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What is now the law firm of
Furry and Smith, P.C., in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, had its
beginning as Tipton, Birmingham, Taylor & Furry in 1955. Mr. Tipton had
formerly been in the general practice of law with the Kansas City firm of
Rodgers, Field & Gentry. At the time of the formation of the firm, Mr.
Tipton's father, Ernest M. Tipton, was Chief Justice of the Missouri
Supreme Court. Mr. Birmingham had previously represented State Farm in
automobile liability cases with Thomas E. Deacy, Sr. for a period of five
years. Mr. Birmingham left the firm shortly after Mr. Deacy's son, Thomas
E. Deacy, Jr. and his father formed the partnership of Deacy & Deacy. The
newly formed firm of Tipton, Birmingham, Taylor & Furry and its successors
have continuously represented State Farm since the founding of the firm in
1955.
During the early years of the firm, Furry also served as an Assistant
Jackson County Prosecutor and Birmingham served as an Assistant Missouri
Attorney General.
In 1964, Mr. Tipton became general counsel to Kansas City Life Insurance
Company and Mr. Taylor left the firm. The name was changed to Birmingham &
Furry. Over the years, the firm had a number of associates who came and
went. It was not until 1986 that the partnership was changed.
In September, 1984, R. Scott Smith, who had practiced with a large
insurance defense firm as a partner, became of counsel to the firm and in
early 1986 the firm established the name Birmingham, Furry & Smith, when
he became a partner. John B. Ewing, Jr., was associated with the firm from
1984 until early 1991, when he moved to Florida. A. Rex Gabbert, a former
prosecuting attorney in Clay County, Missouri, became associated with the
firm in early 1991 and left the firm to pursue his goal of elevation to
the Clay County bench in late 1992. In July, 1992, James S. Stubbs joined
the firm; he left the firm at the end of 1995. Joseph H. Birmingham, Jr.,
retired from the firm to his home in August, 1996. Daniel Haus joined the
firm in 1997. Prior to attending law school, he was a Belton, Missouri,
police officer. He subsequently worked for the Legal Department of the
Kansas City Missouri Police Department to which he returned as a legal
advisor. Kenneth J. Berra joined the firm in July, 2002, and left the firm
to work for GEICO Insurance January 2008. From 1987 until 2002, Berra was
a member of Kenneth J. Berra & Associates. In his capacity in that firm,
he was the managing attorney of Farmers Insurance Kansas City Claims
Litigation Department serving Western Missouri and Kansas.
Christopher A. Brackman joined
the firm in 2004.
Theodore J. Furry died
September 4, 2007.
The firm is rated "av", Very High to Preeminent in Legal Ability, by
Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest possible rating.
THE FIRM'S LAWYERS
The firm’s lawyers
come from a variety of backgrounds and career paths which lead to the
firm.
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