Phone: 816.641.5600

Email: [email protected]

Michelle Marvel advocates for individuals who have suffered serious injury or wrongful death. She pursues answers and accountability from companies responsible for dangerous products, dangerous property or dangerous drivers.

Michelle frequently works on high-profile cases with local and national media attention; recent examples include a restaurant explosion, a police shooting and the Schlitterbahn waterslide accident, which killed a 10-year-old boy, resulted in five indictments and made headlines worldwide.

Michelle is adept at merging legal and PR strategies, from media statements and press conferences to the implications of press coverage on potential jurors. She has presented training for other lawyers on how to manage high-profile matters.

Before starting Cannezzaro Marvel, she was a partner at Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader. She started her career defending medical malpractice, commercial and construction claims as an associate attorney at Sanders Warren Russell & Scheer LLP. She applies this experience to her work for plaintiffs – because she worked on the other side, she understands that perspective and can anticipate defensive strategies.

Michelle is committed to giving back to the legal profession and the community. On behalf of Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance, she coordinates an annual back-to-school breakfast; the event provides school supplies for 450 kids living in poverty each year. Michelle serves on the board of directors for the Association of Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, among other activities.

Michelle has been recognized by the Kansas City Business Journal and Missouri Lawyers Weekly, and she is a top-rated personal injury attorney by Super Lawyers.

Education

• J.D., University of Missouri – Kansas City
•  B.A., Truman State University

Memberships and Affiliations

Jurisdictions

• • State of Missouri – All Jurisdictions
  • State of Kansas – All Jurisdictions
  • U.S. District Court for Kansas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri

Professional

• • Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City
    • Board of Directors, 2013 – present
    • President-Elect
    • Mentor, AWL Connections 2016-2020
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
    • Board of Directors, 2018 - present
    • 2022 Vice Chair Civility/Professionalism project
    • Young Lawyer Section, President 2018
    • Trial Academy, co-vice chair, 2012-2014
    • Trial Academy Master, 2018 - present
  • Kansas Association of Justice
    • Junior Board Member, Legislative Committee
  • Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
    • Women's Caucus Group
  • Women's Foundation
    • Inner Circle
  • Missouri Bar Association
  • Kansas Bar Association
  • American Association for Justice

Civic

• • Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance
    • President
    • Board of Directors, 2015 – present
    • Back to School Breakfast, co-chair, 2017 – 2020
    • Volunteer, Operation Breakthrough Reading Buddies

Honors and Recognitions

• • Women's Justice Award Litigation Practitioner, Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2022
  • Top Settlement, Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2021
  • Ingram's 40 Under Forty 2019
  • KCMBA President's Award 2018
  • Top Settlement, Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2018
  • Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers, 2021 - 2022
    
    • Rising Star, Missouri/Kansas, 2013 - 2020
    • Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney
  • Up & Coming Lawyers, Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2017
  • Best of the Bar, Kansas City Business Journal, 2014 – 2016

Notable Results

• • Schlitterbahn Wrongful Death - $19,732,125.00 settlement for the family of a 10-year-old killed on a local waterslide.
  • $16.2 million settlement for plaintiffs who underwent failed knee surgeries at the Mizzou BioJoint Center.
  • $7.5 million settlement for the family of a motorcyclist who died after an accident with a truck driver who failed to yield to oncoming traffic.
  • $4.1 million wrongful-death settlement in case of motorcyclist who crashed with a truck driver who was found to have a habit of disregarding stop signs.
  • $2,300,000.00 Resolution for the Family of John Albers who was fatally shot outside his home by the Overland Park Police Departme
  • Cullison v. City of Salina, Kansas, 371 P.3d 374 (Kan. Ct. App. 2016): Court of Appeals victory allowing family of a young girl killed by electrocution to overcome governmental immunity obstacles

Presentations

• • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 2018 Bench-Bar Conference: “Managing High-Profile Litigation: Best Practices for Civil, Criminal and Public Sector Attorneys”
  • Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City, 2018 Women's Trial Institute: “Deposition Skills”
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader, Litigreat 2018: “Perfecting Your Deposition Strategy and Skills”
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader, Litigreat 2017: “Key Habits of the Efficient, Effective Advocate”
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader, Litigreat 2016: “Remember Who You Work For: Maintaining Effective Client Relations”