Joe Fredrick Willerth

Joe F. Willerth is a member in the firm of Kapke & Willerth L.L.C. of Independence, Missouri, engaged in a broad suburban law practice for over thirty years in the area of business and civil litigation, real estate, and personal injury law.

Mr. Willerth received his undergraduate degree in Industrial Management at Purdue University in 1970. Joe received his J.D. degree at the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1973. Joe's first employment from law school was a prestigious position as being a law clerk to the Honorable Fred L. Henley at the Missouri Supreme Court where he received an excellent background in review of litigation and appellate practice.

Mr. Willerth was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1973 and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court, Western District of Missouri, and the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Willerth has been engaged in the general practice of law in Eastern Jackson County, Missouri with a substantial number of consumer and real estate clients and real estate matters in Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown and Raymore, where he serves as City Attorney. In the area of real estate and construction litigation he has been counsel for numerous corporations, including banks, realtors, title companies, and many major homes associations.

Mr. Willerth is the author of two articles namely, "Ethical Dilemmas for Municipal Attorneys" in November of 2003, and "Subdivision Covenants, Regulations and Restrictions", UMKC Law Journal 1990. He has also frequently taught in Continuing Legal Education for attorneys and surveyors on trial techniques, real estate issues, including land surveying, mediation and arbitration. Mr. Willerth was the guest lecturer and instructor at the statewide Missouri Association of Land Surveyors at their conventions on May 12, 2007 and March 22, 1996. Mr. Willerth was an instruction on Road and Access Law on October 2, 2008 for the National Business Institute. Mr. Willerth taught and lectured as to legal issues involving Missouri local governments in November of 2003. Mr. Willerth also was an instructor at the Annual Real Estate Institute on May 19, 2005 on the topic of handling defects in new home construction and existing home sales. Mr. Willerth was also a lecturer at Land Use & Zoning Law Litigation Seminar on July 10, 2006 in which he authored an article on A Judicial Appeals of Administrative Zoning Decisions.