Practices

James D. Bass

Partner

DIRECT CONTACT
314.719.3044
e-mail | vCard

ST. LOUIS OFFICE
7700 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 1100
St. Louis, MO 63105

Jim has more than 20 years experience representing businesses and individuals in complex litigation, with his practice concentrated on civil, commercial, and employment litigation. His experience ranges from shareholder and insurance disputes, to cases involving intellectual property and technology (including a nine-week trial in federal court regarding software), as well as pursuing and defending injunction actions (including numerous cases in the employment and non-compete development context). Jim has successfully represented clients in appeals before the Missouri Supreme Court, the Missouri Court of Appeals,and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Jim has also handled numerous commercial arbitrations, including receiving seven-figure awards in favor of his clients in shareholder agreement and construction arbitrations. Jim is a partner in the firm’s Business Litigation Division.

Representative Experience

Among the numerous cases Mr. Bass has tried, the few that follow highlight his vast trial and appellate experience:

State Cases:

Trial Court Cases:

Successfully represented corporation in multi-day shareholder dispute trial in St. Louis City before Judge Ohmer
Successfully defended corporation in intellectual property rights dispute in a multi-day trial in St. Louis City Circuit Court
Successfully defended corporation in products liability action in a multi-day trial in St. Louis City Circuit Court
Successfully represented developer in obtaining an order of specific performance requiring the buyers to complete the purchase of a $700,000 condominium unit

Reported Decisions (Supreme Court and Appellate Court Cases):

Alack v. Vic Tanny Intern. of Missouri, Inc., 923 S.W.2d 330 (Mo. banc 1996) (successfully had exculpatory clause held invalid)
Finnie v. Chemco Industries, Inc., 92 S.W.3d 105 (Mo. Ct. App. 2002) (breach of contract; decision affirmed successful trial court judgment)
Patrick V. Koepke Const., Inc. v. Woodsage Const. Co., 844 S.W.2d 508 (Mo. Ct. App. 1992) (successfully had mechanics lien held invalid)

Federal Cases:

Pointer v. Building Stars Advantage, 115 Fed.Appx. 321 (8th Cir. 2004) (affirming summary judgment against employee on race discrimination claim)
Benford v. Shell Oil (Motorcade, Inc.), 111 Fed.Appx. 859 (8th Cir. 2004) (affirming summary judgment against employee on race discrimination claim)
Rosemann v. Roto-Die, Inc., 377 F.3d 897 (8th Cir. 2004) (shareholder dispute, affirming judgment for corporation)
Trinity Products, Inc. v. Burgess Steel, LLC, 486 F.3d 325 (8th Cir. 2007) (successfully reversing grant of summary judgment)
Successfully represented corporation in obtaining high six-figure judgment against former employee for violation of non-compete agreement
Successfully defended and obtained jury verdict in favor of computer company in breach of contract action
Successfully obtained seven-figure jury verdict in favor of software development company in breach of contract/fraud action

Education

Washington University, J.D., 1985
Order of the Coif

University of Missouri - St. Louis, B.S., magna cum laude, 1982

Bar Admissions

Missouri, 1985
United States District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri
United States District Court, Central District of Illinois
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association
The Missouri Bar
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
St. Louis County Bar Association