Lear Werts LLP - Columbia, MO

Leading Employee Rights and Complex Litigation in Columbia, Missouri

When employers fail to pay lawful wages or corporate negligence causes severe harm, individuals need skilled trial lawyers to level the playing field. Founded in 2003, Lear Werts LLP has built a national reputation for taking on large corporate defense firms in high-stakes litigation. Based in Columbia, Missouri, the firm is led by partners Bradford B. Lear, Todd C. Werts, and Sander C. Sowers, litigators respected for their trial success and amicus curiae contributions before appellate courts. Whether protecting the wage rights of thousands of employees or representing an injured individual, you can hire an experienced lawyer with the resources, technology, and courtroom skill to prevail.

Nationally Recognized Wage and Hour and Overtime Litigation

Corporate wage theft deprives working Americans of billions in hard-earned pay every year. Lear Werts LLP stands at the forefront of nationwide wage and hour litigation under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state employment laws, serving as lead or co-lead counsel in major class and collective actions, including:

• Unpaid Overtime and Off-the-Clock Work: Recovering back wages for employees required to perform prep work, attend mandatory meetings, or handle job communications outside scheduled hours without overtime pay.
• Employee Misclassification Claims: Challenging illegal independent contractor classifications and abusive exempt executive or administrative designations intended to avoid statutory overtime protections.
• Piece-Rate and Incentive Pay Violations: Holding national corporations accountable for complex compensation systems that fail to guarantee legal minimum wage or accurate overtime premiums.
• Call Center and Service Technician Collective Actions: Litigating landmark multi-state collective actions representing tens of thousands of customer service agents, delivery workers, and field technicians.

Consumer Class Actions and Mass Tort Advocacy

Beyond employment law, Lear Werts LLP has earned widespread acclaim for safeguarding consumers and injured citizens against deceptive corporate practices and defective products. The firm prosecutes consumer protection class actions involving deceptive debt collection tactics, illegal credit reporting discrepancies, and fraudulent billing practices. Additionally, the firm represents victims in multi-district litigation and pharmaceutical mass torts, ensuring that injured parties receive substantial financial recovery when corporations place profits over public safety.

Catastrophic Personal Injury and Missouri Workers Compensation

In Mid-Missouri, Lear Werts LLP maintains a dedicated trial practice representing individuals and families affected by devastating accidents. The firm handles catastrophic car accidents, commercial semi-truck collisions, motorcycle wrecks, and wrongful death claims throughout Boone County and surrounding areas. Furthermore, partner Sander Sowers leads the firm workers compensation department, providing compassionate, aggressive advocacy for injured workers seeking medical care authorization, temporary disability wages, and permanent disability settlements before the Missouri Division of Workers Compensation.

Results-Driven Counsel and Free Case Evaluation

At Lear Werts LLP, client advocacy is guided by transparency, personalized communication, and unwavering trial readiness. The firm handles wage and hour claims, class actions, and personal injury matters on a contingency-fee basis, ensuring that financial barriers never prevent victims of injustice from accessing premier legal talent. If you have been denied earned wages, subjected to unlawful employment practices, or injured due to negligence, contact Lear Werts LLP in Columbia today to schedule a confidential, free consultation.