PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
COFFEY & NICHOLS
St. Louis, MO | 2007 – Present
Mary Coffey is one of two trial lawyers in this small plaintiff's personal injury litigation firm. She is a board certified Civil Trial Advocate.
COFFEY & ASSOCIATES
St. Louis, MO | 2001 – 2007
Sole Owner :Chief trial attorney and owner of this small plaintiff’s personal injury litigation firm.
COFFEY & GRIESBACH
St. Louis, MO | 1996– 2001
Partner: One of two chief trial attorneys in a plaintiff’s personal injury litigation firm.
THE JOHN J. FRANK PARTNERSHIP
St. Louis, MO | 1989 – 1996
Partner: One of two chief trial attorneys in a plaintiff’s personal injury litigation firm.
HULLVERSON, HULLVERSON & FRANK
St. Louis, MO | 1983 – 1989
Associate: Handled pretrial matters and depositions for partners in major cases as well as having sole responsibility for smaller cases, in a plaintiff’s personal injury litigation firm.
U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE WILLIAM L. HUNGATE
Eastern District of Missouri | 1981 – 1983
Law Clerk: Drafted opinions on civil and criminal matters, and acted as bailiff and in-court consultant to the judge during trials.
U.S. MAGISTRATE DAVID D. NOCE
Eastern District of Missouri | 1980 – 1981
Law Clerk: Drafted opinions on criminal pre-trial motions, habeas corpus petitions and civil pretrial matters
EDUCATION
ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY | St. Louis, MO
Juris Doctor, Graduated with Honors, Cum Laude 1980
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO | Greeley, CO
Bachelor of Arts in History, 1976
LICENSURE & CERTIFICATIONS
Missouri Bar, #30919, 1980
Illinois Bar, #6184140, 1981
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri, # 2837, 1980
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1981
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1991
Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1999; recertified 2004
US Court of Claims, 2004
ATLA, National College of Advocacy, certified as an Advocate 2004
PUBLICATIONS
– Volume Editor & Chapter Author: 15 Missouri Practice, Civil Rules Practice (West 1997)
– Co-Author: MO Bar Continuing Legal Education Deskbook, Sources of Proof, Interrogatories and Depositions, 1989
– Occasional Contributor, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, 1995, 1998 – 2000
LECTURES & TEACHING
2007 - How to Win Medical Malpractice Cases, Simon Passanante seminar
2007 - How to Win Cases in Hard Venues, USA&M seminar
Spring 2005 and Fall 2002 — assistant adjunct professor, St. Louis University Law School, trial advocacy small group
2003 — Direct Examination, UMKC seminar
2003 — Focus Groups, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys seminar
2002 — Focus Groups, National Employment Lawyers, local chapter, seminar
1998 — Trial Tips, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys seminar
1997 — Case Evaluation, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys seminar
1996 — Deposition Rules and Procedure, UMKC law school seminar
1996 — Cross-examination of the Expert Witness, UMKC law school seminar
1996 — Premises Liability for Violent Crimes, University of Missouri at Columbia seminar
1994 — Comparative Fault, UMKC law school seminar
1992 — Litigation Settlements and Liens, Missouri Bar Continuing Legal Education Seminar
1989 — Sources of Proof , Missouri Bar Continuing Legal Education Seminar
1989 — Inherently Dangerous Activities, Missouri Association of Trial Attorney’s Seminar
1986 — Pitfalls of Medical Malpractice from a Plaintiff’s Attorney Point of View, to American Medical Women’s Association
AWARDS, POSITIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
2007 - Rated as one of the top 50 Women Trial ATtorneys and one of the top 50 personal injury attorneys in Missouri and Kansas in SuperLawyers, 2007.
1999 – present: Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
1998 — 15th highest verdict in Missouri for 1998
1990 – 1992: Member, Missouri Supreme Court Civil Rules Study Committee
1990 — Law and Leadership Award, St. Louis University School of Law, 1990
1990 — President, Women Lawyers Association of Greater St. Louis
MEMBERSHIPS
The Missouri Bar
Illinois State Bar Association
Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater St. Louis
Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
Lawyers Association of St. Louis
The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America
