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Overview
Daniel Blegen focuses his nationwide litigation practice on assisting clients with their most important legal matters, including breaches of contract, business torts, trade secrets, and intellectual property disputes. He represents businesses of all sizes — from corporations to small companies and individuals — with a track record of success in courts throughout Missouri and across the country.
In addition to litigation, Dan has proven experience representing executives, officers, and directors in internal investigations, shareholder disputes, and governmental investigation and enforcement actions. His unique experience with complex computer forensic investigations benefits clients as data security and protection becomes an increasingly important aspect of litigation.
Prior to entering private practice, Dan served as law clerk for the Hon. Scott O. Wright in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri from 1998 to 2000. He served as president of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association in 2017.
Credentials
Education
- University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law, 1998 (J.D.)
- University of Missouri – Columbia, 1994 (B.A.)
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- Represented family owned printing company in a series of lawsuits brought by disgruntled family member claiming software copyright infringement, tampering with computer data, breach of software license agreement, and related claims. Obtained summary judgment on software copyright infringement. After a two-week jury trial, obtained a defense verdict in favor of client on a claim of over $5 million in damages for breach of license agreement and computer tampering, and obtained a verdict in favor of client on counterclaim for tortious interference with customer contracts.
- Represented nationally ranked top general building contractor in successfully obtaining summary judgment on a multimillion-dollar claim brought in Jackson County, Missouri, which was upheld on appeal. The plaintiff sued on multiple theories including fraud, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract after client ceased using plaintiff’s construction management software and instead began using its own construction management software on construction projects. Client moved for summary judgment on all counts. The plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the trade secret and contract claims prior to court disposition. The trial court entered summary judgment in favor of client on the fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claims, which were premised on the existence of a joint venture, finding that no joint venture existed as a matter of law.
- Represented defendants / counterclaim-plaintiffs in successfully obtaining a $6.1 million jury verdict for breach of fiduciary duty and civil conspiracy, including $5.5 million in punitive damages, following a 13-day jury trial in Jackson County, Missouri. The plaintiffs initially filed claims against clients on various theories, all of which were dismissed by the Court prior to trial. At trial, persuaded the jury that counterclaim-defendants improperly used their control over counterclaim-plaintiffs to take monies for lavish personal entertainment and other self-dealing transactions, and that the award of punitive damages was appropriate to deter future conduct.
- Obtained multi-million dollar award in confidential arbitration for defamation through anonymous internet posts. After a 10-day hearing, the arbitrator found in favor of clients on their claims for defamation and against defendant on all counterclaims. The arbitrator awarded the clients recovery of damages, attorney fees, and costs.
- Obtained $31.3 million jury verdict on behalf of client in a trade secret misappropriation action against a Boston-based private equity firm, which used stolen trade secrets to acquire a competitor to his client. The jury returned the verdict following a two-week trial that included substantial evidence of misappropriation and computer forensic evidence of document destruction.
- Obtained $373 million award in a six-week arbitration for client American Century, involving more than 50 witnesses, against one of the country’s largest financial institutions and defended that award and judgment through appeals and to payment.
- Represented board of directors of bank in connection with FDIC investigation into the largest bank fraud in Arkansas history.
Clerk Experience
- Judge Scott O. Wright, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Society of Fellows Board
- Missouri Lawyers Media, The POWER List: Commercial and Consumer Law, 2020-2022
- Kansas City Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2018
- Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2019-2024
- Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, 2013-2023
- Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2011-2012
- Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
- Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, President’s Award, 2000
- American Bar Association, House of Delegates Member, 2017-2020
- Missouri Bar Association
- Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
- President, 2017
- Board of Directors, 2008-2020
- Young Lawyers Section Board of Directors, 2000-2007
- Trial Law Institute
- Diversity Law Institute
- Order of Veritas, Barrister
- Order of Certus, Advocate