Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice; view more
Licensed in Missouri since: 2007
Education: Saint Louis University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2023 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2014 - 2019 Call today:
314-669-0048
The Sumner Law Group, LLC
7777 Bonhomme AvenueSuite 2100
Clayton, MO 63105 Visit website
Details
Attorney Brent A. Sumner is the managing partner of The Sumner Law Group in Clayton, Missouri. A nationally ranked trial lawyer with more than 13 years of total legal experience, Mr. Sumner provides exceptional counsel and support to clients throughout the Columbia, Kansas City and St. Louis metros who have suffered injuries or lost loved ones due to another party's negligence or wrongdoing.
Over the course of his legal career advocating on behalf of injury victims and their families, Mr. Sumner has recovered millions of dollars in total compensation for his plaintiff clients adversely affected by motor vehicle accidents, trucking accidents, medical malpractice, unsafe property conditions and other preventable tragedies. From his efforts, he has earned memberships in the Million Dollar Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and he has received recognition in the Top Verdicts section of Missouri Lawyers Weekly.
Among his most notable accolades, Mr. Sumner holds an AV-Preeminent peer review rating* from Martindale-Hubbell, and he has received a Top 100 and Top 40 Under 40 Personal Injury Trial Lawyer designation from the National Trial Lawyers along with designation as among the top 5% of trial attorneys in his region. He has also received numerous testimonials and referrals from his satisfied clients, and he finds great reward in being able to help so many in his community during their most dire times of need.
A 2002 graduate of the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mr. Sumner obtained his Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2006. He holds his license to practice in Missouri and Illinois, and he is an active member of The Missouri Bar and the Illinois State Bar Association, the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, and the American Association for Justice.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: PlaintiffFocus areas
Medical Malpractice, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
First Admitted: 2007, Missouri
Professional Webpage: http://www.sumnerlawgroup.com/Attorney_Bios.html
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Board of Governors for Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
- Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys - Chair of New Members Section and New Lawyers CLE, 2013
Educational Background:
- B.S. in Biochemistry from University of Missouri - Columbia, 2002
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Certificate in Health Law from Saint Louis University School of Law , 2006
Pro bono/Community Service:
- I always help people that need legal assistance and can't afford an attorney., 2021
- Coach son's soccer team., 2020
- Coach my son's soccer team., 2019
- Brent Sumner of The Sumner Law Group, LLC regularly performs pro bono work for families in need. On most wrongful death cases in Workers' Compensation and motor vehicle cases Brent Sumner waives his attorney's fees for the families dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Representative Clients:
- We represent people that were injured by the negligence of others. All types of injury cases and we do not discriminate. We will fight for you., 2021
- We represent people injured by the negligence of others., 2020
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- In 2021, we obtained the largest jury verdict in the State of Missouri on behalf of an injured person in a motorcycle accident and/or car accident. Our verdict was for $14,200,000.00 (Fourteen Million Dollars) for our client that suffered a traumatic brain injury. This was the second largest verdict in the State of Missouri in all categories for the year 2021. It was quite an accomplishment that we had the largest personal injury verdict in Missouri for all types of vehicle collisions. , 2022
- Winner - National Health Law Moot Court Competition. Best Brief and First Place in Oral arguments, 2006
Honors/Awards:
- Largest verdict for car accidents and motorcycle accidents in Missouri for the year 2021. It was the second largest verdict overall in the State of Missouri for 2021. It was quite an honor to receive this award from Missouri Lawyers Media. It was for our Phelps County motorcycle crash case where the jury returned a verdict of Fourteen ($14,200,000.00) Million Dollars for a client that suffered a traumatic brain injury in a motorcycle accident., Missouri Lawyers Media, Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2022
- Super Lawyer for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Super Lawyers, 2021
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2020
- Super Lawyers - Rising Star for Personal Injury Litigation, Super Lawyers, 2020
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2019
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2018
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2017
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2016
- Rising Star for Personal Injury Litigation in Missouri, Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers, 2015
- Brent Sumner was also selected as a Top 100 Personal Injury Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association., Top 100 Personal Injury Trial Attorney, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2014
- Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyer Rising Star, 2014
- Brent Sumner was selected a Top 40 Personal Injury Trial Attorney under the age of 40 by the National Trial Lawyers Association., Top 40 Under 40, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2014
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- $2,375,000.00 Settlement for a motor vehicle crash involving a tractor trailer. , 2023
