Jeffrey W. Deane
Jeff Deane practices in the areas of general municipal law, municipal prosecution, public entity litigation, appellate law, public contracts, ordinances, code and charter drafting, and other general municipal issues. Jeff joined Lauber Municipal Law in 2019. Jeff serves as the Practice Area Leader for the Firm’s Kansas practice. Prior to joining the firm, Jeff served for seven years as the Assistant City Counselor for the City of Independence, Missouri, where, in addition to general municipal work, he litigated the City’s employee injury claims under its self-insured workers compensation program. Prior to public service Jeff worked with several prominent Kansas City firms and a major reinsurance carrier handling litigation and appeals of workers compensation and insurance defense matters. While in law school Jeff interned with the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s office and with the Northeast Kansas Conflict Office of the Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense.
Education
- Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas – J.D. with Honors, 1998 Moot Court Council – Member and Team Captain.
- Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas – B.A., majors in Physics and Astronomy, 1992
Bar Admissions
Kansas, 1998
Missouri, 1999
United States District Court, Western District of Missouri, 2003
United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
Honors/Recognition
- The Order of Barristers
Relevant Legal Experience
- City Attorney for multiple Kansas and Missouri cities
- Previously served as City Attorney for Fort Scott, Kansas and Prosecutor for Osawatomie, Kansas.
- City Prosecutor for multiple Kansas and Missouri cities
- Handles elected official discipline matters including service as a Special Impeachment Prosecutor for multiple Missouri cities
- Special Trial Counsel and Special Municipal Counsel for City of St. Joseph, Missouri on matters including personnel and election challenges
- Served seven years as in-house Assistant City Counselor for Independence, Missouri, providing advice and legal support for City administration and departments including public works, municipal power, water and water pollution control utilities, police, fire, parks, recreation, and tourism, animal services, finance and purchasing, human resources, and technology services departments
- Prosecutes code violations, abatement and condemnation actions and resulting appeals
- Experienced litigator before state and federal courts and administrative boards
- Legal advisor for administrative hearings concerning alcoholic beverage control, business license and building code violations
- Experienced in municipal code review, revision, and drafting.
- Knowledgeable in a wide range of municipal law issues including Hancock Amendment, open records laws, contracts, ordinance drafting, and impeachments
Representative Cases
- Hare v. Cole, 25 S.W.3d 617 (Mo. Ct. App WD 2000) (Oral argument and brief to the Western District – WD 57764).
- Hargrave v. American Standard, SC 82,685. Brief to the Missouri Supreme Court.
- Lopez v. Lopez, WD 58,259. Brief to the Western District.
- Wood v. Groh, 81,826. Brief to the Kansas Supreme Court.
Professional Affiliations
- Missouri Municipal Attorneys Association
- International Municipal Lawyer’s Association
- City Attorney Association of Kansas
Civic and Community Involvement
- Vigil Honor Member, “Wise Patient Raven,” Tamegonit Lodge, Order of the Arrow
- Honorary Warrior “Swift Rising Silver Owl,” Tribe of Mic-O-Say
- Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America: various positions including Associate Lodge Advisor, Ceremonial Team Advisor, Tamegonit Lodge, Troop Committee Member, Troop 394, District Commissioner, District Training Chair, and Merit Badge Counselor
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