Langdon & Emison partner Michael Manners has been named the Best Lawyers® 2020 Personal Injury “Lawyer of the Year” in Kansas City, and colleagues Bob Langdon, Kent Emison and Brett Emison were named among Best Lawyers in their respective categories. Michael, Bob, Kent and Brett were all named a Best Lawyer in the categories of personal injury and product defect, while Bob and Brett were both honored as Best Lawyers in the railroad category as well.
Michael was honored as “Lawyer of the Year” for his recent success in appellate matters and representing clients in personal injury cases. In recent years, he has focused his practice on inadequate security cases dangerous consumer products, and other cases dedicated to negligent behavior on the part of corporations. Michael has handled a wide variety of appellate matters for plaintiff’s lawyers throughout the state of Missouri.
In November 2000, Mike was appointed by Missouri Governor Roger Wilson to serve as a Circuit Court Judge with the 16th Judicial Circuit, Division 2 in Independence. Judge Manners received such prominent distinctions as the Theodore McMillian Judicial Excellence Award from the Missouri Bar, and “Best Circuit Judge in the State” by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. The Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association bestowed him with its Joseph E. Stevens, Jr. Aspire to Excellence Award for his service as a judge in 2012.
Prior to his appointment, Mike spent 24 years as a trial attorney with the firm that eventually became Welch, Martin, & Albano. In 1989 Mike was granted a Certificate of Civil Trial Advocacy from the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a process that is open to trial lawyers who have experience as lead counsel in a number of jury trials after background investigation and written examination. In 1995, he was accepted for membership in the American Board of Trial Advocacy, an organization of trial attorneys representing members of both the plaintiffs’ and defense bar.
These awards will be published in the 2020 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and shared with the U.S. News & World Report “Guide to U.S. Law Firms.”