James Bartimus

Board Member

James Bartimus founded the firm in 1977 and has devoted the last 45+ years to representing plaintiffs nationwide in complex medical negligence and pharmaceutical cases.

Jim is Past President of the International Society of Barrister, Fellow American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow of International Academy of Trial Lawyers, American College of Legal Medicine, The Summit Council, and National Judicial College Board of Visitors Co-Chair. He is past President of Civil Justice Foundation, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, KC Metropolitan Bar Association, KC Metropolitan Bar Foundation, Missouri Institute for Justice, Advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates MO-KAN Chapter, and UMKC Law Foundation.

Jim grew up in Belton, Missouri and was inducted into the Belton High School Hall of Fame in 2013. He was chosen for KCMBF Jack L Campbell Award, Missouri Lawyer’s Media Power List, UMKC Lifetime Achievement Award, KCMBA Lifetime Achievement Award, Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year (2022, 2024, 2026), Man of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and for his work on the KCMBA’s Voice of Justice program he was awarded the Acorn Award from Missouri Humanities Council. He and his wife Dana founded The DanaJames Kids Foundation and are active with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Foundation. Jim is on the Board of the Kids and Car Safety organization, worked for many years on the Board of Center for Practical Bioethics f/k/a Midwest Bioethics Center, past Board member of the University of Kansas City Trustees, and is active with LEAP (Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance).

Jim shares his experience and knowledge by teaching at the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law, UMKC School of Nursing, and speaking/presenting at more than 100 continuing legal and medical education events through the United States, Europe, and Australia.

Jim Bartimus has been honored many times over the years, including:
UMKC Lifetime Achievement Award
KCMBA Lifetime Achievement Award
Ingram’s 250, 2021
Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2022
ABOTA Advocate 2021
UMKC Alumni Achievement Award
Martindale-Hubbell, 30+ years AV Preeminent Rating
Litigator of the Year, Kansas City, Best Lawyers
Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly, Best Medical Negligence Lawyer in Missouri
Dean of the Trial Bar, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
Best Lawyers in America
Kansas City’s The Best of the Bar
SuperLawyers of Missouri and Kansas
President’s Award, University of Missouri Law Foundation
The Belli Society
Wiedemann Wysocki National Finance Council Award (ATLA)
Who's Who Worldwide
Who's Who in American Law
Who's Who in Kansas City
Strathmore’s Who’s Who
KCMBA Presidential Recognition Award
William P. Borland Award, Law Foundation, University of Missouri KC
Decade Award, Law Foundation, University of Missouri KC
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America Work Horse Award,
"Best Up and Coming Lawyer", Kansas City, Missouri TOWN SQUIRE MAGAZINE, 1982
Moot Court Board, University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law
Law Review, University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law
Dean's List, University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law
Senior Life Fellow, American Board of Trial Attorneys

Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader
4000 114 th Street, Suite 310
Leawood KS 66211
913-266-2300
www.bflawfirm.com