Joseph Morris

Principal

For more than 10 years, Joseph Morris has focused his practice on insurance coverage litigation, including first party and third party coverage, bad faith litigation, policyholder claims, broker liability defense, as well as general commercial litigation.

jmorris@robertsperryman.com

(314)-446-1245

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Joseph Morris is a litigation and appellate attorney with experience focusing on insurance coverage disputes, bad faith litigation, professional liability defense, and commercial litigation.

Joseph has extensive experience handling matters that require advising insurers and policyholders, and is adept at preparing complex cases for trial and handling investigations of cases and claims involving high profile and media sensitive issues. Joseph routinely represents clients in cases involving six and seven figure claims of recovery. While Joseph is a native of St. Louis, he studied and worked in Boston before moving to Tokyo, Japan, where he resided and worked for several years prior to attending law school. In law school he made the Dean’s List, Pro Bono Honor Society, as well as gained experience working for the Tokyo maritime firm, Toda & Co., and with a large Tokyo transactions firm, Nishimura & Asahi, in areas that focused on cross-border transactions and capital markets. Joseph lived and worked for several years in California after law school focusing on areas of practice that included government contracting and tax controversy. In 2013, Joseph returned to St. Louis to be closer to home and extended family. Prior to transitioning to private practice Joseph had the pleasure of serving as an appellate clerk for two years under the mentorship of the Honorable Lisa Van Amburg at the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District.

In his free time Joseph enjoys camping, hiking, soccer, and the outdoors. Joseph is also a practitioner of Aikido, and member of the board for a local Aikikai Aikido non-profit group.

Areas of Practice

Insurance Coverage, Bad Faith, and Extra Contractual Liability Defense
Insurance Defense
Legal Malpractice Defense
Motion and Appellate Practice
Design Professional Malpractice Defense

Notable Recent Victories

Westmoreland v. Midwest St. Louis, LLC, 623 S.W.3d 618 (Mo. Ct. App. 2021), successful appeals defense of jury verdict awarding client-respondent $1.8 million in damages against nearby gas station for violating Missouri's Motor Fuel Marketing Act (MFMA).
Evans v. Wilson, No. SD 33209, 2016 WL 4990251 (Mo. Ct. App. Sept. 19, 2016), affirmed following transfer by Conner v. Ogletree, 542 S.W.3d 315, 318 (Mo. 2018), successful oral argument in defense of trial court's summary judgment in favor of defendant in appeal to the Missouri Court of Appeals Southern District.
Hendrickson, et al. v. Dennis, et al., Cause No. 21SL-CC04967 (Cir. Ct. St. Louis Co., Mo. Apr. 17, 2023), motion for summary judgment granted by trial court in favor of client on basis of collateral and judicial estoppel and for failure to state a legally cognizable claim as a matter of law.
Denney v. Syberg’s Westport, Inc., 665 S.W.3d 348 (Mo. Ct. App. 2023), successful defense on appeal affirming judgment on jury’s verdict, including findings that appellant was 90% at fault for his own damages under Missouri’s rules of comparative fault.

Education

Boston University, History, B.A. History 2002
California Western School of Law, J.D. 2009

Bar Admissions

Missouri, 2010
California, 2010
U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
U.S. District Court of Kansas

Memberships

DRI
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Primerus

Notable Recent Victories

Fluor Corp. v. Zurich American Ins. Co., Case No. 4-16-CV-00429 (U.S.E.D. Mo. 2025) – served as co-counsel on trial defense team in lawsuit brought by engineering and construction company Fluor, which paid $300 million to resolve lead-exposure lawsuits, alleged that its insurer Zurich engaged in a bad-faith refusal to settle them and sought over $2 billion in damages. The first trial ended in May 2025 in a hung jury. After a two-week retrial, a jury in Missouri federal court returned a complete defense verdict in November 2025.
Mountain Mushrooms, LLC, et al. v. JHA Cain, Inc. d/b/a Comers Wrecker, et al., Cause No. 22OZ-CC00166 (Cir. Ct. Ozark Cnty., Mo. 2025) – successful six figure settlement of tort claims prosecuted on behalf of client for claims of personal property damage and resultant loss of business income and related damages to client business).
Brewer v. John’s Frosted Mug, et al., Case No. 22CT-CC00101 (Cir. Ct. Christian Cnty., Mo. 2024) – successful trial defense on premises liability and negligence claims brought against client, resulting in complete defense verdict.
Denney v. Syberg’s Westport, Inc., 665 S.W.3d 348 (Mo. Ct. App. 2023) – successful appeal affirming judgment on jury’s defense verdict in favor of client in premises liability action.
Hendrickson, et al. v. Dennis, et al., Case No. 21SL-CC04967 (Cir. Ct. St. Louis Co. 2023) - successful summary judgment granted by trial court in favor of client on claims of legal malpractice.
Westmoreland v. Midwest St. Louis, LLC, 623 S.W.3d 618 (Mo. Ct. App. 2021) – successful appeal affirming defense verdict awarding client-respondent $1.8 million in damages for violation of Missouri's Motor Fuel Marketing Act (MFMA).

Speaking Engagements

Crane Agency, E&O Seminar, Annual Updates in Missouri, 2025
NBI Seminar, Bad Faith and Punitive Damages: Tactics to Maximize/Minimize Recovery, 2025