Genesis of the Firm

Dan Monnat and Stan Spurrier started the firm in 1985 after laboring as research lawyers and appellate litigators for well-known veteran Kansas criminal-defense lawyers. Poring over the transcripts of seasoned criminal-defense trial attorneys, both Monnat and Spurrier had come to a shared realization: Many more cases could be won, both at the trial and appellate levels, if the research and technical preparation could be completed well before trial. However, the criminal-defense trial lawyer was always in the courtroom, overworked and lacking someone back at the office to analyze, research, and brief the many technical legal issues that could win the case before the client had to run the gauntlet of a jury trial.

Monnat, training in the courtroom beside Kansas’ criminal-defense stalwart Russell Shultz, discovered his forte to be the battleground of the courtroom rather than the law library. Spurrier recognized just the opposite and has eschewed the courtroom since 1983. Thus, Monnat & Spurrier was formed to win cases by always supporting solid courtroom skills with rigorous legal scholarship, research, and preparation.

Over the years, this strategy has resulted not only in many courtroom victories, but also in several important appeals-court decisions. Monnat & Spurrier’s think tank includes lawyers who have had the distinction of serving as law clerks to respected state and federal judges in Kansas, as well as computer technology providing immediate access to significant legal-research databases and late-breaking decisions of the nation’s courts.


Relationship with Clients

Whether we’re representing an individual or a company, Monnat & Spurrier champions the client’s rights. The firm recognizes that this nation was founded by wise patriots who exalted the rights of the people and mistrusted the power and accusations of the government. This tradition of the Founding Fathers is honored by Monnat & Spurrier.

Clients of Monnat & Spurrier are always considered innocent, regardless of what the government accuses, unless the client, at some point, should say otherwise. Even then, Monnat & Spurrier reveres the finest traditions of American jurisprudence which guarantee the guilty client as vigorous a defense as the innocent within the bounds of law.

A client of Monnat & Spurrier is treated with respect and courtesy. Clients are competent, responsible people who need the careful ear of an attorney to listen to them about the facts of the case and the desired results. Monnat & Spurrier provides its clients with immediate copies of all pleadings, correspondence, and data concerning their case, and strives to promptly return all telephone calls.