Tom Pickert
A personal injury lawyer from Kansas City, Missouri, 39-year-old Tom Pickert, was killed earlier this week while sitting on his front porch. He’d just walked his two sons to school when he was shot. The Kansas City Star reports the assailant may have approached Pickert and shot him at close range, and a white van was seen speeding off shortly after the attack. He was found by his wife:
“It appears that our victim was sitting on his front porch of his residence when he was shot. The victim’s spouse heard something and came out and discovered her spouse on the ground,” said police spokeswoman Sgt. Kari Thompson.
Pickert worked at Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger where his practice focused primarily on medical malpractice and elder abuse. Police have indicated they don’t believe the shooting was random, but they’ve provided little additional information.
However, the Star reports that Pickert had recently won a $5.75 million dollar judgment against David Jungerman, a business owner who shot a homeless man on his property. In connection with that judgment, on Tuesday, the day before Pickert’s murder, Jungerman was informed his property was being seized to pay the judgment. The white van seen speeding after Pickert was shot was registered to Jungerman. Police have not reported Jungerman as a suspect or a person of interest in Pickert’s death.
Pickert was active in the local legal community, and colleagues say he will be missed:
David Morantz, who attended law school with Pickert at the University of Kansas and worked on the law review with him, described Pickert as “a bright and thoughtful guy.”
The two were active with the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association and also faced each other in the courtroom, Morantz said.
“He was extremely well-liked, everyone respected him. He was always thoughtful, always engaging and always had a smile on his face,” he said. “He was very pleasant to talk with and I am going to miss him.”
Free Attorney Time Tracking Template For Smarter Billing
Tired of messy time logs? This free attorney time tracking template helps you bill with confidence and accuracy. Learn more in the full article.
Our condolences go out to Pickert’s family, friends, and colleagues.
Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).