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Bob Wagner

Bob Wagner

Partner

St. Louis
314 552 6206 314 552 6206 direct


  • OVERVIEW
  • EXPERIENCE
  • INSIGHTS
  • NEWS & EVENTS

PRACTICES

  • Education

    • Saint Louis University School of Law,

      J.D., magna cum laude, 1995

      Order of the Woolsack

      Alpha Sigma Nu National Honor Society

    • University of Missouri-St. Louis,

      M.A., Political Science, 1992

    • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,

      B.S., B.A., Cum Laude, 1984

  • Admissions

    • Missouri

    • Illinois

  • Affiliations

    • Missouri Bar Association

    • The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis

    • Illinois State Bar Association

  • Representative Clients

    • City of Chicago

    • CK Power

    • Gander Mountain

    • Illinois Central Railroad

    • Metropolitan Sewer District

    • Monro Muffler Brake

    • Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative

    • Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

  • Recognitions

    • Listed in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers (by Thomson Reuters), 2012-2014

  • Employment

    • Thompson Coburn LLP

      Partner, 2004-Present;

      Associate, 1995-2003

    • Laclede Gas Company

      Corporate Budgeting, Employee Benefits, Marketing, 1985-1990

  • Community

    • Provident Behavioral Health

      Vice Chair, 2023

      Nominating Chair, 2022

      Board Member, 2019-Present

    • Mary Ryder Home

      Vice-President, 2015-2019

      Board Member, 2012-2019

    • St. Gabriel the Archangel School

      President, 2011-2012

      Board Member, 2010-2013

Bob has more than 25 years of experience defending class actions in state and federal courts across the country.

Bob represents telecommunication companies, retailers, manufacturers, banks, railroads, public transit authorities, governmental entities, electric and agricultural cooperatives and energy companies in all aspects of the class action litigation process, from the initial responsive pleading through the class action trial. Bob has litigated class actions in 20 states and argued more than 50 class certification hearings and participated in more than 100 certification rulings.

His areas of substantive law include consumer fraud, product liability, telecommunications, environmental, banking, tax, data privacy, securities, eminent domain and employment law. Approximately 75 percent of his practice involves class actions. The remainder consists of general business litigation cases, resolving disputes between companies and their customers, suppliers, employees and shareholders.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Bob earned a business degree and worked in accounting and employee benefits administration for a regulated utility. This experience carries over into Bob's law practice, where he particularly enjoys learning about and defending challenged business practices.

Powerful results across a wide range of class action claims

Secured district court and appellate reversals of more than $200 million in class action jury verdicts.

Defeated motion to certify Title VII class claims brought against employer's criminal background check policy.

Secured summary judgment and defeated motion for class certification on claims to recoup automotive shop supply fees.

Assisted with drafting and obtaining court approval of $1 billion class action settlement.

Secured appellate and trial court victories against class action attacks on municipal authority to enforce traffic safety laws.

Defeated motion to certify class of property owners whose homes were damaged by overland flooding.

Defeated motion to certify nationwide "junk fax" class action.

Successfully asserted dilatory and peremptory exceptions on claims brought by 278 individuals in Louisiana state court alleging personal injuries from outdoor gas main leak.

Obtained dismissal of class action claims brought by drinking water well owners who failed to allege credible fear that gasoline additive threatened their wells.

Secured Rule 11 sanctions against plaintiff's attorney for filing frivolous RESPA class action.

Extensive experience before state and federal appellate courts

Secured Eighth Circuit affirmance that Plaintiff lacked Article III standing in TransUnion LLC v. Ramirez.

Obtained Illinois Supreme Court reversal of class certification of alleged personal injury and property damage claims arising from nearby train derailment.

Secured appellate affirmance of ERISA plan administrator's decision to deny benefits based on reasonable interpretation of plan language.

Creative use of old and new legal doctrines to successfully defend against claims

Defeated class action fraud and RICO claims based on federal preemption.

Defeated multiple class actions for failure to plead or prove actual manifestation of alleged product defect.

Successfully asserted doctrine of primary jurisdiction to defeat class action against regulated utility.

Obtained dismissals of numerous class actions based on common law defense of voluntary payment.

Defeated class action against municipality based on doctrine of substantial compliance.

Thompson Coburn Publications

House passes bill to clamp down on class actions

Publications

"How Local Charities Can Benefit From Your Cy Pres Settlements";
St. Louis Lawyer, September, 2011

Co-Author, “New Federal Law May Cool Class Action Hotbeds”;
Midwest In-House, April 2005

Co-Author, “The Attorneys’ Fee Award in Class Action Litigation – Is the Carrot Too Big?”;
St. Louis Lawyer, November 1999

"Civil and Criminal Liability";
I Mo. Environmental Law, § 4, MoBar 2d ed. 1998