Nikki Cannezzaro

Phone: 816.641.5600

Nikki Cannezzaro is a very aggressive trial and appellate lawyer, advocating for individuals who have suffered serious injuries or wrongful death. She has tried numerous cases to juries ranging from dangerous products and premise liability cases to multiple fatality trucking/automobile crashes, obtaining favorable results for her client in each case. Nikki also has significant experience in bad faith, vexatious refusal and insurance coverage litigation.

Nikki has won numerous awards, honors and recognitions as one of the top attorneys in Kansas City. She is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America, and certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. She has also been elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a national organization of experienced trial attorneys and judges, and currently serves as President of the Western Missouri / Eastern Kansas Chapter.

Ms. Cannezzaro was selected by her peers as a Best Lawyer in America in Litigation - Insurance from 2019 to 2022, and a Lawyer of the Year - Missouri in 2022. Nikki has received the prestigious Thomas J. Conway Award from the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, which recognizes outstanding trial skills coupled with the ability to be a fierce advocate and a good friend to opposing counsel at the same time. Similarly, the Missouri Bar Foundation has awarded Nikki the Lon O. Hocker Memorial Trial Lawyer Award, recognizing unusual proficiency in the art of trial advocacy and the Donald J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award, recognizing outstanding achievement in appellate advocacy. Notably, Nikki is the only attorney in Kansas City to have received all three of these awards.

The Kansas City Business Journal has included Nikki in its list of "Best of the Bar" in Kansas City for fifteen years, as well as Law & Politics Magazine as a "Super Lawyer" in Missouri and Kansas for the last several years, including being listed among the top 50 attorneys in Kansas City, top 50 women attorneys in Missouri & Kansas and top 100 Missouri & Kansas attorneys.

Nikki is a leader in our legal community. She is a strong advocate for women and minority issues. She is a past president of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA - the largest and oldest bar association in Kansas City), as well as the Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City. In addition to serving as a mentor to many young lawyers in the community, Nikki frequently presents at various CLE programs ranging from trial skills to appellate advocacy. Nikki started her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert G. Ulrich, Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. Prior to starting Cannezzaro Marvel, she was a partner at Franke Schultz & Mullen, PC where she spent over two decades defending serious injury and wrongful death claims. Nikki's background and experience working with big corporations and insurance companies provides our firm with a unique perspective and huge advantage in understanding the defense perspective and anticipating defensive strategies while representing injured individuals and families.

HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS

Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Insurance, 2022 Lawyer of the Year: Missouri
Women's Justice Award, Litigation Practitioner, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
2015 Class of 40 Under Forty, Ingram's Magazine
Thomas J. Conway Award, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award, Missouri Bar Foundation
Women's Justice Award, Rising Star, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
Lon O. Hocker Trial Award, Missouri Bar Foundation
Legal Leader of the Year, Rising Star, Kansas City Daily Record and Missouri Lawyers Weekly
Best of the Bar, Kansas City Business Journal (15 years)
Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers, Law & Politics (2008 - present) Top 50 Kansas City, Top 50 Women in Missouri & Kansas, Top 100 Missouri & Kansas.
Up & Coming Lawyer, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
Young Lawyer of the Year, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association

SELECT TRIALS:

