Timothy Gaarder

Timothy Crowe Gaarder

Tim has been trying cases to juries across the United States for 20 years.  His sole focus is representing individuals and families who have suffered significant harm, injury, and loss due to the failure of someone or some company (the “bad guys” as Tim says) from acting reasonably.  He is motivated to prove the negligence of others when their actions cause serious harm to his clients.  He sees his clients come to him – they know they have been wronged, but they don’t know how to explain it, or to what they might be entitled.  That’s where Tim loves to step in to help.  

He strongly believes that justice always finds its way, and justice is best found in the law through juries.

“I wholeheartedly believe in the words of one of this Country’s great freedom-fighters, William L. Garrison, ‘That which is not just, is not the law.’” 

“Our jury system is the bedrock of justice and the law in our great Country – it is truly what separates us from the rest of the world.  It is an honor every day to play a part in it.”

A Proven Record of Results and Recognition

Tim has a proven track record of helping clients get what they deserve.  He has over $95 million in jury verdicts under his belt – ranging from tragic wrongful death cases to internal injuries from motor vehicle crashes.

He has earned distinction dating back to his law school days at the University of Missouri, earning the prestigious C.A.L.I. Award for the top Trial Advocacy student in 2004.  In his career, he has been named by his peer attorneys as a Missouri & Kansas “Super Lawyer” from 2021 to the present, and a “Rising Star” from 2009 through 2019.  

In 2019, he earned a Top-5 Plaintiff’s Verdict in the State of Missouri recognized by Missouri Lawyers Media for the case, E.H.S. v. BNSF Railway Company.  “We had a great team of lawyers including Mike Ponder and Kathy Wolz (Cape Girardeau), and Tom Jones of Davis, Bethune & Jones (Kansas City).”  Tom and Tim were partners in Kansas City at Davis, Bethune & Jones for many formative years of Tim’s career. 

Beyond His Practice

Tim grew up as an attorney going toe-to-toe against the railroads, primarily the Class I giants – litigating derailments, grade crossing wrecks, and brutal employee deaths/injuries.  That experience in complex and hard-fought litigation continues to be the backbone and foundation of his litigation practice.  Tim maintains a railroad-specialty practice, and nothing excites him more than getting into the thick of a railroad case. 

Tim also represents clients in a wide variety of injury and death cases beyond the railroad, including car/auto/motorcycle product defects, tractor-trailer crashes, traumatic brain injuries, medical malpractice, toxic mold or chemical inhalation, premises liability, and sexual abuse. 

Tim is a member of the Missouri Bar Association, the Kansas Bar Association, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.  He is also a member of the American Association for Justice, where he has served two terms as the President of the Railroad Law Section.  He is licensed in Missouri and Kansas, as well as the United States District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Missouri, and the District of Kansas.

Now living in Kansas City, Tim grew up in small towns across the State of Missouri – born in Chillicothe, time spent in Sedalia and St. Joe, then attending high school in Joplin.  He attended the University of Missouri for undergraduate (Beta Theta Pi, B.S.B.A., 2001, cum laude, B.A., 2001) and law school (J.D. 2004, with honors – Dean’s List).  He loves his Tigers. He also loves his family.  Tim and his wife Erica appreciate their time with each other and their four kids – two in high school and two in college (University of Missouri and Rockhurst University).  

Awards & Honors

Notable Verdicts:

• Nye, Juanita v. BNSF Railway Company (Oklahoma, 2013): $9,700,000 wrongful death verdict, railroad grade crossing wreck
• Rentz v. BNSF Railway Company (North Dakota, 2019): $14,000,000 personal injury verdict, railroad grade crossing wreck
• Walker v. BNSF Railway Company (Oklahoma, 2019): $9,000,000 wrongful death verdict, railroad grade crossing wreck
• Sisk v. BNSF Railway Company (Missouri, 2019): $17,000,000 personal injury verdict, railroad grade crossing wreck
• Thomas v. BNSF Railway Company (Louisiana, 2022): $8,307,000 personal injury verdict, railroad grade crossing wreck
• Smading v. Ward (Missouri 2025): $30,000,000 personal injury verdict, motor vehicle crash

Awards:

• 2019 Top-5 Plaintiff Victory Verdict – Missouri Lawyers Media
• Missouri & Kansas Rising Star (2009-2019), Super Lawyer (2021-present)
• 2004 C.A.L.I – Top Trial Advocacy

Jurisdictions:

• Missouri
• Kansas
• U.S. District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Missouri
• U.S. District Court for the State of Kansas

Memberships:

• Missouri Bar Association
• Kansas Bar Association
• Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
• Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA)
• American Association for Justice (AAJ)
  • Past President – Railroad Law Section
• Eastern Kansas/Western Missouri Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Former President
• Beta Theta Pi

Community Involvement:

Tim and his family live in the South Plaza-Brookside area in Kansas City, Missouri, where they spend much of their time.  He belongs to Visitation Parish. Tim has coached many (many…) seasons of Brookside Soccer, and he served as a board member and president.

Education

Education

• University of Missouri undergraduate (Beta Theta Pi, B.S.B.A., 2001, cum laude, B.A., 2001)
• University of Missouri law school (J.D. 2004, with honors – Dean’s List)

Practice Areas:

• Trial Attorney
• Railroad 
• Motor Vehicle Crashes
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Product Liability and Defect
• Medical Malpractice
• Serious Personal Injury
• Tragic Wrongful Death

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