Lauber Municipal Law

Serving those who serve the public

Jeffrey W. Deane

Senior Associate

Office: 816-525-7881
MO Direct: 816-607-4651
KS Direct: 913-717-0090
Email: jdeane@laubermunicipal.com

General Overview

Jeff joined Lauber Municipal Law in 2019 and practices in the areas of general municipal law, Municipal prosecution, public entity litigation & appellate law, public contracts, ordinance, code, & charter drafting, and other general municipal issues. Prior to joining Lauber Municipal Law, Jeff served for seven years as the Assistant City Counselor for the City of Independence, Missouri where, in addition to general municipal work, he litigated the City’s employee injury claims under its self-insured workers compensation program. His prior experience includes work with several prominent Kansas City firms and a major reinsurance carrier handling litigation and appeals of workers compensation and insurance defense matters. While in law school Jeff interned with the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s office and with the Northeast Kansas Conflict Office of the Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense. A lifelong Kansas Citian, Jeff resides in Shawnee, Kansas with his wife Beth and their two sons.

Education

Washburn University School of Law – J.D. with Honors, 1998
Moot Court Council – Member and Team Captain

Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas – B.A., majors in Physics and Astronomy, 1992

Bar Admissions

Missouri, 1999
United States District Court, Western District of Missouri, 2003
Kansas, 1998

Honors/Recognition

The Order of Barristers

Relevant Legal Experience

  • Serves as the City Attorney for Fort Scott, Kansas
  • Currently serves as Assistant City Attorney for a number of cities including Peculiar, Grain Valley, Raytown, and Rich Hill
  • Currently serves as the Municipal Prosecutor for the cities of Odessa and Knob Noster, and Assistant Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Grain Valley and has served as a Special Prosecutor for the Cities of St. Joseph and Independence
  • Served as Assistant City Counselor for Independence, Missouri, providing advice and legal support for City Administration and departments including public works, municipal power, water and water pollution control utilities, public safety, parks, recreation, & tourism, animal services, finance & purchasing, human resources, and technology services
  • Prosecutes code violations in municipal courts and resulting appeals
  • Experienced litigator in Kansas and Missouri before the courts and administrative boards
  • Legal advisor for administrative hearings for alcoholic beverage control and other code violations
  • Experienced in municipal code review, revision, and drafting. Responsible for review and revision to complete overhaul of municipal codes including alcoholic beverage control, animal & fowl (including breed ban issues), property maintenance, contractor licensing & building codes, business & occupational licensing, and Unified Development Ordinances
  • Knowledgeable in a wide range of municipal law issues including, the Hancock Amendment, Missouri’s Sunshine Law & Kansas Open Records Act, ordinances, resolution, & contract negotiation, drafting and review, and personnel hiring and termination issues and hearings

Representative Cases

Hare v. Cole, 25 S.W.3d 617 (Mo. Ct. App WD 2000) (Oral argument and brief to the Western District - WD 57764).

Hargrave v. American Standard, SC 82,685. Brief to the Missouri Supreme Court.

Lopez v. Lopez, WD 58,259. Brief to the Western District.

Wood v. Groh, 81,826. Brief to the Kansas Supreme Court.

Professional Affiliations

The Missouri Bar

Kansas City Missouri Bar Association

Missouri Municipal Attorneys Association

Missouri Municipal League

International Municipal Lawyer’s Association

Civic and Community Involvement

Vigil Honor Member, “Wise Patient Raven,” Tamegonit Lodge, Order of the Arrow

Honorary Warrior “Swift Rising Silver Owl,” Tribe of Mic-O-Say

Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America:
Associate Lodge Advisor (Ceremonial Team), - Tamegonit Lodge
Unit Commissioner & Chapter OA Advisor - Shawnee Trails District
Troop Committee Member, Boy Scout Troop 394, Shawnee, Kansas
Merit Badge Counselor and Religious Emblem Award Coordinator

 

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