William Joseph Hatley

Related Experience Conducted a high-profile internal investigation into allegations that public school officials retaliated against a co-worker for whistleblowing about the misuse of public funds. Obtained summary judgment for lender on claims alleging lender violated promises to use its best efforts to assist with resurrection of real estate development following the collapse of the housing market. Lender was subsequently repaid in full, including attorneys fees. Obtained a defense jury verdict in Jackson County Circuit Court on a suit under the Missouri Human Rights Act alleging race and age discrimination, as well as retaliation for jury service. Consistently prevailed at special education due process hearings, and in the process, helped to develop favorable legal precedents in federal courts that have resulted in a substantial decrease in the number of such claims being filed. In a proceeding before the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals, Joe obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in property tax refunds for a landfill owner based on a flawed appraisal by taxing authorities. Won a jury trial in which a developer claimed damages of over $3 million arising from the condemnation of real estate for an elementary school. Successfully defended against statutory and constitutional challenges the right of local school districts to receive over $36 million in sales tax revenues that had been approved by voters. Successfully defended school districts throughout the region in administrative due process hearings in which the adequacy of educational programs for disabled children have been challenged. Successfully defended school administrators against a claim that they violated a students rights in the course of taking disciplinary action against the student for making threats of physical violence, obtaining a jury verdict in favor of those administrators. Obtained a defense award in an arbitration arising out of a contractual dispute between a health maintenance organization and a hospital, in which the total damages claimed were over $22 million dollars. Successfully defended the owner of a themed hotel against claims of trade dress infringement. Prevailed in a case before the Kansas Supreme Court challenging over $1 million in contempt fines imposed against a client. Successfully argued for the dismissal of a suit alleging that a local school district breached a contract involving the purchase of real estate intended for use as a school, where the school district later sold the property at a profit when it determined the property was no longer suitable for a school due to surrounding development. Obtained a half million dollar judgment, upheld on appeal, for a retailers loss of business profits stemming from the condemnation of a shopping center. Distinctions Missouri Lawyers Media, POWER List, 2022 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, 2006-2007, 2011-2018 Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2013-2026 Memberships American Bar Association Missouri Bar Association Kansas Bar Association Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys Presentations and Publications What Employers Must Know About Speak Out Act Compliance, Law360, January 2023 The Wild Ride of 2023: New Year, New Laws, Spencer Fane Work Smarts Seminar, February 2023 Sexual Harassment of Interns in the Missouri Legislature, KCUR, Up to Date Podcast, 2016 Understanding the Role of Your School Board Attorney, Missouri School Boards Association, 2014 Same-Sex Parents: Is Your District Ready? Missouri School Boards Association, 2014 Related Services - Where Creativity and Budgets Collide, Missouri Association of Special Education Administrators, 2012 Obligations to Homeless Students, Missouri School Boards Association, 2011 Student Discipline, Special Education, and Section 504, Charter School Law Conference, 2010 Special Education and Seclusion / Restraint Update, Kansas Association of School Boards Law Conference, 2010 FERPA and Student Privacy, Kansas Association of School Boards Law Conference, 2010 IEP Implementation, Local Administrators of Special Education Law Conference, 2009 What Every Educator Needs to Know About Developing and Implementing IEPs for Students with Behavioral Concerns, Midwest Symposium for Leadership in Behavior Disorders, 2009 The Missouri Safe Schools Act, Missouri School Boards Association, 2008 IEP Trouble Spots, Local Administrators of Special Education Law Conference, 2008