Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered
General Information
Overview
Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered exists to win each client’s case through relentless thought, action, courage and care. These are the words we live by...
Thought
It is midnight or 4:00 a.m. There, in the faint blue glow of the computer screen, is the Monnat & Spurrier lawyer quietly plying the disciplined study, long range strategizing and innovation that launches the action of all successful courtroom battles. Since its genesis, the firm has recognized the risk of the busy trial lawyer, scrambling from one courtroom to another without time for long range planning, investigation or research. By limiting the number of cases we accept and always employing at least one legal scholar who does nothing but legal research and writing, Monnat & Spurrier avoids the traps that can sidetrack the courtroom win.
Action
Monnat & Spurrier lawyers are trial lawyers who regularly try “bet your life” cases to juries throughout the state of Kansas. Monnat & Spurrier lawyers do not count on quick plea bargains or “snitch” deals. Monnat & Spurrier lawyers are more likely out in the alley with a private eye looking for evidence or in the courthouse litigating creative motions and trying cases to juries.
Courage
Monnat & Spurrier lawyers strive to emulate the courage of the Nation’s founding fathers. We do so by embracing the opportunity to provide every accused - from the man, woman or child next door to the unpopular person, company or cause - the right to jury trial guaranteed by the Constitution. We do so by confronting unjust practices, procedures and people with the latest innovations of the law, science and technology. We do so by fighting whomever we need to fight to achieve justice for our client.
Care
Monnat & Spurrier lawyers know that if we want the jury to care about our client, the lawyer and law firm must care about the client too. Thus, the client, the client’s family and everyone at Monnat & Spurrier will spend countless hours together learning to know and understand each other so that, together, we can help the jury understand us and why our client should win the case on trial. We know that we stand with other human beings during some of the darkest hours of their lives. We want to bring to that moment the humanity, understanding and enlightenment the client deserves.
Relentlessly, we live by these words: Thought, Action, Courage and Care.
Firm News
Rankings
Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered is metro ranked in 5 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.
Read how Best Law Firms ranks firmsMetro Rankings
Firm Leadership
Rankings
Metro Rankings
Practice Areas
- Administrative / Regulatory Law
- Appellate Practice
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Criminal Defense: General Practice
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Drug Offenses
- DUI / DWI Defense
- Fraud
- Government Investigations
- Sex Abuse
- Violent and Nonviolent Crimes
Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
Demographics
Awards
- U.S. News & World Reports Best Law Firms Metropolitan Tier 1 Ranking - 2022
- U.S. News & World Reports Best Lawyers Best Law Firms Metropolitan Tier 1 Ranking - 2021
- U.S. News & World Reports Best Law Firms Metropolitan Tier 1 Ranking - 2020
- U.S. News & World Reports Best Law Firms Metropolitan Tier 1 Ranking - 2019
- U.S. News & World Reports Best Lawyers Best Law Firms Metropolitan Tier 1 Ranking - 2018
- U.S. News & World Reports Best Lawyers Best Law Firms Metropolitan Tier 1 Ranking - 2017
- U.S. News & World Report Best Laywers Best Law Firms Metropolitan Tier 1 Ranking - 2016
- U.S. News & World Reports Best Lawyers Best Law Firms Metropolitan Tier 1 Ranking - 2015
Office Locations
Management and Personnel
Contacts
Significant Matters
State of Kansas v. Cunningham, No. 13 CR 29 (Ford County, Kan. Dist. Ct. Aug. 24, 2015): Jury verdict of “not guilty” on all charges of first degree murder and child abuse after two week trial involving extensive medical and biomechanical testimony where client accused of intentionally cruelly beating or shaking nearly four year old child to death.
State of Kansas v. Akins, 315 P.3d 868 (Kan. 2014). Kansas Supreme Court’s complete reversal of former Chief of Police’s 15 child-sex convictions and consecutive life sentences on grounds that the prosecutor committed intentional, prejudicial misconduct during trial.
State of Kansas v. _____, No. 107,918 (Kan. App. Oct. 11, 2013) (unpublished). Kansas Court of Appeals reversed client’s two aggravated-indecent liberties convictions and consecutive life sentences on grounds that the trial court erred in excluding expert testimony about false confessions.
State of Kansas v. Puetz, No. 11 CR 3188 (Sedgwick County, Kan. Dist. Ct. 2013): Jury verdicts of “not guilty” for high school football coach on charges of attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child and attempted criminal sodomy arising from undercover Internet sex sting. Jury deadlocked on remaining charge of electronic solicitation of a child, which State thereafter reduced to misdemeanor charge of patronizing an adult prostitute in exchange for defendant’s “Alford” plea (i.e. “innocent but pleading guilty to take advantage of plea offer”). What began as a multiple felony case with risk of over ten-year sentence, lifetime sex-offender registration, and lifetime postrelease supervision resolved with Class C (i.e. lowest) misdemeanor conviction, no registration, no probation, and no sentence.
United States v. Hall, No. 08–10208–01, 2010 WL 5137499 (D. Kan. 2010): Trial judge dismissed all federal charges of conspiracy, racketeering, money laundering, and fraud on grounds that statutes and regulations underlying charges against tobacco wholesaler were unconstitutionally vague as interpreted by the government and applied to client.
State of Kansas v. Dr. George Tiller, No. 07 CR 2112 (Sedgwick County, Kan., Dist. Ct. March 27, 2009): Jury took only 25 minutes to reach “not guilty” verdict on all 19 charges of performing illegal abortions in politically charged, high-profile trial of internationally renowned abortion provider Dr. George Tiller.