AREAS OF PRACTICE
Employment, Higher Education Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Tort Litigation

CONTACT INFORMATION
Tel: 1.314.880.3605
Fax: 1.314.880.3601
Email:

BAR ADMISSIONS
Missouri, 1984
Illinois, 1985
United States District Court Eastern District of Missouri
United States District Court Western District of Missouri
United States District Court Southern District of Illinois
United States District Court Central District of Illinois
United States District Court District of Kansas
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
United States Supreme Court

Ian P. Cooper is a founding Shareholder of the Firm of Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt P.C. Prior to founding the Firm, Ian was a partner at Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin (now Husch Blackwell Sanders, LLP) in its St. Louis office. Before entering private practice, Ian served as Law Clerk to the Hon. James F. Warren of the Texas Court of Appeals, First Supreme Judicial District, in Houston, Texas from 1984-1985.

Ian practices in the areas of employment, higher education, commercial, and tort litigation. Ian has tried numerous jury and bench trials in federal and state courts in Missouri and Illinois. Ian has served as lead counsel in significant employment, tort and commercial cases, including class actions and other complex litigation. Ian has also argued cases before the Missouri Supreme Court, the Illinois Supreme Court, the Missouri Court of Appeals, the Illinois Appellate Court, and the United States Courts of Appeal for the Seventh and Eighth Circuits.

Ian has been recognized as a 2009, 2010, and 2011 Missouri & Kansas Superlawyer.

Ian serves as the Chairman of the Firm’s Management Committee.

EDUCATION

J.D., Washington University School of Law, 1984

• Notes and Comments Editor, Washington University Journal of Urban and Contemporary Law

B.A., Rice University, 1981

PRESENTATIONS

• "Avoiding Retaliation Claims," United Educators Publication, 2002
• "Turning Bad Claims into Good Lawsuits – Retaliation and Whistleblower Suits," National Association of College and University Attorneys, Austin, Texas, 2003
• "How to Lose a Jury Trial," Employment Law Alliance, Montreal, Canada, 2003
• "Managing the Embarrassing Executive in Litigation," Employment Law Alliance, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2003
• "Auditing Hiring Practices and Policies," National Association of College and University Attorneys, Atlanta, Georgia, 2004
• "Lessons Learned from the Trenches," College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, San Diego, California, 2006
• "Emerging Employment and Disability Law Issues," University of Vermont Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference, Burlington, Vermont, 2006
• "Amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act," Employment Law Alliance Webinar, January 2009
• "Missouri Human Rights Act Caselaw and Proposed Legislative Changes," Missouri Department of Higher Education Conference, May 2009
• "Effective Mediation Advocacy from the Advocate's Perspective," Bar Assocation of Metropolitan St. Louis, August 2009
• "Missouri Human Rights Act: Expanding Employer and Supervisor Liability," St. Louis Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, October 2009.
• "Campus Safety and the Clery Act," Midwestern Regional Conference of the University Risk Management & Insurance Association, May 2010.
• "My Space is not Your Space: What Employers Need to Know About Employee Social Networking," Employment Law Alliance Webinar, May 2010.
• "Anatomy of a Missouri Human Rights Act Trial," St. Louis Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, August 2010.  
• "Legal Issues and Implications for Community Colleges," Missouri Community College Association, May 2011

SIGNIFICANT TRIALS

• Petkoff v. Metropolitan Community College. Disability discrimination and retaliation claims brought by Iraq war veteran against Kansas City's largest institution of higher education. Plaintiff sought $1.2 million in actual damages, and $9 million in punitive damages. Defendant's verdict.
• Moll v. General Automatic Transfer Company. Product liability claim (serious burns alleged) tried before a jury.  Defendant’s Verdict.
• Page v. Fort Zumwalt R-II School District. Negligence claims against District and teacher (serious personal injury alleged). Defendant’s Verdict.
• Schaefer v. Spider Staging Corporation.  Personal injury negligence and product liability claims tried before a jury in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.  Judgment for Defendant following two jury trials.
• Shafer v. Parkway School District.  ADA claim tried before a jury in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.  Defendant’s Verdict.
• Zuelke v. Southern Illinois University.  Title VII and retaliation claims tried before a jury in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.  Defendant’s Verdict. 

SIGNIFICANT ARBITRATIONS

• In re: Engineered Fastener. Obtained award of actual and punitive damages for client on counterclaim relating to the dissolution of business partnership.
• In re: Pandjiris. Obtained actual damages for client in dispute over sale of equipment.
• In re: Corrigan v. Sun Container. Obtained award of damages, interest and expenses exceeding $740,000 in dispute over employment agreement.

SIGNIFICANT APPEALS 

• Keveney v. Missouri Military Academy, 304 S.W.3d 98 (Mo. 2010). Leading decision on rights of contract employees to assert common law claims for wrongful discharge.
• Nemsky v. ConocoPhillips, et al., 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 17227 (7th Cir. 2009). Judgment in favor of employer in hybrid-Section 301 claim under the National Labor Relations Act. 
• Nichols v. Southern Illinois University, 510 F.3d 772 (7th Cir. 2007).  Summary judgment for employer in multi-plaintiff discrimination/retaliation case.
• Mershon v. St. Louis University, 442 F.3d 1069 (8th Cir. 2006). Affirming summary judgment in disability discrimination and retaliation case.
• Amir v. St. Louis University, 184 F.3d 1017 (8th Cir. 1999).  Important ADA and retaliation decision. 
• Peile v. Skelgas, Inc., 163 Ill. 2d 323 (Ill. 1994).  Illinois Supreme Court’s key ruling upholding intrastate forum non conveniens.
• In re First Escrow, Inc., 840 S.W.2d 839 (Mo. 1992). Key Supreme Court decision regarding unauthorized practice of law.
• State ex rel Burlington Northern v. Forder, 787 S.W.2d 725 (Mo. banc 1990). Key venue decision regarding municipal corporations.
• White v. Thomson Concrete Pump Co., 747 S.W.2d 655 (Mo. App. 1988). Affirming Defendants' verdict in wrongful death products liability action.

PROFESSIONAL AFFLIATIONS

• The Missouri Bar
• National Association of College and University Attorneys
• Member of the Employment Law Alliance