class action litigation pending in federal district court arising out of consumer loan transactions, in which plaintiffs allege violations of the Missouri Uniform Commercial Code and the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.
Successfully defended a state university medical center in multi-district litigation involving hundreds of lawsuits filed against it.
Obtained summary judgment in an ERISA case on behalf of insurer facing disability claim in excess of $1.5 million. Wolfe v. Advance Insurance of Kansas, 2009 WL 2106138 (D. Kan. July 16, 2009).
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Kansas company in multi-million dollar wrongful death claim in Price v. Western Resources, Inc., 50 F.Supp.2d 1057 (D. Kan. 1999).
Obtained summary judgments, dismissals and favorable settlements on behalf of numerous insurers and employers involving claims for benefits under life, health and disability plans.
Successfully asserted ERISA preemption as a defense to a wrongful death/medical malpractice claim in Kuhl v. Lincoln Resources, 999 F.2d 2978 (2d Cir. 1993), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1045 (1994).

Education

Baylor University, J.D., 1989
    Order of Barristers
    Runner-up, Outstanding Oralist, Moot Court Competition, 1988

University of Kansas, B.A., with honors and highest distinction, 1986
    Omicron Delta Kappa
    Owl Society

Harvard University, 1985 Summer School

Of Note

An avid runner, William has completed the 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, the 2004 and 2008 ING New York City Marathon, the 2006 Disney World Marathon and the 2006 Marine Corps Marathon.

Community Involvement

Colonial Presbyterian Church, Elder
“Character That Counts” (faith-oriented organization that focuses upon character, integrity and accountability), Chairman of the Board
Susan G. Komen For The Cure Breast Cancer Foundation, Greater Kansas City Affiliate, former Vice President
Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Alpha Nu Education Foundation, President
Kansas City Centurions Program (civic leadership program sponsored by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce), Graduate

Bar Admissions

Missouri, 1989
Kansas, 1990
Kansas Supreme Court
United States District Court for the Western Eastern Districts of Missouri
United States District Court for the District of Kansas
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth and Tenth Circuits
United States Supreme Court

Professional Affiliations

Defense Research Institute
National Institute of Trial Advocacy
University of Missouri Trial Institute
Ross T. Roberts Inns of Court Program
The Missouri Bar
Kansas Bar Association