Blog

Why Do Lawyers Argue So Much When 95% of Cases Settle?

Published in Medical Malpractice,Personal Injury on June 24, 2025

By Craig Heidemann Somewhere around the third discovery dispute or the fifteenth email about deposition scheduling, it hits you: this case is going to settle. Everyone knows it. The lawyers. The clients. The court. And yet, we press on. We write long emails, attend case management conferences, file motions to compel over marginal documents, and posture like we’re months away… READ MORE

Missouri Rejects Florida’s “Free Kill” Law Approach

Published in Medical Malpractice on June 18, 2025

Free Kill Law: Florida’s Unconventional Approach to Addressing Medical Liability Exposure In late May, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed HB 6017, a bill that would have allowed the parents of deceased adult children and adult children of deceased parents to sue for noneconomic damages related to pain, suffering, and loss resulting from medical malpractice. Commonly referred to as “Free Kill… READ MORE

$300,000 TVCF Award for Wrongful Death Victim

Published in Uncategorized on January 22, 2025

Recently, Craig Heidemann secured a $300,000.00 award  from the Missouri Tort Victims’ Compensation Fund (TVCF) for his client after her husband was assaulted and died in an attack at a restaurant in Dade County, Missouri.  The award was the maximum amount allowable.  The TVCF was established to compensate those who have been injured due to the negligence or re cklessness… READ MORE

Douglas, Haun & Heidemann Shifts Legal Focus From General Practice to More Concentrated Areas of Practice, Including Litigation, Family Law and More

Published in Firm News on December 6, 2024

With over a century of experience, Douglas, Haun & Heidemann has transitioned from offering a wide range of legal services as a general practice firm, to concentrating on key areas of the law, including ligation, family law, estate planning, real estate, and probate law.  The team at Douglas, Haun & Heidemann includes two members of its founding family: Patrick Douglas… READ MORE

$4.5 Million Wrongful Death Judgment for Asphyxiated Infant

Published in Firm News,Verdicts and Settlements on December 2, 2024

For the last year, our litigation team represented two parents whose newborn infant son suffered a tragic death while under the care of a Missouri foster parent. The child died from asphyxia while co-sleeping with the defendant on a couch, contrary to established foster care safety regulations and training. Recently, the Greene County Circuit Court entered a judgment in favor… READ MORE

Avoid Regret – Preserve the Evidence

Published in Personal Injury on November 22, 2024

Preserving Evidence to Strengthen Your Personal Injury Claim If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, preserving evidence is critical to building a strong personal injury claim. Solid evidence can make all the difference in securing fair compensation for accident victims. Our Springfield car accident lawyers will help you gather and preserve the right evidence. Why Preserving Evidence Matters… READ MORE

Financial Advisors Have Rights When Terminated by FINRA Employer

Published in Uncategorized on October 29, 2024

FINRA requires employers to detail why an employee left a firm in the securities industry on a Form U5. A recent case resulted in a $29 million Pennsylvania state court jury defamation verdict in favor of a terminated employee because the language on the terminated employee’s Form U5 was found to be untrue and damaging to the former employee’s reputation.… READ MORE

Making a Good Argument

Published in Personal Injury on October 29, 2024

Legal Insight Alert! As a trial attorneys, we often see the impact of strong arguments versus weak ones. One of the weakest tactics? The ad hominem attack – it’s been around for centuries. With ad hominem, Instead of addressing the actual issue, it targets the person, distracting from the real debate. Lawyers know personal attacks don’t strengthen a case—they weaken… READ MORE

Civil Rights Lawsuit Filed in Niangua Police Shooting

Published in Firm News,Personal Injury on May 21, 2024

Melinda Austin, the mother of Niangua Resident Dylan Austin, filed a multi-million dollar seven count federal civil rights lawsuit against Niangua Police Department officer Dwayne McAtee.   McAtee pursed Dylan Austin into his Webster County home on March 13, 2024 without a warrant and shot him in the bedroom in front of his mother. Melinda Austin alleges that McAtee waged… READ MORE

THE RESULTS ARE IN FOR THE 2023 MISSOURI KANSAS SUPER LAWYERS LIST

Published in Firm News on November 27, 2023

We are pleased to announce that Craig R. Heidemann, a partner at Douglas, Haun & Heidemann, P.C. has been selected to the 2023 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list. This is an exclusive list, recognizing no more than five percent of attorneys in Missouri. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a research-driven, peer-influenced rating service of outstanding lawyers who… READ MORE