Source: http://ghc-law.com/practice-areas
Timestamp: 2017-07-26 06:46:56
Document Index: 387189222

Matched Legal Cases: ['§452', '§452', '§452', '§452', '§452', '§452', '§210', '§453']

When a litigant believes that the Judge in the trial court has entered a Judgment in error, their remedy is an appeal. Because the Court of Appeals reviews only the issues and evidencepresented to the trial court, with very few exceptions, and because the Appellant has a high burden to sway the appellate court, it is imperative that a litigant retain experienced counsel. The appeal process is highly technical and nuanced, and therefore, a less than adept presentation will be met with failure. One obstacle to succeeding as an appellantat the Court of Appeals is that in cases tried without a jury, the Judgment will be sustained orupheld, unless there is no substantial evidence to support it, unless it is against the weight ofthe evidence, unless it erroneously declares the law, or erroneously applies the law. Murphy v. Carron, 536 S.W.2d 30 (Mo Banc, 1976). Furthermore, the Court of Appeals gives deferenceto the findings of fact of the trial court, and presumes that any facts, which were not specificallyfound in the judgment, were found by the trial court to be in accordance with the Court’s Judgment. The Court of Appeals can assume that the trial court elected to completely disregard or disbelieve awitness’ testimony. Because of these factors, success as an appellant depends largely uponselecting experienced counsel. Larry Gillespie worked in the Missouri Court of Appeals as a clerk for the Honorable RobertChrist, and has since presented well over one hundred cases to the Appellate Courts. Gillespie, and the firm have perfected appeals in the appellate circuits of Missouri, the Missouri Supreme Court,and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
The disputes GHC handles include corporate, commercial and business litigation, as well as any number of equitable or individual claims, including personal injury. Our attorneys have obtained favorable resolutions in numerous contract disputes, including the enforcement of non- competition and non-solicitation agreements. We have represented clients in numerous real estate and commercial disputes involving claims for tortious conduct, including unfair competition, tortious interference and fraud. GHC has secured numerous judgments for extraordinary remedies, including temporary restraining orders, injunctions, attachment, partition, mechanics liens, declaratory judgment and interpleader cases.
Anyone who has been served with a summons should contact a lawyer immediately. Most summons require an answer either in person or in writing on a relatively short time frame. Failure to respond will result in a default judgment being entered against the defendant. If you receive a summons, contact a lawyer immediately.
Any number of disputes can arise in a business organization. Business organizations, include, corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and limited partnerships. Each business form will have its own nuances, but frequently the issues are similar. Gillespie, Hetlage & Coughlin, LLC has escorted clients through all types of corporate disputes in State and Federal Courts.Recently, in part due to the economy, disputes have arisen between companies and shareholders relating to Stock Purchase Agreements. The issue of whether or not shareholders may be entitled to be bought out of their shares from closely held companies can be complex, especially where the economy or other circumstances have reduced the available assets of the company to purchase stock. The bylaws of many closely held corporations give shareholders limited rights to obtain redemption of their stock. Various agreements between the company and the shareholder may provide rights for redemption or other rights to the shareholder. Generally closely held corporations, small corporations with a limited number of shareholders, frequently have limitations on the market ability of the shares such that a sale of shares must be approved by the remaining shareholders, or first be offered to the remaining shareholders. Frequently, there is no market for the shares outside of the corporation. A minority shareholder may lack sufficient votes to approve redemption. However, the controlling shareholders may not mismanage the company to the detriment of the minority shareholders. In the last three years, Gillespie, Hetlage & Coughlin has represented a number of clients involving enforcement of Stock Purchase Agreements or the bylaws of the corporation, as they relate to the redemption of stock.Another frequent source of disputes, is the sale of corporate assets or a sale of all or substantially all of the corporate stock. After the sale, these cases frequently involve disputes over the financial statements of the company provided prior to the sale, or disputes involving the projected sales of the company after the transaction. Frequently, the purchase agreement provides for earn-out payments to be paid in subsequent years depending upon the corporation meeting certain revenue goals, or consultation fees for key employees. The calculation of these revenue goals can be complicated and highly disputed, even though they are controlled by the terms of the agreement. The purchaser may allege fraud in the inducement of the sale of the corporation, based upon misrepresentations in the financial statements that were presented prior to the sale and relied upon by the purchaser. Surprisingly, these types of disputes can appear equally often in both large and small transactions.When majority shareholders take advantage of their controlling interest to the detriment of minority shares, derivative claims may be a shareholder’s only remedy to avoid their shares being rendered worthless. Derivative claims are a unique remedy, similar to a class action, limited to the shareholders of the corporation. In these and corporate dissolution cases the appointment of a receiver is one remedy, whereby the court can maintain the status quo of the company while litigation is pending.Often times in such disputes, one party or the other is subject to a non-compete or non-solicitation agreement which may further complicate the issues in the case. Non-compete agreements generally prohibit a former owner, employee or officer of a corporation from competing within the same industry within a certain area and for a certain period of time. Non-solicitation agreements generally prohibit former employees, owners and officers of a company from soliciting customers and employees and sometimes vendors of the company for a period of time. Because such agreements can restrict a persons ability to earn a living within their industry, and because the agreements are intended to protect the company’s relationship with their customers these agreements can be highly contested. Non-compete and non-solicitation litigation is frequently very fact specific. However, it is important to start with the knowledge that Missouri does recognize non-compete agreements and non-solicitation agreements, assuming that they are reasonable.Corporate dissolutions frequently arise where the Board of Directors is dead-locked, because no party holds a majority, and therefore the board cannot function. Obviously this is common in closed corporations or partnerships where two owners each own 50% of the ownership interests. Once the shareholders and board become dead-locked, the only way the corporation can function is frequently by the appointment of a receiver, and subsequently an accounting and a corporate dissolution.Claims against corporations may involve claims of mismanagement, fraud or other tortious conduct. Under certain circumstances, where officers of a corporation participate in fraud or tortious conduct, liability can be extended to the acting officers. Remedies available to shareholders may include seeking an accounting of transactions of the corporation to determine whether or not there was fraud or mismanagement.Sometimes a corporation may wish to seek a statutory dissolution, when the company is winding down. A statutory dissolution involves service of notice to known claimants and publication of notice that the corporation is ceasing operations. Once the notice is published, any party having claims against the corporation must come forward and make demand of their claims. If they fail to do so within 180 days for known claims and 2 years for unknown claims, their claims will be barred. 351.478 and 351.482 R.S.Mo.Corporate litigation can take many forms, be complex and involve accounting issues. However, qualified legal counsel can streamline the process by using experience and seeking the proper remedy. Gillespie, Hetlage & Coughlin has successfully represnetd clients in corporate disputes in St. Louis County and City, Franklin, and St. Charles Counties, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.
