James C. Morris (“Jay”) is a Partner in the St. Louis office of GRSM. Jay is an experienced litigator who has successfully defended individuals, businesses and insurance agents and brokers against a wide array of liability claims, including construction defect, insurance coverage, professional liability, products liability, consumer rights defense, employment, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, cargo loss and maritime/admiralty as well as environmental & toxic tort/chemical exposure claims involving asbestos and diacetyl. Through smart, detailed investigation and preparation, coupled with efficient, systematic and proactive discovery, Jay often is able to establish negotiating leverage and push his clients’ cases toward favorable resolution. If the matter cannot be resolved, Jay has successfully tried more than twenty cases to verdict in both state and federal courts. He prepares every case as if it will be tried. In this connection, Jay was recognized by the Missouri Lawyers Weekly in 2015 for having secured one of the largest defense verdicts in the State of Missouri.
Jay has obtained multiple defense verdicts on behalf of businesses and individuals. Examples of Jay’s representative matters include the following:
- Recently obtained a judgment following a bench trial on behalf of a construction company seeking payment for work outside the scope of the contract, including an award of full attorney’s fees.
- In a case brought by a burn victim involving a boat explosion, Jay obtained a defense verdict on behalf of the dock owner where the explosion occurred after fueling the boat.
- Secured a defense verdict for a municipality and a baseball association following a jury trial on a claim brought by a spectator for injury resulting from being hit with a baseball.
- Recently prevailed in arbitration by unanimous decision against a claim of professional negligence brought against an insurance broker.
- Obtained verdicts equivalent to a small fraction of the amounts demanded by the plaintiffs in every case in which he did not obtain a complete defense verdict.
- Successfully responded to appeals in the appellate courts following favorable verdicts.
- “Avoid Those Same Old Disputes by Making a Good, Clear Contract Before You Bid Your Next Project,” ASA’s Contractor’s Compass, Feb. 2017
- “How the Difference Between ‘Extra Work’ and ‘Additional Work’ Can Impact Claims for Payment,” ASA’s Contractor’s Compass, June 2017
- "Construction Law from Start to Finish – Insurance Basics for the Construction Attorney" NBI, Inc. CLE (August 2020)
- "Construction Law from Start to Finish – Ethics for Construction Attorneys" NBI, Inc. CLE (August 2020)
- “How the Difference Between ‘Extra Work’ and ‘Additional Work’ Can Impact Claims for Payment” Webinar, American Subcontractor’s Association, Jan. 2018
Admissions
- Missouri
- Alabama
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Kansas
Memberships
- State Bar of Missouri
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
- The Lawyers Association of St. Louis
Community Involvement
Jay is actively involved with his local parish through coaching basketball and baseball as well as community outreach programs that assist the homeless like Room at the Inn. Jay also serves as an advisory board member for the Regional Union Construction Center of St. Louis and on the attorney council for the American Subcontractors Association.
Education
- J.D., University of Alabama
- B.A., English | Minor, Philosophy, Spring Hill College
Honors
- Recognized by the Missouri Lawyers Weekly in 2015 for having secured one of the largest defense verdicts in the State of Missouri.
- Rated AV Preeminent, the highest possible rating, in both legal ability and ethical standards by the Martindale Hubbell peer review system.
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award
- George LeMaistre Scholarship Recipient
- Top St. Louis Attorneys, St. Louis Small Business Monthly (2024)