Source: https://hodeslawfirm.com/about/
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 08:58:56+00:00

Document:
Garrett grew up in Kansas City and attended the University of Kansas for his undergraduate education, where he was a Kansas Honors Scholar. Garrett then attended the University of Kansas School of Law, where he was an Associate Editor of the Kansas Law Review and published two articles. Garrett was also the first KU Law student to simultaneously serve on the Kansas Law Review and work at the Douglas County Legal Aid Society, Inc. For this work, Garrett was awarded the Mary Ann Chambers Service Award, which is awarded annually to the student devoted to public service who best exemplifies a dedication to professionalism while representing the disadvantaged.
Garrett Hodes is uniquely experienced and has been fortunate to have worked under the mentorship of some of the top attorneys in the Kansas City, Missouri area, including Lou Accurso, Ken McClain, Fred Walters, Tom Bender, Mike Vaughan, David Skeens and others.
While in law school, Garrett worked as a law clerk for Lou Accurso and Charles H. McKenzie at the Accurso Law Firm, where he gained an insight into the workings and operations of a successful small law firm practice, which was focused on serious personal injury litigation.
After law school, Garrett went to work for Ken McClain at Humphrey, Farrington & McClain, P.C. in Independence, Missouri. There, his practice was focused primarily on representing plaintiffs in litigation matters, including complex and class action litigation in state, appellate, and federal courts. Of note, Garrett was one of 47 attorneys and special assistant attorneys general representing the State of Missouri on its successful cost recovery lawsuit against the tobacco industry ($6.1 billion recovery for the State of Missouri). There Garrett also served as class counsel in national class actions, resulting in settlement, against manufacturers of water heaters and hardboard siding, and in other cases of substantial magnitude.
Garrett then went to work for Fred Walters, Tom Bender, Mike Vaughan, David Skeens and others at Walters, Bender, Strohbehn & Vaughan, P.C. in Kansas City, Missouri. At Walters, Bender, Strohbehn & Vaughan, P.C., Garrett’s practice was generally focused on representing consumers and persons injured by the illegal and unfair practices of others, including predatory lenders, banks and finance companies, mortgage loan servicers, merchants, debt collectors, and business competitors, in litigation matters and in class actions.
There, Garrett served as class counsel in numerous class actions and other complex litigation matters that were been resolved by way of trial and settlement, including mediations and arbitrations. His work on class action matters contributed to more than $880 million in settlements and verdicts recovered by the attorneys at Walters, Bender, Strohbehn & Vaughan, P.C. during his tenure.
Garrett is one of the few trial lawyers who has actually tried a class action case and was part of two trial teams that won a $105 million jury verdict and a $28 million class arbitration award. Garrett also represented consumers victimized by subprime motor vehicle lenders and loan servicers, resulting in over $3.6 million in settlements for violations of Missouri’s Merchandising Practices Act and Commercial Code. Garrett was also part of a team that was co-lead class counsel in a multidistrict proceeding pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania involving more than 22,000 mortgage loans made in violation of the Truth in Lending Act, the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act that was, after numerous successful appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Supreme Court, resolved by way of a class action settlement and arbitration.
In January 2018, after a successful run at Walters, Bender, Strohbehn & Vaughan, P.C., Garrett decided to open up his own law firm. Garrett is an experienced litigator with expertise in civil litigation, including consumer litigation, predatory lending, commercial and business litigation, and complex and class action litigation. His practice is focused on representing litigants in state and federal courts nationwide and he has experience in all aspects of case management, from investigation, preparation and presentation, including trial.
Garrett’s practice includes employment litigation, personal injury litigation, civil rights litigation, and products liability matters. His work also includes pre-litigation counseling and resolution efforts. Garrett values communicating with his clients throughout the litigation process and keeping his clients informed about their case.
Garrett resides in Kansas City, Missouri with his wife, Jodi, a teacher, and has two children and three rescue dogs. Garrett is also a well-known, high-level practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo.
- Class counsel on trial team that obtained $105 million jury verdict in a class action involving violations of Missouri’s Second Mortgage Loans Act.
- Class counsel on team that obtained over $350 million in settlements for violations of Missouri’s Second Mortgage Loans Act.
- Class counsel on trial team that recovered a $28 million arbitration award for violations of federal lending laws and regulations.
- Class counsel in class actions that recovered over $3.6 million in settlements for consumers whose subprime motor vehicle loans were originated and serviced in violation of Missouri’s Merchandising Practices Act and Commercial Code.