- $1,000,000 Settlement for a client injured in a tractor trailer crash. Our client was badly hurt in a crash with a tractor trailer. The insurance company offered the insurance policy limits after we filed suit on the matter., 2024
- $300,000 Settlement for a man injured in a motorcycle crash. We filed a claim against the insurance company and were able to quickly resolve this matter for the client., 2023
- $100,000 Jury Verdict for a woman that was rear ended by another car in stop and go traffic. Our client injured her neck and back in the crash. She treated with a chiropractor for her injuries. She was referred to a pain specialist and underwent injections in her neck and back for the pain. The insurance company forced us to try the case. The jury returned a verdict for $100,000. Justice for this client., 2023
- $50,000 Jury Verdict for man who injured his neck in a motor vehicle crash. The man was bumped from behind and hurt his neck. The insurance company didn't believe he was hurt because there was no damage to the rear of his car. The client was hurting and tried physical therapy and chiropractic care for his injuries. We believed in the client and believed he was injured. We tried the case in front of a jury and obtained a verdict for $50,000. We are not scared to try little cases in order to give clients justice. We don't get pushed around by insurance companies., 2023
- $1,000,000.00 verdict for a disputed liability automobile crash in Scott County, Missouri. The crash involved a dispute over who had the right of way at an intersection. The trial was held in Scott County, Missouri and experts were used to discussed accident reconstruction, speeds of vehicles and visibility. The defense of the case was centered around the weather conditions at the time of the crash. At the time of the crash, there was a heavy fog in the area which limited visibility and sight distances. We were able to show that the defense expert witness that testified was wrong and that it was the defendant's fault for causing the crash. The jury assessed 30% fault to the plaintiff for driving too fast under the conditions, but they put 70% responsibility on the defendant driver. The jury assessed plaintiff's damages at $1,000,000.000 for a net verdict of $700,000. , 2022
- $100,000 jury verdict for a rear-end motor vehicle crash. Our client was hit from behind in St. Louis County and suffered a lower back injury. The insurance company for the defendant never offered fair money and we took the case to trial. A jury returned a verdict for $100,000 for the plaintiff for his pain and suffering related to the crash., 2022
- $14,200,000.00 Verdict for a motorcycle crash with a brain injury in Phelps County. My client was injured in a motorcycle crash and suffered a brain injury. We tried the case in Rolla, Missouri during Covid. Everyone wore masks for the trial pursuant to the court's rules. The jury provided justice for our client., 2021
- $300,000 jury verdict in St. Charles County for a rear-end car crash. Our client suffered bulged discs in her neck that were not surgical. Plaintiff underwent physical therapy to treat her injuries and everything resolved by the time of trial. We tried the case with the theory that she will continue to have underlying neck pain and issues as she ages., 2021
- Jury Trial in the City of St. Louis - The case settled for a confidential amount against a local cab company. My client was injured in a motor vehicle crash involving the cab. My client injured his neck and back in the crash. The insurance company would not provide fair compensation so we took the case to trial. The insurance adjuster watched the trial and provide fair money before the jury could return a verdict., 2020
- $250,000 Jury verdict in the City of St. Louis for a car crash case. My client injured his elbow in a car wreck and required surgery to repair the damage to his elbow. We tried the case in three days and the jury gave $250,000 for his injuries. Justice for a car crash victim., 2019
- Jury trial in St. Charles County for a car crash at an intersection. The parties pointed fingers at each other for running the light and causing the crash. We tried the case in front of a jury and won. The case settled for $100,000 after the trial., 2019
- $650,000 Jury Verdict in St. Louis County for a rear-end crash involving my client. My client was hit in the rear by a driver not paying attention. My client suffered a neck injury and required physical therapy and pain injections. My client was young and tried to avoid surgery. she underwent two years of physical therapy, chiropractic care and injections in order to avoid surgery. The insurance company thought her case was worth less than $100,000. We obtained maximum justice for her by taking the case to trial. the jury returned a verdict for six hundred and fifty thousand dollars., 2019
- Medical Malpractice Jury Trial. We tried a medical malpractice case in St. Louis County in front of Judge Wallace. The case lasted two weeks. We obtained justice for a woman's who underwent hernia repair surgery and the surgeon negligently cut her small bowel. Our client went into septic shock and almost died. She lost most of her small intestine and other vital organs as a result of the septic shock. There was a massive life care plan for our client and she required a feeding tube through a port in her chest as a result of the negligence. We obtained maximum justice for our client. After two weeks of trial, the jury deliberated for two days and returned a verdict for the plaintiff. We confidentially settled with the insurance company., 2019
- $1,500,000.000 Jury Verdict for Motor Vehicle Crash in federal court in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. We tried the case in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, South division. It was a five day jury trial against a trucking company and its negligent driver. Our client was traveling on highway 55 in Cape Girardeau when she was hit from behind by a tractor trailer. The large truck smashed her car so hard that she hit a van in front of her. Our client suffered a significant injury to her neck and required a two level neck fusion. The insurance company told us we would never get millions of dollars in federal court in Cape Girardeau and dared us to try this case. I believed in our client and the justice system and we went to trial. the jury returned an unanimous verdict for $1,500,000.00 One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars., 2019
