About E. Wayne Taff

Wayne has substantial experience in handling complex insurance coverage matters, having devoted over 45 years to analyzing insurance coverage, duty to defend and bad faith issues on behalf of insurers, injured plaintiffs and policyholders. He spent over 30 years as not only insurance defense counsel but coverage counsel for more than 25 insurers. That background gives him a unique perspective when analyzing coverage, duty to defend and bad faith issues on behalf of injured parties and policyholders. 

He has served as the lead trial lawyer for both plaintiffs and defendants in civil lawsuits since 1977, having tried lawsuits throughout the United States. As trial counsel representing plaintiffs, Wayne obtained a number of verdicts of $1,000,000 or more. He has also served as national, regional and local trial counsel for numerous product and chemical manufacturers. He served as the lead defense trial lawyer in an aviation/product liability suit brought by the survivors of Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan following the Governor’s death in an aircraft crash

He is admitted before the United States Supreme Court, all Missouri courts, the 8th United States Circuits Court of Appeals, and the United States District Courts for the Western District of Missouri, the Eastern District of Missouri and the District of Kansas.

Wayne has been very active in the Defense Research Institute, serving as Secretary Treasurer, Director, Chair of the Products Liability Committee, and Chair of the Law Institute, with responsibility for all educational programs presented by DRI. He was the first recipient of the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers' Outstanding Service Award and was honored by DRI with the Louis Potter Award for lifetime professional achievement and the Rich Krochock Award for his work in training and educating young lawyers.