Jill Kanatzar
PARTNER
Jill Kanatzar is one of the most experienced plaintiff attorneys in the region. Her deep experience in cases related to nursing home and elder abuse, sexual abuse and medical malpractice experience spans more than 20 years.
Jill’s entire career has been dedicated to helping people who often cannot help themselves. From small children 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 been named Prosecutor of the Year by Jackson Count and earned the Women’s Justice Award by Missouri Lawyers Weekly.
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
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Personal Injury
Wrongful Death
Bar Admissions
Missouri, 1994
U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, 1998
Kansas, 2006
Education
Notre Dame Law School, Notre Dame, Indiana, 1994 J.D.
Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, 1991
B.S. – Major: Economics; Major: Political Science
Professional Association and Memberships
Jackson County Child Sexual Abuse Task Force, Former Chair
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
Nursing Home Negligence Committee, Member
The Missouri Bar, Member
Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Member
Missouri Supreme Court Regional Disciplinary Committee, Former Chair
Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City, Member of Board of Directors, Past President
Awards and Honors
Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly – Women’s Justice Award, Litigation Practitioner
Super Lawers – Super Lawyer – 2018, 2008-2010
Jackson County Child Advocacy Coalition – Child Advocate Award
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office – Louis Lombardo Prosecutor of the Year Award