Most individuals entering domestic litigation are overwhelmed by emotions, fear of the unknown and the daunting process ahead of them. Admittedly, the process is trying, complicated, and sometimes contentious. The choice of a lawyer, who is qualified, practical and compassionate, can minimize the anxiety of the domestic litigation. Property division within the divorce process can be a complex matter, especially where couples have acquired a substantial amount of assets, or assets of significant worth. The court has jurisdiction over the division of property and debt in a proceeding for divorce. (§452.330 R.S.Mo.) A primary consideration is whether property is marital or separate. Generally, separate property is that which is acquired and paid for before the marriage, or inherited. Occasionally, property may be mixed marital and non marital, such that a party will need to demonstrate the source of funds for the acquisition of the property. Income from separate property can be a complicated issue.
The factors the court evaluates in dividing marital property include:
Custodial arrangements for minor children. (§452.330 R.S.Mo.)
It is important to carefully evaluate the various implications of the division of property in order to protect your interests. Obtaining the property to which you are entitled requires selection of competent counsel.
The custody of children is frequently the most sensitive, contentious issue in the divorce process. In Missouri, both legal and physical custody shall be determined. (§452.375 R.S.Mo.) Legal custody addresses decision-making for the child’s health, education and welfare, while Physical custody addresses the periods of time each parent is responsible for the care and supervision of the child. The court considers all relevant factors when making its custody determination, including:
The wishes of a child as to the child’s custodian. (§452.375 R.S.Mo.)
Custody disputes are complicated and contentious. Because parents are emotional and concerned, when facing custody litigation, they are vulnerable to promises of success. Potential litigants should interview more than one lawyer, and select an attorney who is practical and with whom they are comfortable. Parents should beware of promises of success that seem too good to be true, as well as excessive retainer demands. In Missouri, both parents owe a duty of support to their children. (§452.340 R.S.Mo.) Where a child support determination is to be made, the court may order either or both parents to pay a reasonable amount for the support the child. The support calculation is based on a numeric formula, which includes several factors; including, but not limited to, the financial resources of the parents.
In Missouri judgments of custody, maintenance or support can be modified “upon a showing of changed circumstances so substantial and continuing as to make the terms unreasonable.” (§452.370 R.S.Mo.) Paternity actions arise when a person seeks to petition the court to determine the existence of a father-child relationship. (§210.826 R.S.Mo.) Paternity actions are useful in establishing child support orders and custody agreements where the biological parents to a child are not legally married. Many fathers are the petitioner initiating a paternity action in order to establish a consistent and substantial role in their children’s lives.
Adoption is perhaps the most rewarding facet of family law. Adoption is a surprisingly intricate process. In order to provide significant due process rights to the natural parent or parents of a child, the court requires scrupulous documentation regarding the adoptive parents and the natural parents. (§453.010 et seq. R.S.Mo.) The court will appoint an attorney for the child, known as a Guardian Ad Litem. Our attorneys are experienced in navigating the procedural hurdles to adoption, whether a step-parent adoption, or two-parent adoption.
Sometimes after trial one party is dissatisfied with the outcome of a domestic proceeding and seeks to appeal the judgment therein. Appeals from a trial court judgment are based solely upon the record introduced at the trial court. In order to be successful, an appellant must demonstrate that the trial judge made an error in the judgment or the trial. The court of appeals grants substantial deference to the trial judge. Lawrence Gillespie has been successful in representing clients in numerous domestic appeals involving a variety of issues. Mr. Gillespie has handled some of the most significant appellate domestic decisions in the last ten years.
Our attorneys have the experience and knowledge to provide superior, practical and cost effective domestic representation. We understand the complex nature of divorce and all domestic matters. We pay careful attention to the individual needs of our clients, and guide them through each step of the process. Clients seeking experienced and effective attorneys to navigate the waters of family disputes select Gillespie, Hetlage & Coughlin, L.L.C.
The juvenile court is involved in a number of issues, which as the name implies, involve children. The Juvenile court’s jurisdiction includes adoptions, either by step-parents or new parents. At the same time, the Juvenile court handles all allegations of child abuse, by neglect, physical or sexual contact. Any criminal offenses committed by minors also originate in the Juvenile Court. The attorneys of Gillespie, Hetlage & Coughlin LLC are experienced in navigating the difficult and often confusing procedures of the Juvenile Court. These matters frequently involve state or law enforcement agencies, such as Division of Family Services, Counselors, Deputy Juvenile Officers, and court staff. Both a parent’s and a child’s rights and interests are at stake in any matter before the Juvenile court, and all such parties should be represented by counsel.
A minor child has a right to be represented by counsel, and any questioning by law enforcement without the presence of a parent or a Deputy Juvenile Officer is prohibited by state law.