Practice areas: Products Liability, Personal Injury, General Litigation; view more
Licensed in Missouri since: 2002
Education: University of Missouri School of Law (Columbia)
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2024, 2026 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2009 - 2012 Brett A. Emison practices at Langdon & Emison in Lexington, Missouri. Extending his services to clients across Missouri, Illinois and Pennsylvania, he focuses his practice almost exclusively on catastrophic injury, medical negligence, product liability and wrongful death litigation. He regularly handles complex torts and class action cases, including severe trucking accidents, automobile defects, railroad crossing collisions and dangerous or defective drugs. He stays dedicated to securing justice for victims and families suffering from severe, life-altering corporate or individual negligence.
Mr. Emison earned his bachelor’s degree, cum laude and J.D. from the University of Missouri, serving as associate editor-in-chief of the Missouri Law Review. Admitted to Missouri, Kansas and Illinois state courts, he clerked for Honorable William Ray Price Jr. After practicing commercial litigation in Kansas City, he joined his current firm. Leveraging the firm's focus and resources, he has secured over half a billion dollars in verdicts and settlements.
Prioritizing clear, open communication, Mr. Emison guides clients through complex legal challenges. Recognizing that catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases represent deeply personal, life-altering moments, he emphasizes an individualized approach tailored to each client's unique circumstances. By taking the time to truly listen, explain intricate legal strategies and maintain constant transparency, he ensures that families feel fully supported, informed and empowered throughout every step of their pursuit of justice.
Mr. Emison was named the 2026 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for product liability litigation in Kansas City, following 10 consecutive years of recognition across personal injury, product liability and railroad law. Previously serving as president of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, he currently serves on the American Association for Justice board of governors and chairs its Publications Committee.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, General LitigationFocus areas
Litigation, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 30% Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff
- 40% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 30% General Litigation
First Admitted: 2002, Missouri
Professional Webpage: https://www.langdonemison.com/attorneys/brett-a-emison/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Kansas
- Lafayette County Bar Association
- Missouri Association Of Trial Attorneys (MATA)
- Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA)
- Attorneys Information Exchange Group (AIEG)
- American Association For Justice (AAJ)
- Kansas Bar Association
- Illinois Bar Association
- Missouri Bar Association
- Illinois
- Missouri
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Pycke v. Tindall --$2 million arbitration award (auto accident); Lemen v. Joker's Pizza -- $1 million settlement (auto accident); Boeckman v. Newby-Vance Mobility -- confidential settlement (defective aftermarket vehicle modifications); Rowan v. Miles Farms, LLC -- confidential settlement (trucking accident)
- Jaimes v. Robinson -- $17 million judgment (defective tire shredder), 2017
- Cravatta v. METRA and Northeast Regional Illinois Commuter Railroad, $5.3 million jury verdict (FELA claim for slip and fall injuries), 2017
Pro bono / Community Service
- MATA -- Red Cross Emergency Response Team
Educational Background
- University of Missouri - Columbia, Bachelor of Science, Major: Business Administration, 1999
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- “Keeping Defense Expert Depos on Track,” Trial, February 2024.
- Deadly Trap or Reasonable Danger: What Standard of Care Applies to Non-Electrical Injuries from Power Lines? Missouri Law Review, 2001.
- Legal Issues In Missouri Products Liability Cases, The Daily Record (Kansas City), 2002.
- Toyota Recall: A Time Line Of Toyotas Checkered Safety History, The Safety Record, 2010.
- Legal Issues in Missouri Products Liability Cases (Co-Author with Stephen R. Bough), The Daily Record, Vol. 186, No. 214, at 3, April 25, 2002.
- Deadly Trap or Reasonable Danger: What Standard of Care Applies to Non-Electrical Injuries from Power Lines? 66 Mo. L. Rev. 453, 2001.
- Social Media and the Law, Missouri Trial Attorney, Winter 2010.
- Get Educated: The Dangers of Aftermarket Vehicles. The Safety Report magazine, Summer 2011.
- Altered Reality: The Hidden Dangers of Modified Vehicles and Aftermarket Components. Trial Journal, Winter 2012.
- Actos litigation: A comprehensive look at the litigation landscape for Takeda’s diabetes drug, as studies link its long-term use in some to bladder cancer. Forum Magazine, March/April 2012.
- Testosterone Therapy: Litigation Commences After Studies Link Hormone to Heart Attack, Stroke. Bloomberg BNA, March 24, 2014.
- Testosterone therapy’s link to heart attack, stroke and death: What you need to know. Available on iTunes, May 23, 2014.
- Stryker Metal-on-Metal Hip Cases Moving Forward, Westlaw Journals Medical Devices, October 21, 2014.
- Defective Guardrails on America’s Roads, Trial, February 2015.
- Don’t Overlook a Product Defect, Trial, October 2020.
- “A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words”, Trial, February 2022.
Honors
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, 2009
- Named the 2026 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for product liability litigation in Kansas City
- Selected to Rising Stars: 2009 - 2012
- Selected to Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2024, 2026
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2024, 2026
- Rising Stars: 2009 - 2012
