Robert Blitz

Blitz, a longtime plaintiffs lawyer, typically represents workers, unions and consumers, not entire cities. But he’s earned a reputation for doggedness even though he does not crow about his victories in front of the television cameras. He has also been involved with sports since his youth. Blitz played football and baseball and wrestled at University City High School. His father, Morris Blitz, was a school superintendent who introduced wrestling to students and in 1977 was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Missouri Wrestling Hall of Fame. Jay Nixon, the former governor of Missouri, asked Blitz and Dave Peacock, a former top executive at Anheuser-Busch, to lead the task force to keep the Rams NFL franchise in the state. Blitz’s deep knowledge of the Rams’ tenure in St. Louis, and the team’s maneuvering that led to its departure, made him an unusual weapon for the city. The NFL successfully petitioned to have Blitz removed from the case as a lawyer, but the change meant that he could have been called as a witness at trial, with his wealth of insider’s knowledge on full display from the witness chair. In deciding to settle for $790 million, the N.F.L. closed its responsibility to Blitz and a city that has lost not just the Rams, but also the Cardinals, who left for Arizona after the 1987 season. But the league provided precedent for other scorned cities. Before the league opted to settle, Kroenke and the other team owners appeared to be at each others’ throats as he, according to multiple news outlets, attempted to free himself of the indemnification agreement that held him liable for legal expenses and potential damages related to relocation litigation. Now, Kroenke may have to pay for most or all of the settlement. Robert Blitz is a founding member of Blitz, Bardgett & Deutsch, LC. His practice focuses on the areas of trials and appeals. Bob’s continued success across the nation has earned him his reputation as a well-known and respected member of the trial bar. He has had great success in both defending and prosecuting business and commercial disputes, with his verdict and settlement numbers exceeding $300,000,000, including breaches of contracts, real estate, securities, first amendment, entertainment, employment and other business-related cases. Bob has also successfully represented clients, individual and corporate, in construction, restrictive covenants, and Title VII cases and contract, discrimination, trade secrets, business torts, land use, entertainment, and other complex civil business litigation. He has represented more than 100 cases, which he has tried to verdict or judgment and many more in which favorable settlements were received for clients. J.D., University of Missouri, Columbia, 1973 B.A., Drake University, 1969