Law Firm Overview

NORAH J. RYAN, Attorney at Law, practices primarily in the areas of civil and business litigation.

She received her A.B. degree from Washington University in St. Louis (Dean's List), and her J.D. degree from the Washington University School of Law in 1984.

She is admitted to practice in the state courts of the State of Missouri, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, and in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and the Federal Circuit.

Her bar activities have included serving as Vice-Chair for the Women in the Legal Profession Section of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL), and serving as co-chair of the Bankruptcy Committee, Business Law Section, BAMSL (1995-96). She has been an active member of BAMSL for a number of years.

Ms. Ryan lives in the Tower Grove East neighborhood of the City of St. Louis. Among other neighborhood activities, she has served as President of the Tower Grove East Neighborhood Association (2005-2006) and remains on the board of directors of the neighborhood association. She is also a member of the board of directors of the DeSales Community Housing Corporation, a local non-profit. She is married with two children.

Attorney Norah J. Ryan handles business litigation for businesses, nonprofits and individuals. She reviews and drafts business documents, including contracts and leases and has experience in the following areas:

Administrative Law
Bankruptcy Law (Creditors)
Business and Commercial Law
Breach of Contract (Collection and Defense)
Tax Collection
Negotiation, Drafting and Review of Contracts and Leases
Employment Discrimination (Representing Both Employers and Employees)
Business Organizations
Environmental Law (Including Insurance Coverage)
General Civil Litigation
Insurance Defense
State, Local and Municipal Law
Trademark and Trade Name Violations

50% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Representative Cases

H.R. Bushman & Son, Corp. v. Spud Packers, Inc., 2006 WL (Westlaw) 3511490 (E.D. Mo. 2006). Local counsel in Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act case.

Stutts v. Potter, 2005 WL 1959104 (E.D. Mo. 2005). Employment discrimination and Merit Systems Protection Act claims.

The Real Estate Network, LLC v. Gateway Ventures, LLC, 2005 WL 1668194 (E.D. Mo. 2005). Copyright case.

Human Development Corporation (The Human Development Corporation of Metropolitan St. Louis) v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 312 F.3d 373 (8th Cir. 2002). Administrative law appeal from cost disallowance by federal agency.

The Human Development Corporation of Metropolitan St. Louis v. Administration for Children & Families, HHS, 1999 DAB 1703 (HHS Departmental Appeals Board). Administrative appeal from proposed termination of Head Start Program.

In re Gateway Apparel, Inc, 210 B.R. 567 (Bankr. E.D. Mo. 1997). Bankruptcy matter landlord's claim (tried).

State of Missouri ex rel. Ronald L. Leggett, Collector of Revenue of the City of St. Louis v. Sovran Leasing Corp., a/k/a Nationsbank Leasing Corp., 909 S.W.2d 644 (Mo. 1995). Personal property tax case involving river barges (tried case and argued in the Missouri Supreme Court).

Susan Ellis v. Ronald Ellis, 72 F.3d 628 (8th Circuit 1995). Bankruptcy matter (briefed on appeal, argued).

In re MELP, Ltd., 179 B.R. 636 (E.D. Mo. 1995). Bankruptcy matter.

Montgomery v. Ryan, 37 F.3d 413 (8th Circuit 1994). Bankruptcy matter.

In re MELP, Ltd., 143 B.R. 890 (Bankr. E.D. Mo. 1992). Bankruptcy matter.

Becker Metals Corp. v. Transportation Insurance Co., 802 F.Supp. 235 (E.D. Mo. 1992). Insurance coverage case environmental claims.

Matter of Estate of Hysinger, 785 S.W.2d 619 (Mo. App. 1990). Probate case involving bank account joint tenant with right of survivorship issue.

Garrett v. General Motors Corp., 844 F.2d 559 (8th Circuit 1988). Employment discrimination claim (tried, briefed, argued). District court decision: 657 F.Supp. 1273 (E.D. Mo. 1987).

Wakefield v. Monsanto Co., 120 F.R.D. 112; 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4473; 46 Fair Empl. Prac. Case (BNA) 1481; 48 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) P38,475 (1988); additional citation: 765 F.Supp. 563 (E.D. Mo 1991). Employment discrimination class certification and other issues.

American National Insurance Company v. Coe, 657 F.Supp. 718 (E.D. Mo. 1987). Litigation on non-compete agreement (assisted at trial, trial briefs).

Kwoun v. Southeast Missouri Professional Standards Review Organization, 811 F.2d 401 (8th Circuit 1987), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1022, 108 S.Ct. 1994, reh. denied, 488 U.S. 880. Race discrimination claims, qualified and absolute immunity defenses (on briefs).

McIntosh v. Weinberger, 810 F.2d 1411 (8th Circuit 1987), cert. denied, 487 U.S. 1217, 108 S.Ct. 2870, reh. denied, 487 U.S. 1250, cert. granted in part, vacated in part, 487 U.S. 1212, 108 S.Ct. 2861, 101 L.Ed.2d 898. Employment discrimination and Bivens claim (on briefs).

Premier Service Corp. v. City of St. Louis, 797 F.2d 629 (8th Circuit 1986). Litigation regarding contract termination (on briefs).

State v. Diener, 706 S.W.2d 582 (Mo. App. 1986). Necessity defense to criminal trespassing charge (briefed on appeal and argued).

Van Zant v. Human Development Corp., 689 S.W.2d 90 (Mo. App. 1985). Employment matter involving Head Start Policy Council regulations (represented employer, on brief).

Honors and Awards

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc., Honoree for Prior Work in Support of Missouri's Adult Abuse Law, 1995
Young Lawyers Section Award of Merit, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, 1988
Young Lawyers Section Award of Merit, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, 1984

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West Practice Categories

Administrative Law, Administrative Hearings & Adjudication, Administrative Investigations, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Bankruptcy Law, Collections & Repossessions, Creditors' Rights, Business & Commercial Law, Commercial Leasing, Contracts, Debtor/Creditor, Transactions, Business Organizations, Closely Held Businesses, Dissolution, Formation & Business Planning, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, Reorganizations, Collections, Employment Law -- Employee, Americans with Disabilities Act -- Employee, Employment Contracts -- Employee, Employment Discrimination -- Employee, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) -- Employee, Sexual Harassment -- Employee, Wrongful Termination -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Americans with Disabilities Act -- Employer, Employment Contracts -- Employer, Employment Discrimination -- Employer, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) -- Employer, Sexual Harassment -- Employer, Wrongful Termination -- Employer, Environmental Law, Permits, Regulatory Compliance & Auditing, Government Agencies & Programs, State & Local Agencies, Insurance Defense, Insurance Law, Commercial Insurance, Intellectual Property Law, Trade Dress, Trademarks, Litigation & Appeals, Federal Appellate Practice, Federal Trial Practice, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Real Estate Law, State, Local & Municipal Law