Jeff maintains an active construction litigation practice which includes representing clients on contract drafting and review, payment issues, mechanics lien-related litigation and general construction defect cases.
Jeff handles large fire and explosion cases directly for large, medium and small companies and insurers. His practice includes retaining the proper experts at the outset of the claim, conducting and coordinating scene investigations and handling these claims through discovery and trial.
Jeff handles all types of personal injury, business and commercial litigation for numerous companies, both large and small, through both insurance coverage and directly for those companies.
J.D., University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Law, 1998
B.A., University of Kansas, December 1994
Missouri, 1998
Kansas, 1999
Kansas Bar Association, Member Construction Law Section
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
American Bar Association
Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers
The Missouri Bar
Johnson County Bar Association
Kansas Association of Defense Counsel
Venue: Jackson County, Missouri
The gas explosion at JJ’s Restaurant in Kansas City’s historic Country Club Plaza led to national headlines in 2013. Brad Russell, Jeff Baker and Tyler Hibler represented the underground utility contractor that struck a buried gas line before the explosion. There were more than 20 lawsuits filed as a result of this incident, which involved substantial personal injury and property damage claims. The firm provided public relations assistance and protected the legal and financial interests of its client from immediately after the explosion through the protracted litigation.
Venue: Franklin County, Kansas
Jeff Baker and Casey Housley obtained a defense verdict for Gibson Electric in this negligent house fire claim. Plaintiffs, Jeffrey and Lori Kelley, claimed that Gibson Electric negligently installed electrical wire in their home when running wire behind an existing wall, which also contained a fireplace. Plaintiffs alleged that while Gibson Electric ran the wire behind the existing wall, it was caught and subsequently damaged on a pre-existing nail. Plaintiffs further claimed that as a result of the damage, an electrical arc occurred and started a fire in the home. Gibson Electric, a company with decades of experience in residential electrical work, experienced no issues during installation of the wire and maintained that they met required codes, regulations, and standards in installing the wiring. Testimony revealed that Plaintiffs had been running their fireplace, which was located in the same enclosed wall as the allegedly damaged wire, for most of the day on the date of the fire. In addition, fire patterns within the home were inconsistent with an electrical fire caused by the allegedly damaged wire. The jury agreed and rendered a verdict in favor of Gibson Electric.
Jeff Baker represents a large national fireproofing contractor in connection with the construction of a large army hospital at Fort Riley, Kansas. This case involves nearly $100 million in claims being asserted by his client and other large national subcontractors and a large international general contractor against the United States federal government.
Venue: Nodaway County, Missouri
Jeff Baker represented a general contractor in connection with a large, complex construction defect claim involving the largest dormitory at Northwest Missouri State University. This lawsuit involved in excess of 10 parties, and involved claims being asserted by the plaintiff for over $9 million. This case involved numerous indemnity and additional insured issues.
Venue: United States District Court, District of Kansas
Jeff represented an engineering contractor who supplied and manufactured commercial heating, ventilation and cooling equipment in a lawsuit brought by a building owner. Plaintiff filed suit against several contractors and was claiming in excess of $500,000 in damages for replacement of the system.
Venue: Jackson County, Missouri
Jeff Baker and Joe McGreevy obtained summary judgment in client Shaw’s favor regarding Lynch Electrical’s mechanic’s lien on a related construction project.