Nationwide Affinity Ins. Co. of Am. v. Deimund, et al., U.S. District Court, Eastern District of MO, Case No. 1:16-cv-00298-ACL.
Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co., Inc. v. Employers Ins. Co. of Wausau, et al., Jackson County, MO, Case No. 1316-CV-27418.
Franklin, et al. v. Nationwide Ins. Co. of America, St. Charles County, MO, Case No. 1511-CC00576.
Baine, et al. v. Nationwide Affinity Insurance Co., Jasper County, MO, Case No. 15AO-CC00216.
Cuggino v. Nationwide Ins. Co. of Am., U.S. District Court, Eastern District of MO, Case No. 4:15-CV-00250-CEJ.
Wyatt v. Brockhaus, et al., Cass County, MO, Case No. 12JO-CV01427-01.
Nanson v. Hennon, Jackson County, MO, Case No. 1316-CV24286.
Wyatt v. Brockhaus, et al., Johnson County, MO, Case No. 12JO-CV01427-01 (mistrial).
Knuppel v. Monie, et al., Boone County, MO, Case No. 09BA-CV04264.
Ancona v. Nick & Jake's of Parkville, Inc., et al., Platte County, MO, Case No. 10AE-CV03163.
Novotnak v. Ameripure Water Company, Clay County, MO, Case No. 06CY-CV05753.
Mann v. Gentry, Wyandotte County, KS, Case No. 07CV1022.
Zhang v. Sparks, Greene County, MO, Case No. 306 AC 6623.
Clark v. Murfin Drilling Co., et al.,Stevens County, KS, Case No. 07-CV-16.
Draper v. Advantage KC, et al., Jackson County, MO, Case No. 0716-CV21240.
Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages, Inc. v. Ace Sports, Johnson County, KS, Case No. 07CV1504.
White v. McKinley, U.S. District Court, Western District of MO, Case No. 05-0203-CV-W-NKL.
McIntyre v. C & J Management Services, Jackson County, MO, Case No. 0716-CV10818.
Wheeler v. Ware, Platte County, MO, Case No. 04CV83653.
Thompson v. Marler, Greene County, MO, Case No. 306AC3795.
Rivera v. General Store No. 2 d/b/a Marsh's Apple Market, Jackson County, MO, Case No. 0616CV06193.
Williams v. 7th Street Apple Market, Wyandotte County, KS, Case No. 05CV1099.
Nentwig v. Willamette Industries, Inc., United States District Court, District of Kansas, Case No. 02-2143-CM.
Brinkley's Property Mgmt., et al. v. Fidelity Nat'l Field Servs., et al., Geary County, KS, Case No. 03 CV 241.
Kendrick v. Dee, et al., Johnson County, MO, Case No. 05JO-CV00230.
Records v. Century Roofing, Inc., Johnson County, KS, Case No. 05CV5430.
Boney, et ux. v. Worley, et ux., Cass County, MO, Case No. CV105-378CC.
Manning v. Ottawa University, Franklin County, KS, Case No. 04-C-119.
Dodson v. Industrial Insulations, et ux., Jackson County, MO, Case No. 0516CV09978.
Kapur v. Buyrite d/b/a Queen's Price Chopper, Johnson County, KS, Case No. 02CV01491.
Bostick v. Ferguson, Johnson County, KS, Case No. 02CV04319.
Olivera v. Action Plumbing, Inc., Douglas County, KS.
Smith v. Reynolds, Wyandotte County, KS, Case No. 2002C05043.
Carver v. Super S Auto Sales, et ux., Bates County, MO, Case No. CV100-133CC.

APPELLATE CASES:

