James F. Freeman III
Member
Career Overview: Mr. Freeman practices law with a reverent passion for identifying clients' needs and possible solutions, whether litigating a $250 million corporate dispute, structuring and negotiating off shore, international and developing nation construction projects, negotiating payment on a $5,000 sub-contractor invoice, advising a family building its dream home or advising a business, church or family about the difficult choices life brings. Henry Ford once said, "Most people spend more time and energy trying to go around problems than trying to solve them." Mr. Freeman brings his established litigation, construction, corporate and creditor's rights background to every matter to find solutions as a trusted team member.
Experience Overview: James practices in the areas of construction, land use, church, commercial litigation, business, contract, employment, probate litigation, appellate practice, transportation and corporate law.
Education: James received his Juris Doctor Degree in 1989 and his Bachelor of Arts-Political Science Degree, with an emphasis in Constitutional Law, in 1986, both from the University of Missouri at Kansas City where he received a Scholar Award, was a University Vice Chancellor - Honor Recipient and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa.
Bar Admissions: Missouri; Kansas; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Claims; U.S. Court of Appeals - 8th and 10th Circuits; U.S. District Courts-Missouri and Kansas.
Professional Affiliations and Memberships: Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association; The Missouri Bar; American Bar Association; Kansas Bar Association
Additional Information:
Published Opinions:
Fennesy v. LBI Management, Inc., 18 Kan.App.2d 61, 847 P.2d 1350, Prod.Liab.Rep. (CCH) P 13,577 (1993)
Martinez v. Krohne, 834 S.W.2d 262 (Mo.App.W.D.1992)
Edmonds v. Lawrence Nat. Bank & Trust Co., N.A., 16 Kan.App.2d 331, 823 P.2d 219 (1991)
Protection Sprinkler Co. v. Lou Charno Studio Inc., 888 S.W.2d 422 (Mo.App.W.D.1994)
Service Drywall Supply, Inc. v. Sharp, 842 S.W.2d 564 (Mo.App.W.D.1992)
In re: Farmland Industries Inc., 298 B.R. 382 (Bankr. W.D.Mo.2003)
In re: Edmonds, 924 F.2d 176, Bankr.L.Rep. P 73, 793 (10th Cir.(Kan.)1991)
In re: Edmonds, 110 B.R. 38 (D.Kan.1989)
Stokers S.A. v. Morrison, 147 F.3d 759, 40 Fed.R.Serv.3d 1378 (8th Cir.(Mo.)1998)
The Ex. Bd. of the Missouri Baptist Covention v. Matt Blunt, et al., 170 S.W.3d 437(Mo.App. W.D. 2005)
Executive Bd. of Mo. Baptist Convention v. Windermere Baptist Conference Ctr., 280 S.W.3d 696 (Mo.App. 2009).
Publications:
Chapter 1, Formation, Mo. Contracts (MO Bar 2007)
Seminars Presented:
Purchasing Law, Lorman Education Services, Kansas City, February 10, 1999
Purchasing Law in Missouri, Lorman Education Services, Kansas City, January 22, 2003
The Anatomy of a Construction Contract, 2004, The Missouri Bar, Kansas City, June 4, 2004
Missouri Construction Contracts for Professional Engineers, Kansas City, November 4, 2005
The Fundamentals of Construction Contracts in Missouri; Kansas City, Missouri; April 21, 2006
Construction Insurance, Bonding and Liens, Springfield, July 31, 2007
The Fundamentals of Construction Contracts: Understanding the Issues, Kansas City, February 27, 2008.
Building Codes, Kansas City, Missouri; August 28, 2008
Building Codes, Missouri Department of Transportation, Columbia, Missouri, 2008
Construction Project Management: Making Construction Laws Simple, Overland Park, Kansas, January 26, 2009
Foreclosures and Mechanic's Liens, 2009 Missouri Judicial College, October 13, 2009
Legal Issues Affecting Churches and Pastors, Kansas City, November 6, 2009
Community Activities:
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers - Construction Law 2009
Boy Scouts of America: Assistant Scoutmaster - Troop 195; Grace United Methodist Church; District Committee Vice-Chairman of Programming, Assistant District Commissioner, Friends of Scouting Fundraising Chairman, Thunderbird District Heart of America Council
Instructor- Government Contract Law- U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth
Lee's Summit, Missouri City Council member: 1996-1998, 2000-2008; Mayor Pro Tem, 2006-2008; Chair of Public Works, Solid Waste and Community Development Committees; Member of the Finance and Personnel Committee, and of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee; Council Liaison to Planning Commission; Youth Court and Public Safety Advisory Board-oversight of 500+ public employees and annual budgets in excess of $200 million.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary- Trustee 2003-present, Executive Board-1st Vice President, Business Services Committee, Chair
Missouri Baptist Convention- Executive Board; Administrative Committee; Parliamentarian, Nominating Committee; Commitee on Continuing Review, Chair; Support Services, Chair
Missouri Municipal League- Board of Directors, 2007-2008
Lee's Summit, Missouri City Charter Commission: 1995-1996; Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Commission of leading Lee's Summit citizens, which drafted the constitution for Lee's Summit, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters.
Lee's Summit 360: Charting Tomorrow - Co-Chair; Transportation Group, 2008-2009.
Robert C. Welch Volunteer Attorney of the Year Award- 1991
Who's Who in American Law- 2005, 2006, 2007
At Swanson Midgley, we listen to our clients' needs in order to help them plan for the future and achieve their goals.
