Jill Kanatzar

PARTNER

Jill Kanatzar is one of the most respected plaintiff attorneys in the region. Her deep experience in cases related to sexual abuse, child injury and wrongful death, nursing home abuse and medical malpractice spans more than 20 years.

Jill’s entire career has been dedicated to helping people who often cannot help themselves. From small children to disabled adults to our elders, she has stood next to and fought for people’s rights. Jill is respected by attorneys throughout the Midwest, hence why she has earned the Women’s Justice Award by Missouri Lawyers Weekly.

In addition, Jill was appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court to its Advisory Committee. She has also been appointed special prosecutor by numerous prosecutors’ offices across Kansas City area jurisdictions.

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The Voice of Victims

Jill has managed all aspects of litigation dockets, including the review, investigation, discovery, depositions and the trial of the cases. “My entire career, I’ve been committed to be the voice of people who are victims of abuse or neglect. Our firm can speak for them, give them a voice, when they might not be able to speak for themselves.”

Prior to joining the firm, Jill was an assistant prosecuting attorney in Jackson County, Missouri, where she prosecuted felony criminal cases including robberies, burglaries, assaults and homicides. Jill spent the majority of her tenure with the Prosecutor’s Office in the Child Abuse & Sex Crimes Unit. She participated in numerous jury trials including cases of adult sex crimes and crimes perpetrated against children.

Jill entered private practice in 1998 when she joined Stigall, Humphrey, Lucas, Henry & Dollar. She soon began representing families and patients injured by abuse and neglect in nursing homes. Jill was appointed by the Supreme Court of Missouri to serve on the 16th Circuit Bar Ethics Committee. This panel reviews complaints brought against other lawyers to determine whether probable cause exists and if ethical violations have occurred.

Credentials

Area of Practice

Sexual Abuse

Child Injury and Wrongful Death

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Catastrophic Injury

Wrongful Death

Medical Malpractice

Bar Admissions

Missouri, 1994

U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, 1998

Kansas, 2006

Education

Notre Dame Law School, Notre Dame, Indiana, 1994

Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, 1991

B.S.
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Major: Economics; Major: Political Science

Contact Jill Kanatzar


    Professional Association and Memberships

    16th Circuit Judicial Commission, Member

    Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City, Member and Denise Henning Connections Mentoring Program

    Advisory Committee for the Missouri Supreme Court

    Missouri Supreme Court Regional Disciplinary Committee, Former Chair

    Jackson County Child Sexual Abuse Task Force, Former Chair

    Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Member

    Nursing Home Negligence Committee, Member

    The Missouri Bar, Member

    The Kansas Bar, Member

    Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Member

    Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City, Member of Board of Directors, Past President

    Awards and Honors

    Best Lawyers in America – 2019-2023

    Super Lawyers – 2018-2021, 2008

    Who’s Who Top Lawyers – 2020

    Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly – Women’s Justice Award, Litigation Practitioner – 2018

    Jackson County Child Advocacy Coalition – Child Advocate Award