The View Homeowners' Association v. The Burlington Ins. Co., -- S.W.3d -- (Mo. App. 2018).
In Interest of M.J.M., -- S.W.3d -- (Mo. App. 2018).
AMCO Insurance Company v. Williams, et al., 850 F.3d 989 (8th Cir. 2017).
Allen v. Bryers, 512 S.W.3d 17 (Mo. banc 2016).
Wunderlich v. Wunderlich, 505 S.W.3d 434 (Mo. App. 2016).
Capital Finance Loans, LLC v. Read, 476 S.W.3d 925 (Mo. App. 2015).
Allen v. Atain Specialty Ins., 2015 WL 5439944 (Mo. App. 2015).
Baker v. Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., 745 F.3d 919 (8th Cir. 2014).
State ex rel. Red Cross Pharmacy, Inc. v. Harman, 423 S.W.3d 258 (Mo. App. 2013).
Fanning v. Progressive, 412 S.W.3d 360 (Mo. App. 2013).
ABC Seamless Siding & Windows, Inc. v. Ward, 398 S.W.2d 27 (Mo. App. 2013).
Lambi v. American Family Mut. Ins. Co., 498 Fed.Appx. 655 (8th Cir. 2013).
Clark v. Progressive Preferred Ins. Co., 390 S.W.2d 208 (Mo. App. 2012).
Charles v. Consumers Ins., 371 S.W.3d 892 (Mo. App. 2012).
Hargis v. Lankford, et al., 372 S.W.3d 82 (Mo. App. 2012).
Bauer v. Bowes, 350 S.W.3d 478 (Mo. App. 2011).
RLI Ins. Co. v. Southern Union Co., 341 S.W.3d 821 (Mo. App. 2011).
Goerlitz v. City of Maryville, 333 S.W.3d 450 (Mo. 2011).
American Nat. Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Kansas Ins. Dept., 240 P.3d 986 (Kan. App. 2010).
Martin-Manatee Power Partners, LLC v. Peerless Mfg. Co., 233 P.3d 758 (Kan. App. 2010).
Hayes v. Price, 313 S.W.3d 645 (Mo. 2010).
Dahmer v. Hutchison, 315 S.W.3d 375 (Mo. App. 2010).
Goerlitz v. City of Maryville, 2009 WL 4572869 (Mo. App. 2009).
Kindred v. City of Smithville, 292 S.W.3d 420 (Mo. App. 2009).
Wiley v. Homfeld, 307 S.W.3d 145 (Mo. App. 2009).
Thompson v. Marler, 286 S.W.3d 261 (Mo. App. 2009).
Nervig v. Workman, 285 S.W.3d 335 (Mo. App. 2009).
Hayes v. Price, -- S.W.3d --, 2009 WL 448179 (Mo. App. 2009).
Progressive Direct Ins. C. v. Nervig, -- S.W.3d . 2009, WL 281300 (Mo. App. 2008).
Weibe v. Hicks, et al., 192 P.2d 184 (Kan. App. 2008).
Dibbens v. Shelter Mut. Ins. Co., 261 S.W.3d 553 (Mo. App. 2008).
Loyd v. State Auto Proper & Cas. Co., 265 S.W.3d 901 (Mo. App. 2008).
Eide v. State Auto Nat.l. Ins. Co., 244 S.W.3d 797 (Mo. App. 2008).
Bottorff Const., Inc. v. Gates, 260 S.W.3d 373 (Mo. App. 2008).
Allen Quarries, Inc. v. Auge, 244 S.W.3d 781 (Mo. App. 2008).
Baker v. G.J. Grewe, Inc., et al., 241 S.W.3d 420 (Mo. App. 2007).
Young v. McNeil, -- S.W.3d -- (Mo. App. 2007).
Hardcore Concrete v. Med James, 220 S.W.3d 350 (Mo. App. 2007).
Verni v. Cleveland Chiropractic College, 212 S.W.3d 150 (Mo. banc 2007).
Smith v. Chamblin Properties, LLC, 201 S.W.3d 582 (Mo. App. 2006).
Shelter Mutual Ins. Co. v. Ballew, et al., 203 S.W.2d 789 (Mo. App. 2006).
Samuels v. American Family Ins. Co., 170 Fed.Appx. 443 (8th Cir. 2006).
Thompson v. Tuggle, 183 S.W.3d 611 (Mo. App. 2006).
Alea London Ltd. v. Bono-Soltysiak Enterprises, 186 S.W.3d 403 (Mo. App. 2006).
Verni v. Cleveland Chiropractic College, 2005 WL 2738919, -- S.W.3d -- (Mo. App. 2005).
Henson v. Dutch Flowers, LLC, 169 S.W.3d 868 (Mo. App. 2005).
Perkins v. Dvorak, 113 P.3d 274 (Kan. App. 2005).
Samuels v. American Family Ins. Co., 159 S.W.3d 868 (Mo. App. 2005).
Nentwig v. Georgia Pacific Corp., 375 F.3d 1009 (10th Cir. 2004).
Roberts v. Progressive Northwestern Ins. Co., 151 S.W.3d 891 (Mo. App. 2004).
Hein v. Grandboro Arms, LP, 140 S.W.3d 164 (Mo. App. 2004).
Wilson, ex rel Wilson v. Simmons, 103 S.W.3d 211 (Mo. App. 2003).
American Standard Ins. Co. of Wisconsin v. Bittick, 112 S.W.3d 55 (Mo. App. 2003).
Long v. Cross Reporting Service, Inc., 103 S.W.3d 249 (Mo. App. 2002).
Long v. Funeral Directors Services, Inc., 96 S.W.3d 885 (Mo. App. 2002).
Criswell v. Short, 70 S.W.3d 592 (Mo. App. 2002).