- $200,000 Settlement – Premises LiabilityOur client was badly injured by an unsecured aluminum pole that hit his head, neck, and body on the patio of a restaurant. We stayed aggressive in the case and let the defendants know we were prepared to take the case to trial. In the end we were able to settle the case for our client under a theory of premises liability for $200,000., 2018
- $300,000.00 Motor Vehicle Crash Policy Limits Settlement by the insurance company. We filed suit against a negligent driver for significant injuries caused to our client. Our client suffered a back injury in the crash and was forced to undergo a spinal fusion to repair the damage to her back. After discovery with the insurance company, they settled our claim for the negligent driver's policy limits., 2016
- $220,000 Settlement– Motor Vehicle CrashOur client was involved in a motor vehicle crash while riding his motorcycle. The defendant was negligently towing a trailer with an oversized load and no lighting system. We stayed aggressive in the case and let the defendants know we were prepared to take the case to trial. We were able to settle the case for our client for $220,000., 2018
- $425,000 Settlement – Medical MalpracticeWe filed suit against a doctor who was negligent in the performance of a spinal fusion surgery on our client. The doctor’s negligence caused painful injuries that our client has to deal with for the rest of her life. We advocated for our client, showed the defendants that this deviation from the standard of care was unacceptable, and as a result settled the case before trial., 2018
- $850,000 Settlement - Motor Vehicle CrashWhen a company van ran a red light and crashed into our client, he came to us knowing that we would fight for him and make sure to get him the compensation he deserved to make him whole again. Our client suffered serious injuries in this motor vehicle crash and through the advocacy of our firm we were able to get him a $850,000 settlement prior to trial., 2018
- $1,475,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Crash with a company truckOur client was injured in a motor vehicle crash in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on Kingshighway that involved an O’Reilly Auto Parts truck. Our client suffered a back injury in the crash and ended up having a lumbar fusion because of her injuries. We filed a personal injury lawsuit in Cape Girardeau against O’Reilly Auto Parts and its employee for negligence. The O’Reilly employee was driving too fast for conditions, lost control over the truck, swerved into oncoming traffic and T-boned the driver’s side of our client’s car. In discovery, we learned that the O’Reilly employee had a bad driving history of speeding and her license was suspended prior to being hired by O’Reilly. We filed for punitive damages after we learned these facts. We hired truck safety fleet driving experts to review the hiring process of O’Reilly and testify against them. Plaintiff’s treating doctor testified to her injuries and the future care needed. We mediated the case against the defendants and they agreed to pay $1,475,000 to settle the case., 2018
- $2,050,000 Settlement– Drunk Driver Hits and Kills 2 Men. Wrongful Death, Dram Shop Liability from a drunk driving car crashWe filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the families of two men who were hit head on and killed by a drunk driver. In addition to suing the driver, we also sued the two bars where the drunk driver spent the night drinking. Under Missouri Dram Shop law, a third party can sue the bars that over-serve the drunk driver if you can prove that the bars knowingly served an intoxicated person. Brent Sumner is an experienced personal injury lawyer in Missouri. Brent Sumner handles drunk driving cases and dram shop cases throughout the state of Missouri. In this case, the drunk driver had a blood alcohol content of .247 a hour after the crash. The drunk driver crossed the grass median on a highway and hit our clients head on at 96MPH. Our firm brought claims against both the driver for his negligence and the two bars that served an intoxicated person in Cape Girardeau County, State of Missouri. We fought for our clients and were able to settle the case before trial and hold all the defendants responsible for their careless actions., 2018
- $2 Million Settlement – Motor Vehicle Crash with Big TruckAn employee of a construction company negligently parked a company truck and trailer unattended in the road which caused a motor vehicle crash that killed our client’s 7 year old son. The driver failed to place any warning signs, cones, or flashers around the truck to warn drivers of the unsafe condition. Under the safety rules of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truck drivers and trucking companies are required to place warning signs or cones behind a parked truck. Additionally, companies are required to train its employees on safety. We discovered that the construction company never trained the employee on parking trucks and trailers safely in residential neighborhoods. The truck driver never placed any warning devices behind his truck to warn other drivers. We filed suit against the construction company and took depositions of the people involved in the crash. On behalf of the family we hired truck safety experts to testify regarding the actions of the truck driver. This case was extremely difficult because our client ran into the back of the parked trailer. We were able to change the focus from our client to the actions of the trucking company and employee which ultimately settled the case for $2 Million., 2018
