Seyferth Blumenthal & Harris > Michael L. Blumenthal

Michael L. Blumenthal

Practice Areas

Employment & Business Litigation | Trade Secrets & Non-Compete Enforcement Litigation| Human Resources Counseling & Policy Development

Mike’s legal career has been devoted to representing management in workplace legal issues and representing businesses in high-stakes business litigation. Mike is known as an aggressive and passionate trial lawyer. He is admitted to the bars of Kansas, Missouri, and Georgia and has defended lawsuits in more than 20 states. Mike is often called upon by other lawyers to mediate and arbitrate their lawsuits.

Additionally, Mike regularly represents the “c-suite” on employment contract and separation issues. He also advises physicians and attorneys on partnership issues and disputes.

Mike serves as a Master in the Ross T. Roberts Inn of Court, an educational program sponsored by the United States District Court for Western District of Missouri designed to help enhance the trial skills of young lawyers.

Mike also holds the rank of Rokudan (sixth degree black belt) in Okinawan Kenpo Karate and the rank of Shodan (first degree black belt) in Taiko Ryu Jujitsu and has more than 28 years of experience training in traditional martial arts. In 2013, Mike was awarded the title of “Renshi” (i.e., “polished instructor”) in the United States Kenpo Kobujitsu federation.

Phone: 816.756.0700
Direct: 816.285.0558

Professional Successes

  • In 2018, Mike and Kevin Karpin prevailed in an issue of first impression before the Kansas Supreme Court relating to the “full-performance exception” to the statute of frauds in a case involving the enforcement of an oral contract.  See Ed DeWitte Insurance Agency, Inc. v. Financial Associates Midwest, Inc., 308 Kan. 1065427 P.3d. 25 (Kan. 2018).
  • In 2017, Mike and Deena Jenab obtained the dismissal of First Amendment retaliation claims against two university administrators in an issue of first impression before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. See Lyons v. Vaught et al, 875 F.3d 1168 (8th Cir. 2017).
  • In 2017, Mike was lead counsel in an important appeal before the Missouri Supreme Court relating to the procedure for challenging timeliness issues in cases under the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA). See Tivol Plaza, Inc. v. Mo. Comm’n on Human Rights, 527 S.W.3d 837 (Mo. banc 2017). This case resulted in the Missouri Assembly amending the MHRA.
  • In 2013, Seyferth Blumenthal & Harris’ trial team comprised of Mike, Paul Seyferth, and Kevin Karpin obtained an award of $162 million on behalf of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City against the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). The trial court also ordered a judicially supervised accounting before a special master. Following the accounting and an appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court, HCA ultimately settled the lawsuit in February 2017, culminating in HCA’s payment to the Foundation of more than $203 million in damages and attorneys’ fees.This was Missouri’s largest judgment in 2013 according to Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly.
  • In 2012, Mike was lead counsel in an important appellate decision relating to the charge-filing requirements in retaliation cases under Title VII. See Richter v. Advance Auto Parts,, 686 F.3d 847 (8th Cir. 2012).
  • In 2011, Mike teamed with Paul Seyferth to defend a two-plaintiff age discrimination case that resulted in defense verdicts. These verdicts were designated by Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly as among the largest defense verdicts in 2011.
  • In 2008, Mike and Paul Seyferth received a defense verdict in an age discrimination case tried in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri. Our client, a family-owned small business, “bet the company” on the outcome of this case.
  • In 2007, Mike was lead counsel in a consumer fraud case tried in the District Court of Wyandotte County, Kansas. The case was widely publicized on local television after the plaintiff’s claims were covered by a consumer advocacy reporter. The jury found for our client, a national provider of funeral services.

Professional Honors

  • Selected by Missouri Lawyers Weekly for “The POWER List – Employment Law,” recognizing Mike as one “the most powerful employment attorneys in Missouri,” 2020-present
  • Recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a Labor & Employment Star from 2019-present.
  • Elected as a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.  The College recognizes those who, by long and outstanding service, have distinguished themselves as leaders in the field of labor and employment law.
  • Recognized by Missouri Lawyers Weekly as a 2018 “Legal Champion” for bringing “an end to a long-running lawsuit with a national hospital chain over funding for hospitals in Kansas City’s urban core.”
  • Selected by The Best Lawyers in America as the 2017 “Lawyer of the Year” in Kansas City, Missouri in Litigation-Labor & Employment.
  • Selected by The Best Lawyers in America as the 2014 “Lawyer of the Year” in Kansas City, Missouri in Employment Law – Management.
  • Included in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of labor and employment law.
  • Named one of “The Best Lawyers in Kansas City” by Ingram’s magazine.
  • Recognized as one of the “The Top 50” lawyers in Kansas City and one of “The Top 100” lawyers in Missouri and Kansas by the publishers of KC Magazine.
  • Repeatedly named to Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers in the field of labor and employment law.
  • Repeatedly recognized by The Kansas City Business Journal as “Best of the Bar” in the area of labor and employment law.
  • Rated AV® Preeminent by the Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating system. This rating is given only to those lawyers who have reached the height of professional excellence.
  • Named by Chambers USA as a “Leading Individual” in the Kansas City area in the field of labor and employment law.
  • Recognized by Missouri Lawyers Weekly as one of the 2008 “35 Up & Coming Attorneys” in Missouri.

Publications and Presentations

  • 10 The Labor Lawyer 19, The Defendant’s Perspective: Ethical Considerations In Representing and Counseling Multiple Parties In Employment Litigation (1994).
  • 1 The Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy 155, Warning! Collective Bargaining Can Be Hazardous To Your Health (1991).

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
    • Labor & Employment Law Committee (former Chair)
  • Society for Human Resource Management
  • Society for Human Resource Management of Johnson County (Past President, Vice, President, and Chair of the Government and Legal Affairs Committee)
  • American Employment Law Council

Education

  • University of Kansas, J.D., 1992
    • Publications Editor for The Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy
  • University of Kansas, B.A., 1989
    • “Hilltopper” Award recipient