Kristie S. Crawford

Principal
300 John Q. Hammons Parkway
Suite 603
Springfield, MO 65806
417-831-1412
417-831-6062

Print Bio PDF

Kristie Crawford is a partner with Brown & James, P.C., practicing in the firm’s Springfield, Missouri, office. After being employed with the Missouri Department of Corrections as an Institutional Parole Officer, she decided to pursue a career in the law with a focus on civil litigation. Upon graduating from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law with distinction, she accepted the position of Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Nancy Steffen Rahmeyer, Missouri Court of Appeals Southern District.

Ms. Crawford joined Brown & James, P.C. in 2003. She became a principal partner of the firm in 2010 and the managing principal of the firm’s Springfield office in 2011. Over the course of Ms. Crawford’s career with the firm, she has represented businesses and individuals in civil litigation involving contracts, premises liability, automobile accidents, real estate, and other disputes. She has also represented employers in the investigation and defense of claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. She has tried several jury and non-jury cases to conclusion and argued appeals in federal and state courts.

Ms. Crawford’s experience in civil litigation allows her to understand and anticipate the needs of both businesses and individuals involved in civil disputes. She has become skilled in analyzing and evaluating cases and bringing them to an efficient resolution through settlement, motion practice, or trial.

Prior Legal Experience

Law Clerk, Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District (2002-2003)

Recent Favorable Results

Paul Kelly, Jr. v. Laberick Investments, Newton County, Missouri (2021) – summary judgment.

Gerry Allen Hodge v. Walgreen Co., U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri (2021) – summary judgment.

Karen M. Snelling v. John Alexander Smith, et al., Camden County, Missouri (2020) – summary judgment.

Igor Misyuk, et al. v. Creative Dining Concepts, LLC, Greene County, Missouri (2019) – 90% fault assessed to plaintiff.

Brandon Johnson v. Sarah Gustafson, Washington County, Arkansas (2018) – defense verdict.

Patsy Custer v. Wal-Mart Stores East, LP (June 2017)

Danielle Gardner v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., et al. 
(November 2015)

Larry Berger, et al. v. Douglas County Abstract and Title Company, Inc.
 (September 2014)

Michelle D. Brown v. Action Real Estate, et al. (July 2014)

Representative Reported Cases

Ken Kissee, et al. v. E-Z Pawn, LLC, et al., 290 S.W.3d 748 (Mo.App. S.D. 2009)
Carden v. Wal-Mart Stores East, Inc., 365 S.W.3d 313 (Mo. App. W.D. 2012)
Div. of Employment Sec. v. St. Paul Mercury Ins. Co., 477 Fed.Appx. 428 (8th Cir. 2012)
Kennedy v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Illinois, 413 S.W.3d 14 (Mo. App. S.D. 2013)

More About Kristie

Education

  • University of Missouri-Kansas City (J.D., 2002)
  • University of Missouri-Columbia (B.A., 1996)

Bar Admissions

  • Missouri
  • Arkansas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit

Recent Achievements

  • Best Lawyers – Litigation - Insurance, The Best Lawyers in America (2020-2024)
  • Top 5 Defense Win in the State of Missouri, Missouri Lawyers Weekly (2019)

Professional Affiliations

  • The Missouri Bar
  • Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers
  • DRI – Lawyers’ Professionalism and Ethics Committee Publications Chair

Speaking

  • Presenter, "Decision Makers: Missouri, Kansas and Illinois," Brown & James Insurance Law & Medical Malpractice Defense Symposium, January 2023
  • "Monitoring Employees: Privacy Issues and Employer Risks," National Business Institute Employment Law Seminar (April 2015)
  • "Managing Employee Leaves of Absence," National Business Institute Employment Law Seminar (April 2015)
  • "Co-Employee Liability: Are We There Yet?" Brown & James Law Symposium (January 2015)
  • “Defending the Blackboard Damages Case,” Brown & James Law Symposium (January 2014)