- Successful appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and United States Supreme Court of class certification decisions involving predatory lending, violations of federal laws, and racketeering.
- Class counsel in national class action settlements for defective water heater components parts and hardboard siding.
Baker v. Century Financial Group, Inc., Circuit Court of Clay County, Missouri, Case No. CV 100-4294, Missouri Second Mortgage Loans Act – WBSV lead counsel for class of plaintiffs.
Beaver, et al. v, U.S. Bank, National Association, et al., Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, Case No. 1216-CV21345 Missouri Second Mortgage Loans Act – WBSV lead counsel for class of plaintiffs.
Couch v. SMC Lending, Inc., Circuit Court of Clay County, Missouri, Case No. CV100-4332 Missouri Second Mortgage Loans Act – WBSV lead counsel for class of plaintiffs.
Drennen, et al., vs. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's of London, et al., United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, Case Number: 15-01025-shl; Insurance coverage action against liability insurers following settlement of Class Proofs of Claim and confirmation of Chapter 11 Plan in In re Residential Capital, LLC. Representing Plaintiff Classes certified in Mitchell v. Mortgage Capital Resources, et al. and in In re Residential Capital, LLC, based upon assignment of the rights of Residential Funding Company, LLC under General Motors Corp.’s insurance policies – co-lead counsel for class claimants.
Foster, et al. v. ABTCo., Inc., et al., Circuit Court of Choctaw County, Alabama, Case No. CV95-151-M, Products liability – counsel for class of plaintiffs.
Gilmor v. Preferred Credit Corp., Circuit Court of Clay County, Missouri, Case No. CV 100-4263 Missouri Second Mortgage Loans Act – WBSV lead counsel for class of plaintiffs.
Hall v. America West Financial, et al., Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, Case No.00CV218553-01 Missouri Second Mortgage Loans Act – WBSV lead counsel for class of plaintiffs.
Heilman, et al. v. Perfection Corp., et al., United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Case No. 99-0679-CW-W-6, Products liability/Magnuson-Moss – counsel for class of plaintiffs.
Hopkins v. Kansas Teachers Community Credit Union, United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Case No. 08-5052-CV-SW-GAF Uniform Commercial Code and Missouri Merchandising Practices Act – counsel for class of plaintiffs.
In re Community Bank of Northern Virginia Mortgage Practices Lending Litigation, United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, MDL No.-1674 Predatory lending, violations of federal laws, racketeering – counsel for plaintiffs and objectors in multidistrict litigation – co-lead counsel for class of plaintiffs.
In re Residential Capital, LLC, et al., Bankruptcy Court for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Case No. 12-12020 (MG) Violations of Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, Truth in Lending Act, Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act, and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act – WBSV co-lead counsel for class claimants.
Landrum v. Meadows Credit Union, United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Case No. 08-441-CV-W-DW Uniform Commercial Code and Missouri Merchandising Practices Act – counsel for class of plaintiffs.
McLean v. First Horizon Home Loan Corporation f/k/a McGuire Mortgage Company, Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, Case No.00 CV 228530 Missouri Second Mortgage Loans Act – WBSV lead counsel for class of plaintiffs.
Mitchell v. Residential Funding Corp., et al., Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, Case No.03CV220489 Missouri Second Mortgage Loans Act – WBSV lead counsel for class of plaintiffs.
Shokere, et al v. Residential Funding Company, et al., Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, Case No. 1116-CV30478 Missouri Second Mortgage Loans Act – WBSV lead counsel for class of plaintiffs.
Smith v. Premier Associates Mortgage Company, et al., Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, Case No.01CV201263 Missouri Second Mortgage Loans Act – WBSV lead counsel for class of plaintiffs.
Strube v. American Equity Investment Life Insurance Co. and Creative Marketing International Corp., United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Case No. 6:01-CV-1236-Orl-19DAB Fraud and Unfair Business Practices – counsel for defendant Creative Marketing Int’l Corp.
Thomas, et al. v. U.S. Bank, N.A., et al., Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, Case No. 1216-CV20561 Missouri Second Mortgage Loans Act – WBSV lead counsel for class of plaintiffs.
Thompson vs. Sovereign Bank, N.A., Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, Case No. 1216-CV09804 Missouri Second Mortgage Loans Act – WBSV lead counsel for class of plaintiffs.
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and pro hac vice in state courts nationwide.
Member of the Missouri Bar Association, Kansas Bar Associations and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.

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