SPEAKER/LECTURER/PUBLICATIONS:

Civil Jury Trial Demonstration -- UMKC School of Law, Kansas City, Missouri (2018).
Civil Jury Trial Demonstration -- UMKC School of Law, Kansas City, Missouri (2017).
Women's Trial Institute, Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri (2016).
Ethical Dilemas Confronting the Trial Lawyer - American Board of Trial Advocates, Western Missouri / Eastern Kansas Annual CLE, Kansas City, MO (2016).
Recent Developments in Bad Faith Litigation - Professional Liability Attorney Network, Kansas City, MO (2016).
Personal Injury 101: Nuts & Bolts -- Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Kansas City, Missouri (2015).
Has Social Media Investigation Made Surveillance Obsolete?" 10 ways to improve your claim investigation without hiring a retired detective to sit in a van with a camera -- Central Claims Executives Association Spring Meeting, Scottsdale, Arizona (2015).
Ethics of Managing an Appellate Practice -- Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Kansas City, Missouri (2014).
Nuts and Bolts of Building a Law Practice - Law Practice Institute -- Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Kansas City, Missouri (2014).
Civil Jury Trial Demonstration -- Co-sponsored by UMKC School of Law and Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Kansas City, Missouri (2014).
Path to the Bench - Moderator -- Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City, Annual Conference, Kansas City, MO (2013).
The Impact of Social Media on Claims and Litigation - United Fire Group, Spring Claims Seminar, Cedar Rapids, IA (2013)
Civil Jury Trial Demonstration -- Co-sponsored by UMKC School of Law and Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Kansas City, Missouri (2013).
The Impact of Social Media on Claims and Litigation - Central Claims Executives Association Conference, Nashville, TN (2012)
Effective Closing Arguments -- Ross T. Roberts Inn of Court, Kansas City, Missouri (2012).
Civil Jury Trial Demonstration -- Co-sponsored by UMKC School of Law and Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Kansas City, Missouri (2012).
Effective Closing Arguments -- Ross T. Roberts Inn of Court, Kansas City, Missouri (2011).
Civil Jury Trial Demonstration -- Co-sponsored by UMKC School of Law and Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Kansas City, Missouri (2011).
Effective Closing Arguments -- Ross T. Roberts Inn of Court, Kansas City, Missouri (2010).
Civil Jury Trial Demonstration -- Co-sponsored by UMKC School of Law and Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Kansas City, Missouri (2010).
Tried and True Tips for the Trial Attorney -- KCMBA; Kansas City, MO (2009).
Ethics: Litigation and Professionalism -- Ross T. Roberts Inn of Court, Kansas City, MO (2009).
Civil Jury Trial Demonstration -- Co-Sponsored by UMKC School of Law & KCMBA; Kansas City, MO (2009).
Premises Liability Case Preparation and Trial -- National Business Institute; Kansas City, MO (2008).
Civil Jury Trial Demonstration -- Co-Sponsored by UMKC School of Law & KCMBA; Kansas City, MO (2008).
Insurance Coverage Litigation -- National Business Institute: Overland Park, KS (2007).
Settling Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims -- National Business Institute; Kansas City, MO (2006).
Keys to Successful Pre-Trial Preparation in Kansas -- National Business Institute; Overland Park, KS (2005).
A Practical Refresher on Litigating the Auto Injury Case -- National Business Institute; Overland Park, KS (2005).
Handling the Automobile Injury Claim in Kansas -- National Business Institute; Overland Park, KS (2004).
Drafting Motions That Get Results in Missouri -- National Business Institute; Kansas City, MO (2003).
The Essentials of Missouri Appellate Practice -- National Business Institute; Kansas City, MO (2002).
The Safe Schools Act: Legal and ADR Responses to Violence In Schools -- 31 Urb. Law. 309 (1999).
Management Council of Wyoming Legis. v. Geringer -- 30 Urb. Law. 495 (1998).
United States v. 194.08 Acres of Land -- 30 Urb. Law. 773 (1998).

Education

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, J.D.
University of Kansas, B.A.

Bar Admissions

State of Kansas
State of Missouri
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
United States District Court for the District of Kansas
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
Bar of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
American Board of Trial Advocates, Member, (President of Western Missouri / Eastern Kansas Chapter)
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (Board of Directors, 2008 - 2019, including Diversity Section President 2013, Treasurer 2015,
Vice President 2016, President-Elect 2017, President 2018, Immediate Past President 2019)
Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City (Board of Directors, 2004 - 2014, including President 2013)
Lawyers Association of Kansas City (YLS Board of Directors, 2001 - 2004)
National Board of Trial Advocacy, Certified Civil Trial Advocate
Earl E. O'Connor American Inn of Court
Ross T. Roberts Inn of Court, Lead Master
University of Missouri - Kansas City, School of Law, Litigation Advisory Committee
Missouri Bar Foundation, Fellow
Johnson County Bar Association
Kansas Bar Association