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JEROME E. BRANT is the managing partner of the Liberty law firm of Withers, Brant, Igoe & Mullennix, P.C., where he practices in the areas of probate, business and real estate litigation. Mr. Brant is a member of Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, the Clay County Bar Association (past president), the Lawyers Association of Kansas City and The Missouri Bar (past member, Board of Governors). He was twice the recipient of the Missouri Bar President's Award in 1996 and 2005. Mr. Brant is a past chair of the Clay County Economic Development Council and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors and vice-chairman of The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Company. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia and his J.D. degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. DAVID E. COFFELT is a 35-year veteran of the title industry. As chairman of the Board of Directors of Coffelt Land Title, Inc., he has guided his company's growth from a staff of three to one of the largest independently owned title firms in the metropolitan Kansas City area. Mr. Coffelt is a past president of the Missouri Land Title Association and was that organization's first ever young title person of the year. As a regular instructor at the Missouri Land Title Institute, Mr. Coffelt has conducted classes on a wide range of topics, including an introduction to the profession, closings, business management, ethics and time management. In addition to numerous speaking engagements for various civic groups and realtor gatherings, he remains very involved in community activities. JOEL B. LANER graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut in 1976 being awarded a New York State Scholar's Award and a Rush Rhees Fellowship Award. Mr. Laner graduated from the University of Missouri at Kansas City Law School in December, 1984 and earned his LL.M. degree in taxation 1994. Mr. Laner is a partner in Hazelton & Laner, LLP, which primarily practices in the real estate area and has been in continuous existence since August, 1988. He has been handling title insurance matters for more than 15 years. Mr. Laner was initially engaged on a contract basis by a title insurer to administer and handle its claims in Kansas and Missouri. This work involved not only handling claims directly against the insurer and some of its agents but also defending its insureds against matters affecting insureds' titles. The work also involved the processing and oversight of claims. The work expanded such that Hazelton & Laner, LLP and Mr. Laner began handling claims in Kansas and Missouri for most of the major underwriters. At times, the firm would handle as many as 30 claims. The claims ranged from alleged vexatious refusals to pay to alleged title forfeitures. In connection with this work, they have appeared in courts as far east as Potosi, Missouri and as far west as Utica, Kansas. In connection with this work, he has appeared at numerous continuing legal education seminars for members of the title insurance industry speaking on title insurance-related subjects, such as mechanics' lien litigation.
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