- $6 Million Settlement – Motor Vehicle Crash or 18 Wheeler Crash or Big Truck CrashOur client’s son was killed when his car was hit by a tractor trailer in Missouri. We filed suit against the trucking company for the negligent actions of its truck driver. Under the safety rules of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truck drivers and trucking companies are required to drug and alcohol test truck drivers that are involved in Tractor Trailer crashes within 8 hours after the crash. In this case, the truck driver never received a post-crash drug test. Additionally, the truck driver was not qualified to drive 18 wheelers. As personal injury lawyers, we fight for our clients and want to take cases to trial. Brent Sumner has experience trying 18 wheeler crash cases and can maximize the money paid by trucking companies in a settlement. , 2018
- $2.2 Million Dollar Verdict in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois in a trucking case. Three tractor trailers or 18 wheelers crashed into each other in the middle of the night in Southern Illinois. This case was really difficult because my client was the middle tractor trailer driver and he rear-ended the tractor trailer in front of him first. We filed a lawsuit against all the trucks involved and alleged that the lead tractor trailer caused the crash. In Illinois if you are found to be more than 50% at fault it bars your recovery entirely. We had to overcome the fact that most people automatically think a party is at fault if they rear-end someone. We also had to make sure the jury found my client less than 50% at fault for this crash., 2013
- $25 Million Dollar Jury Verdict in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri in the case captioned Ali Aziz vs. Jack In The Box, Inc. A jury found Jack In the Box liable for the injuries of Mr. Aziz when he was brutally attacked on Jack In The Box's property. Mr. Aziz suffered catastrophic injuries and now requires full time attendant care. The case is currently being appealed by Jack in the Box., 2013
- $100,000 Policy Limits Settlement. Client was injured in a motor vehicle crash. We filed suit and took the case through discovery before the insurance company settled., 2015
- $700,000.00 settlement for the wrongful death of a 79 year old man that died in the hosptial from injuries he sustained in a motor vehicle crash. Mr. Sumner took this case to trial against the other party and the insurance company for the defendant paid Mr. Sumner's client top dollar in order to avoid trial., 2015
- $ Confidential Medical Malpractice Settlement. We filed suit against Barnes Jewish Hospital and Washington University for negligence on behalf of a family. The case settled right before trial and Barnes Jewish Hospital chose to confidentially settle the case. The details of the settlement and facts are confidential., 2016
- $750,000 Medical Malpractice Settlement. We represented a man that was not treated properly at a local hospital. The negligence of the doctor resulted in the man losing the lower half of his leg. We sued the hospital and doctor for negligence and arged the amputation was caused by the failure of the doctor and hospital to properly treat the patient. The case settled before trial., 2016
- $1.5 Million Dollar Settlement in a product liability case against a car manufacturer and tire manufacturer.
- $175,000.00 Settlement on a slip and fall case. Plainitff slip and fell in a grocery store and we filed suit in St. Louis City against the grocery store for negligent training and procedures., 2014
- $250,000.00 settlement for a motor vehicle crash on behalf of a woman that was injured when her car was rear ended at a stop light., 2016
- Confidential Settlement Premises Liability and Negligent Security. We represented a client that was severely beaten by a security guard at an apartment complex. Our client suffered skull fractures and lost his right eye as a result of the security guard beating him in the head with his baton. We filed suit against the security company and property management company. The case settled for a substantial amount of money right before trial. We conducted extensive discovery in this case and deposed numerous security experts. The case centered around the security company's failure to properly train its security guard. Additionally, the security company and property management company were negligent for not following industry standards in regards to apartment complex security., 2016
- $225,000 Jury Verdict in a motor vehicle crash case. We represented a man that was injured in a car crash. He aggravated pre-existing injuries to his neck and required additional surgery. We tried the case in federal court and received a unanimous jury verdict for $225,000 for his injuries and damages., 2017
- $750,000 Settlement for premises liability against an apartment complex and security company. We represented a man that was assaulted at an apartment complex and suffered injuries. We filed suit against the apartment complex and security company. The case was settled right before trial for $750,000., 2016
- $506,000.00 Jury Verdict in a Wrongful Death Medical Malpractice case in the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri on a failure to diagnose lung cancer case., 2014
- $475,000.00 Medical Malpractice Settlement. We sued a local hospital and Emergency Department doctor for negligence in failing to treat a cyst on our client's foot that ultimately led to her foot being amputated., 2015
- $1.75 Million dollar Jury verdict for a man injured in a motorcycle crash. The man injured had an extensive criminal record and Mr. Sumner was able to neutralize that fact with the jury and explain to him how his client's criminal background should not play a factor when considering his damages and injuries in the crash. The jury agreed with Mr. Sumner and awarded his client $1.75 Million dollars for his broken bones., 2015
Industry Groups:
- Car Accidents And Premises Liability
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Truck Accidents
Office location for Brent A. Sumner
7777 Bonhomme Avenue
Suite 2100
Clayton, MO 63105
Phone: 314-669-0048
Selections
3 Years Super Lawyers
6 Years Rising Stars
- Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2023
- Rising Stars: 2014 - 2019
