Representative cases include:
- Currently serving as lead defense counsel on behalf of clients in 13 mass tort actions in Missouri state court and two related class actions in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri filed in 2009 and 2010. The plaintiffs seek hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and allege that the defendants, Prime Tanning Corp. and Wismo Chemical Corp., distributed to farmers a tanning by-product called "sludge" as fertilizer which allegedly contained hexavalent chromium resulting in numerous personal injuries, including brain tumors and other forms of cancer, in individuals throughout Northern and Western Missouri. Other related cases which Mr. Bartels is defending allege property damage and diminished property values as a result of the alleged contamination. These cases have garnered extensive media coverage as celebrity activist, Erin Brockovich, has held a series of town-hall style meetings for plaintiffs' counsel which prompted many of the suits.
- Currently representing the Creditors Committee and its successor, the Crossroads Wireless Liquidating Trust, in an adversary proceeding pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, which seeks in excess of $70,000,000 in damages, arising from fraudulent transfers, triangular preferences, breaches of fiduciary duties, and breaches of contract. The case is in the early stages of litigation. See Chickasaw Holding Company et al. v. Crossroads Wireless Holding, LLC et al., Adv. Proc. Case No. 10-01052, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.
- Recently appointed by the Circuit Court of Buchanan County, Missouri to serve as Special Master for the purpose of determining the enforceability of a contract and to conduct a valuation of a number of related businesses in Missouri and Colorado. See Marcum v. Marcum, 09AW-CV00021, pending in the Circuit Court of Buchanan County, Missouri.
- Obtained a defense verdict for municipality as lead counsel in a wrongful death action arising from decapitation of a 16-year-old girl following a 1-1/2 week jury trial involving allegations of improper highway design and maintenance — Barbara Groce v. Worth County, Missouri, Case No. CV700-125CC in the Circuit Court of Nodaway County, Missouri.
- Represented Community Health Plan, a St. Joseph-based HMO and a subsidiary of Heartland Health. Mr. Bartels, as part of a three attorney trial team, secured a $14.5 million jury verdict against Missouri Consolidated Healthcare Plan, a quasi-state agency responsible for the healthcare coverage of state employees following a 2-1/2 week jury trial in Jefferson City, Missouri.
- Represented 36 grocery retailers located throughout Missouri, Kansas and Arizona as part of a mass action litigation and trial team. Mr. Bartels pursued three cases in federal court prosecuting claims in excess of $250 million for product overcharges and racketeering against the grocery wholesaler, a Fortune 500 company. The cases became part of a federal multi-district litigation assigned to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, In Re Fleming Companies, Inc., Contract Litigation in MDL No. 00-1351. The claims were settled the day of trial subject to confidentiality.
- Successfully defended principal of defunct truck stops located throughout Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma who was target of fraud and breach of contract claims brought by various fuel suppliers. Vigorous investigation and discovery indicated that former employee of one of the fuel suppliers forged alleged personal guaranty. Claims were settled favorably subject to confidentiality. See Pawnee Petroleum Products, LLC v. Stephen Crawford, et al., Case No. 01-1314-WEB in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas—Wichita Division; and Davidson Oil Company v. U.S. 54 of Missouri, LLC, et al., Case No. CJ-2001-26 in the District Court in and for Texas County, Oklahoma.
- Currently representing several prominent distributors engaged or formerly engaged in Amway/Quixtar-related independently produced business support materials industry, seeking to recover millions of dollars in four large commercial litigation cases pending in Missouri and Washington, D.C.
- Successfully represented minority shareholder of lumber company and forced favorable buy-out of minority interest as part of settlement in case brought for breach of fiduciary duties against majority shareholder. See Hamilton v. Simpson, Case No. 05BU-CV00237 in the Circuit Court of Buchanan County, Missouri.
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