About Gretchen Garrison
Gretchen has over thirty years of experience representing clients both as in-house counsel and in private practice in complex commercial cases, including individual business disputes and large- scale class actions and mass tort actions. After clerking at the Missouri Supreme Court, Gretchen began her legal career on the defense side at two large law firms. She also was litigation counsel at a large health insurance company and General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Health. She now represents plaintiffs injured by consumer fraud, sale of defective products, and other conduct affecting the livelihoods of thousands of persons and businesses. She has been trial counsel, appellate counsel, and motion practice lead/co–lead in complex cases culminating in over $3 billion in verdicts and settlements.
By nature, and training, Gretchen is analytical and investigative, with ground–work litigation skills and deep knowledge in areas ranging from tort law to regulatory matters. She also has extensive appellate experience, handling some fifty appeals in state and federal courts, formerly serving as primary appellate counsel to the Missouri Department of Revenue as well as Deputy Appellate Counsel for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. Gretchen knows how to anticipate issues and defeat defenses asserted routinely or as matters of first impression. Gretchen thrives on challenge. Attention to detail and clarity of communication are her watch words.
Gretchen is recognized as among the top commercial litigation and appellate lawyers in Missouri.
She is licensed in Missouri, before the Supreme Court of the United States, Eighth Circuit, and U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri.
Notable Results
Representative Matters
Professional Accolades
Missouri Lawyers Weekly:
• Appellate Law, POWER List (2024)
• Litigation Award, Women's Justice Award (2024)
• Top Plaintiff’s Settlement Award (2014)
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, Business Litigation (2010–present)
Best Lawyers in America, “Women in the Law” Business Edition
Best Lawyers in America, Appellate (2009–present)
Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (2009–present)
Best Lawyers in St. Louis, St. Louis Magazine (Appellate) (2009–present)
Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Missouri, The National Trial Lawyers (2015)
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers (2015)
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Managing Editor Law Review
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Moot Court Board
Professional Associations
Professional
Mo. Bar Appellate Practice Committee, Co-Chair (present)
Missouri High School Mock Trial Competition, Committee Member (present)
Missouri Supreme Court Electronic Discovery Committee (2010)
BAMSL Appellate Practice Committee Chairperson (2008-2009)
Mid-American Transplant Services Board of Directors (2010-2018)
Missouri Foundation for Heath Board of Directors (2008-2010)
Multiple Sclerosis Society, Gateway Chapter, Governmental Affairs Committee (1999-2001)
LifeLine Pilots Board of Directors (1997-1998)
Youth Symphony of Kansas City Board of Directors (1992-1993)
Adjunct Professor-Administrative Law, Avila College (1991)
The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
The Missouri Bar
News & Publications
News
Publications
GRG Farm Litigation
Bar Admissions & Education
Education
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Kansas City, Missouri
J.D., 1986
Honors: Managing editor, Moot Court Board
Law Review: University of Missouri-Kansas City Law Review, Managing Editor
University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
B.S., 1982
Honors: Health Administration
Admissions
- Missouri
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
Notable Rulings
Tomlinson, et al. v. Monsanto Company, Case No. 1916-CV22788 (Jackson County, Missouri)
- Grant of class certification as to Missouri residents who purchased Roundup for personal, family, or household use; Denial of motion for reconsideration of class certification, motion for interlocutory appeal, and petition for writ of prohibition to Missouri Supreme Court.
In re Dicamba Herbicides Litig., 359 F. Supp. 3d 711 (E.D. Mo. 2019)
- Denial of dismissal motion based on federal preemption and other defenses.
Keil v. Lopez, 862 F.3d 685 (8th Cir. 2017)
- Affirmed class action settlement.
In re Syngenta AG MIR 162 Corn Litig., 249 F. Supp. 3d 1224 (D. Kan. 2017)
- Summary judgment for plaintiffs that exporters were not superseding cause and did not cause embargo allowing comparative fault.
- Denial of summary judgment for defendant on defense that China’s delay in approving genetically-modified seed was superseding cause of injury.
In re Syngenta AG MIR 162 Corn Litig., 131 F. Supp. 3d 1177 (D. Kan. 2015)
- Denial of dismissal motion based on duty and economic loss doctrine under laws of twenty-one states.
In re Genetically Modified Rice Litig., 666 F. Supp. 2d 1004 (E.D. Mo. 2009), adhered to on reconsideration, 2011 WL 5024548 (E.D. Mo. Oct. 21, 2011)
- Partial summary judgment for plaintiffs that biotechnology company violated Plant Protection Act when genetically modified rice contaminated U.S. rice supply, ruling as matter of first impression that Act did not allow adventitious presence of regulated material in commercial grain supply.
- Denial of partial summary judgment for defendant, ruling as a matter of first impression that Plant Protection Act did not preempt claims relating to regulating material “in foreign commerce.”
- Denial of dismissal holding that economic loss doctrine did not bar tort claims.
The Phipps Group v. Downing, et al., 764 F.3d 864 (8th Cir. 2014)
- Affirmed common benefit fund for lead and collaborating counsel.
Downing, et al. v. Goldman Phipps PLLC, et al., 764 F.3d 906 (8th Cir. 2014)
- Reversed dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction over lawyers benefitting from litigation materials and work product generated in MDL.
Patty v. Missouri Profes. Mut. Phys. Prof’l Indem. Ass’n, 572 S.W.3d 581 (Mo. App. E.D. 2019)
- Reversed summary judgment for insurance company and directed judgment for mother and child; holding claims under medical malpractice policy were subject to two limits of liability of $1 million under “each occurrence” provision.
Manner v. Schiermeier, 393 S.W.3d 58 (Mo. 2013)
- Reversed summary judgment for insurance company and directed judgment for insured; allowed stacking of policies and holding coverage without offset by amount received from insurance of seller of defective motorcycle helmet.
Plubell v. Merck & Co. (Jackson County Missouri)
- Denial of motion to exclude expert opinion regarding value of dangerous drug.
- Denial of motion to decertify class.
- Class certification upheld on appeal; holding that MMPA does not require reliance or transaction causation.
