Ted Williams

Neutral Information
Rates and Fees

Overview

Ted Williams

Ted is a mediator and trial attorney. His trial experience includes the defense of railroad, aviation, medical malpractice, product liability, personal injury, toxic tort, and admiralty cases. Ted began practicing law in 1974 as a prosecutor in Tulsa, Oklahoma; since then, he has tried more than 200 jury trials to conclusion and served as lead trial counsel in all those cases.

While his trial practice has primarily been in high-exposure jury cases in Missouri and Illinois, including Madison and St. Clair Counties, he has regularly represented corporations and insurance companies throughout the Midwest, including Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin as well as Colorado and Louisiana. His practice also included taking the role of the plaintiff’s attorney in mock trials from California to South Carolina/Florida for a Fortune 500 corporation.

Ted is a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, has been elected to the rank of advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates, and has also been elected to membership in the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel as well as the International Association of Defense Counsel. Since 1994, he has been listed in two categories (Railroad Law and Personal Injury Litigation) in The Best Lawyers in America © and in Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers. He has also been included in Super Lawyers Business Edition, a national recognition of top attorneys in business-related fields. Ted has been a frequent lecturer on trial advocacy and was a founding partner of Williams Venker & Sanders, with offices in St. Louis; Kansas City; and Edwardsville and Belleville, Illinois.

Military Background

Ted was commissioned as an armor officer in the United States Army on June 7, 1969, through the Army ROTC Program at Purdue University. He served 26 years in the Active Army and Army Reserve. During the first half of his military service, he served as a line officer commanding Armored Cavalry and Infantry units, as well as, served at Battalion and Brigade levels as an intelligence and operations officer. During the second half, he served as an Army Judge Advocate, handling a myriad of legal issues to include those at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center, one of the major Army hospitals. His last assignment was as chief of criminal law at Ft. Bliss, Texas. His military education included the Army’s Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He retired from the Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Ted has been inducted into the Purdue University ROTC Hall of Fame which honors those graduates who have distinguished themselves through service to the nation, their community, and as outstanding leaders in business, government, or other professional fields.

Admitted to Practice

Ted is licensed to practice law in Missouri, Illinois, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Kansas, Oklahoma, Washington, Wisconsin, and before the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; Eighth Circuit; and the Tenth Circuit; as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Services. He also is licensed to practice before numerous United States District Courts, including the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri; the Southern, Central and Northern Districts of Illinois; as well as the District Courts in Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.

Education

Purdue University, B.A., 1969
University of Tulsa College of Law, J.D., 1974
University of Missouri School of Law, Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution Mediator Training, 2016

Professional or Trade Affiliations

Maritime Law Association
National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel-Executive Committee
Defense Research Institute-Product Liability Committee, chairman-Railroad Law Committee
International Association of Defense Counsel-Transportation Law Committee
Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
American Bar Association-chairman, Rail and Motor Carrier Law Committee of the Torts and Insurance Practice Section
American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association-General Counsel Committee
Western Conference of Railway Counsel
Bar Associations for each of the states, and the District of Columbia, where Ted is admitted to practice law

Representative Matters

Among his notable cases, Ted was asked to serve as crown counsel by the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario to represent a provincial entity which was sued in St. Louis, resulting in a successful result for the province.

He successfully tried the first case nationwide against a railroad where the plaintiff, a locomotive engineer, was claiming the development of carpal tunnel syndrome due to operating a locomotive. The matter was tried under the FELA in Illinois.

In the products liability area, Ted successfully tried the first case nationwide involving claims of personal injury due to the absence of seat restraint devices on behalf of a coal mining equipment manufacturer.

Ted also represented the defendant in the trial of one of the first cases alleging the development of toxic shock syndrome because of tampon usage.

In a patent arbitration, Ted also successfully defended the second largest manufacturer of highway trailers for claims by a competitor regarding trailer sidewall design.

Honors & Awards

Litigation Counsel of America-fellow
Best Lawyers in America (Personal Injury and Railroad Law-1994 to present)
Best Lawyers in America-Railroad Law “Lawyer of the Year” (2017)
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers (1994 to Present)
Who’s Who in American Law
Rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™

Publications

Contributed to (as an author) the Missouri Bar Association Practice Guide for Third Party Practice in Litigation
Contributed to University of Tulsa Law article on serving as a military lawyer

Speaking Engagements

Numerous presentations, including those for CLE credit, at regional and annual meetings of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel on evidentiary topics, occupational disease cases, third party trial practice, defending railroad employee and grade crossing accident Cases, and specific issue matters, such as locomotive ride quality, claims of hearing loss, and carpal tunnel syndrome
St. Louis University School of Law presentations to law students, on various trial practice topics such as closing arguments at trial, and military law
Co-presenter at a Missouri Bar Association training program, for CLE credit, on third party practice
Numerous presentations on recent legal developments in the rail and motor carrier industries at American Bar Association-Rail and Motor Carrier Law Committee national and regional meetings

Community Involvement

Ted has served for a number of terms on the Board of Directors for the National Museum of Transportation and as one of the Museum’s Legal Counsel.

Rates and Fees

Rates - Ted Williams

If you have questions regarding our rates and fees, please contact

Mediation Rates
2 Party Case: $200 per party; per hour
3 Party Case: $150 per party; per hour
4 Party Case: $125 per party; per hour
5+ Party Case: Flat Rate Available Upon Request
Arbitration Hourly Rate: $400

Travel time and expenses, including meals and lodging, billed separately and split equally among the parties at the Neutral's hourly rate.
Pre/Post Consultation & Document Review: Hourly Mediation/Arbitration Rate

Mediation /Arbitration Admin Fees
St. Louis Mediation Admin Fee - $250 per party
Arbitration Commencement And Administration Fee: $1500 per party

MEDIATION CANCELLATION POLICY

Mediations cancelled within 10 days of the mediation will be charged a cancellation fee of $500. However, mediations cancelled, rescheduled or settled within 24 hours of the mediation will be charged 4 hrs. of the Neutral's hourly rate . Cancellation fees shall be sent to the cancelling party unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.

ARBITRATION FEE PAYMENT POLICY

Arbitration Commencement and Administrative Fee is $1500.00 per party, per arbitrator. At the commencement of arbitration, each party will be invoiced $1500.00. This fee is refundable minus $500.00 per party until the initial case management order has been issued. All arbitration related invoices are due upon receipt.

ARBITRATION CANCELLATION POLICY

If a single-day Arbitration Hearing scheduled on the merits of the case cancels or reschedules within 15 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 4 hours of the Arbitrator’s hourly rate. However, if the single-day Arbitration Hearing cancels or reschedules within 2 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 8 hours of the Arbitrator’s hourly rate.

If a multi-day Arbitration Hearing scheduled on the merits of the case cancels or reschedules within 28 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 4 hours of the Arbitrator's hourly rate for each day reserved for the hearing. However, if the multi-day Arbitration Hearing cancels or reschedules within 7 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 8 hours of the Arbitrator's hourly rate for each day reserved for the hearing.

Issuance of the Final Arbitration Order/Award

Arbitration Awards/Orders will not be issued to either party until Miles has received full payment for all fees and expenses associated with the arbitration.