Kansas

Kansas City Man Found Guilty of Attempted Murder in 2020 Police Officer Shooting Incident

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Kansas City, Mo. — A Kansas City, Kansas man has been convicted of attempted second-degree murder after he shot a police officer in a 2020 confrontation which followed a routine traffic stop. Jesse James Flaugher faced initial charges of both attempted capital murder and illegal possession of a firearm by a felon, but jurors arrived at the lesser charge on Thursday. The sequence of events leading to the shooting began with Flaugher’s refusal to halt his vehicle after a Kansas City, Kansas police officer attempted to stop him for not wearing a seatbelt. Court documents … Read more

Kansas City Landlords Challenge New Ordinance, Claiming Unconstitutional Overreach in Discrimination Protection Law

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Kansas City, Mo. – Amidst rising concerns over housing discrimination, two local landlords have initiated legal action against Kansas City’s newly enacted housing ordinance, which aims to safeguard tenants against discrimination based on their income sources. The ordinance, approved by the city council in January, has generated significant discussion on the balance between tenant protection and landlords’ rights. The legal challenge, brought forth by landlords Kennedy F. Jones and Stephen J. Vogel, contends that the ordinance represents an “unconstitutional overreach.” Specifically, their concern lies with the requirement to accept various non-traditional income sources, including federal … Read more

Court Upholds $28 Million Verdict and Approves Additional Interest in Kansas City Life Insurance Breach of Contract Case

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Kansas City, MO – In a landmark ruling, the Western District Court of Appeals has confirmed that prejudgment interest should be tacked onto a $28 million jury verdict in a class action lawsuit against Kansas City Life Insurance Company (KCL). The decision, issued on September 24, overturns an earlier denial of the prejudgment interest and underscores a breach of contract concerning the insurer’s method of calculating policy cash values. The litigation initiated by David B. Karr, representing over 8,000 policyholders, stems from allegations that KCL improperly deducted from the accounts’ monthly cash value under the … Read more

Kansas Jury Deadlocked on Arson Charges in Tragic Toddler Death Case; Convicts Man of Murder

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JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. — A Johnson County jury was unable to reach a verdict on all charges against Nicholas Ecker, implicated in a tragic house fire in 2022 that resulted in the death of a toddler. While Ecker was found guilty of first-degree murder, the jury deadlocked on charges of aggravated arson and illegal firearm possession. Ecker, who has a prior criminal history, faced charges reflecting the severity of the incident that destroyed a family’s home in Shawnee, Kansas, and tragically claimed the life of a young child. Law enforcement sources confirmed that police found … Read more