About Morry Cole
Morry Cole handles complex litigation, serving as lead trial and appellate counsel in a wide variety of cases in state and federal courts throughout Missouri and the Midwest. His dedication to his clients has secured hundreds of millions in verdicts and settlements for clients in wrongful death, injury and business cases.
Morry is recognized as one of the top courtroom lawyers in Missouri. He has been cited as a Top 50 St. Louis attorney and Top 100 attorney in Missouri and Kansas. He has particular expertise in business cases, wrongful death and serious injury cases and aviation crashes. He frequently represents attorneys and law firms on discreet matters of significant importance. He is an active instrument rated pilot with over 3000 hours as pilot in command of various aircraft.
Morry received a degree in business administration from Baylor University, specializing in finance. He earned his law degree in 1997 from the University of Missouri School of Law where he served as an editor of the Law Review, research assistant for Professor Martha Dragich, and intern to the Honorable Duane Benton (then at the Missouri Supreme Court; now at the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals).
Morry is recognized for excellence as a lawyer and service to the legal community. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and a member of the International Society of Barristers. Among other achievements, he received the Lon O. Hocker Award (for “outstanding express to the qualities of professional competence, industry and courtesy indicative of an able trial lawyer”), the David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award (for “outstanding achievement in appellate practice”), and the Roy F. Essen Outstanding Young Lawyer Award for excellence as a lawyer, distinguished service to the Bar, and outstanding service to the community. Morry is the only attorney ever to receive all three of these prestigious awards.
Morry has served in distinguished positions including President of the Missouri Bar. He also is a frequent lecturer on topics including civil trial practice and has been an Adjunct Professor of Pre-Trial Litigation and Settlement at Washington University School of Law since 2008.
Employment History:
Gray Ritter Graham, Director (1999-Present)
Washington University School of Law - Adjunct Professor (2008 - Present)
Missouri Supreme Court - Law Clerk and Research Attorney (1997-1999)
Notable Results
Representative Matters
GRG Attorney Obtains $3.3 Million Verdict for Plaintiffs in Breach of Contract Lawsuit (August 18, 2019)
Lopez/Jones v. Three Rivers, 92 S.W.3d 165 (Mo.App. E.D. 2002)
Affirming $21,000,000 verdict for Plaintiffs in Wrongful Death Case
Judgment entered on $67 Million Dollar Class Action Resolution (2020)
Verto Med. Sols., L.L.C. v. Allied World Specialty Ins. Co., 996 F.3d 912 (8th Cir. 2021)
Finding competing Corporate Director and officer insurance policy endorsements ambiguous.
Uhrhan v. B&B Cargo, Inc., 2020 WL 4501104 (E.D. Mo. Aug. 5, 2020)
Denying dismissal of negligent brokering claims, finding against preemption.
Russo v. Frasure, 371 F. Supp. 3d 586 (E.D. Mo. 2018)
Granting $500,000 summary judgment for insured, finding policy ambiguous as to whether insured was “occupying” motorcycle and construed in insurer’s favor to provide UIM coverage.
Maso v. Farmers Ins. Co., Inc., 158 F. Supp. 3d 793 (E.D. Mo. 2016)
Holding that motorcycle policy allowed intra-policy stacking of UIM and UM coverage.
Cook v. DeSoto Fuels, Inc., 169 S.W.3d 94 (Mo. App. E.D. 2005)
Reversing summary judgment for defendants, finding continuing trespass.
Professional Accolades
Chambers and Partners, Band 1 rating (highest), Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs (2021-present)
University of Missouri School of Law Order of Barristers Honorary Initiate (2017)
Missouri Bar President’s Award (2016)
Missouri Lawyers Weekly “Up & Coming Lawyer” (2007)
St. Louis County Bar Association Roy F. Essen Outstanding Young Lawyer Award (2006)
Missouri Bar Foundation David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award (2005)
Missouri Bar Foundation Lon O. Hocker Award (2003)
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Magazine (2008–present)
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Top 50 St. Louis Attorneys
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Top 100 Attorneys
Best Lawyers in America: Aviation Law (2007–present)
Best Lawyers in America: Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs (2011–present)
AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
Professional Associations
Professional
Missouri Bar, President (2017–2018)
Missouri Bar, President-Elect (2016–2017)
American College of Trial Lawyers - Fellow
International Academy of Trial Lawyers – Fellow
International Society of Barristers - Member
Missouri Bar Board of Governors 2002–2004; 2013–2019
Missouri Bar Young Lawyers Section Council, Executive Committee 1999–2006
Washington Univ. Law School Adjunct Professor Pre-Trial Litig. and Settlement (2008–present)
University of Missouri Law Society
University of Missouri Jefferson Club
University of Missouri Law School Foundation Board of Trustees, Trustee 2003–2009
Missouri Bar YLS Council, Chair 2005–2006
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis Board of Governors 2007–2009
Theodore McMillian Inn of Court
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
St. Louis County Bar Association
Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
American Association for Justice
Lawyers Association of St. Louis
American Bar Foundation, Fellow
News & Publications
News
Multimedia
“Can I Return or Destroy ‘Confidential’ Documents,” J. Mo. Bar (May-June 2017)
“Refreshed Recollections of Witnesses,” 61 Mo. L. Rev. 653
“Plaintiffs’ Privacy Protected,” 62 Mo. L. Rev. 175
“The Best Lawyers,” – 6 Part Series, 73-74 Mo Bar Journal (2017–2018)
“High-Low Agreements in Cases Involving Minors,” 64 Mo Bar Journal 226 (2008)
“Trial Tips for the City Lawyer that Ventures Out State” MATA Newsletter (2006)
“High-Low Agreements in Wrongful Death Cases,” 61 Mo Bar Journal 18 (2005)
Bar Admissions & Education
Clerkship
- Law Clerk and Research Attorney, Honorable Edward D. Robertson, Missouri Supreme Court (1997-1998)
Admissions
- Missouri
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri
