HomeMissouriKansas CityP.J. O'Connor

P.J. O'Connor

Kansas City, MO

About P.J. O'Connor

Served as the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel Representative for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri P.J. is an experienced trial attorney and an aggressive litigator. His cases involve a wide variety of criminal matters including all types of fraud, drug crimes, computer or internet crimes, violent crimes, driving while intoxicated crimes and many more. P.J. defends clients who are being investigated, have been accused, or have been charged with violating federal, state, or municipal laws. His experience in both federal and state court is invaluable in helping clients make informed decisions as they try to resolve their legal issues.

As a former Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri in the Kansas City Office and as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office he handled major felony offenses. P.J. served as the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel Representative for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. He was appointed to that position in 2007 by the Honorable Fernando J. Gaitan, Jr., Chief District Judge for the Western District of Missouri and was again nominated and reconfirmed to this position by the Honorable David Gregory Kays who currently serves as the Chief District Judge in the Western District of Missouri. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Missouri Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office

Education

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
J.D., 2001
Rockhurst College
Undergraduate, 1995

Bar admissions & credentials

State Bar of Kansas
State Bar of Missouri

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Proven verdicts and settlements from other Kansas City firms

Brown & Crouppen
Brown & Crouppen
$119.5 million (approximately, as cut post-trial; $462 million gross verdict) · $462 Million Verdict Against Trailer Maker Wabash in a Fatal St. Louis Underride Crash
The Popham Law Firm
The Popham Law Firm
$57 million · $57 Million Settlement for 1,700 Sprint Workers in Landmark ADEA Collective Action
Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe
Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe
$82.3 million · $82.3 Million Verdict for I-70 Crash Victim Struck by Trucker Watching Videos on iPad
Shamberg Johnson & Bergman
Shamberg Johnson & Bergman
$15,275,000 (judgment after comparative-fault reduction; $23.5 million gross verdict) · $23.5 Million Verdict Against Swift Transportation for Meth-Impaired Driver Who Backed Into Highway Traffic
Cullan & Cullan LLC
Cullan & Cullan LLC
$20,824,653 (final judgment after Missouri's noneconomic cap and a settlement credit; $25.4 million gross verdict) · $25.4 Million Verdict for Birth Injury Caused by Excessive Pitocin, Reduced to $20.8 Million Under Missouri's Malpractice Cap