Olivia Bess-Rhodes, Attorney - Schirger Feierabend LLC - Kansas City, Missouri

Olivia Bess-Rhodes

CONTACT

Phone

Main:   816-561-6500
Direct: 816-561-6506

EMAIL

Bess-Rhodes@SFlawyers.com

EDUCATION

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law

Juris Doctor (Advocacy Emphasis) – 2024

Southeast Missouri State University

Bachelor of Arts – 2020

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Business and Commercial Litigation

Class Actions

Insurance Litigation

HONORS & AWARDS

  • University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law Dean’s List (all semesters)
  • Harry S. Truman Leadership Award
  • Terry T. Thomas Trial Practice Achievement Award
  • Pro Bono Honors
  • Order of Barristers
  • Mock Trial and Trial Practice Awards
    • Best Opening Statement – Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trial Competition
    • Finalist – Buffalo-Niagara Invitational Mock Trial Competition
    • Champion –Regional Mock Trial Competition
    • Medal for Excellence in Advocacy – American College of Trial Lawyers
    • CALI Award – Criminal Trial Practice
    • Order of Barristers
    • Best Oralist (2L) – Ellison Moot Court Competition
    • Semi-Finalist – 1L Mock Trial Competition

BAR ADMISSIONS

Missouri
Kansas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

  • Missouri Bar Association
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association

About Olivia

Olivia joined Schirger Feierabend LLC in 2024 after graduating from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, where she earned Dean’s List recognition all semesters and received pro bono honors after committing hundreds of hours outside of the classroom to pro bono advocacy. As a student, Olivia was the recipient of the Harry S. Truman Leadership and Terry T. Thomas Trial Practice Achievement Awards, was repeatedly recognized for her skill as a member of UMKC’s mock trial team—including several awards for her performances at regional and national mock trial competitions—and was inducted into the Order of Barristers.

Prior to joining Schirger Feierabend, Olivia interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, with the Honorable Fernando J. Gaitan at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, and with Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Janette Rodecap. Through these experiences, she gained a strong foundation in both federal and state legal practice.

Olivia is originally from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and now resides in Kansas City, where she enjoys exploring local coffee shops, practicing hot yoga, and cheering for all of Kansas City’s sports teams.

Representative Cases

Class Action - Achieved a $45 million nationwide settlement on behalf of policyholders against Kansas City Life Insurance Company. The settlement resulted from consolidating separate class action cases alleging cost of life insurance overcharges against Kansas City Life. Prior to settlement, counsel successfully prosecuted three class action jury trials in state and federal court resulting in substantial verdicts.  Karr vs. Kansas City Life Ins. Co., No. 1916-CV26645 (Mo. Cir. Ct.); Meek vs. Kansas City Life Ins. Co., No. 4:19-cv-00472-BP (W.D. Mo.); Sheldon vs. Kansas City Life Ins. Co., No. 1916-CV26689 (Mo. Cir. Ct.). Settlement proceeds were distributed through two cases: Peter van Zanten vs. Kansas City Life Insurance Company, No. 4:25-cv-00095-BP (W.D. Mo.) and Sheldon vs. Kansas City Life Ins. Co.

Class Action - Secured a $32.5 million settlement on behalf of owners of life insurance policies issued in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas and Washington asserting policy overcharges against Symetra Life Insurance Company. Davis v. Symetra Life Insurance Company, Case No. CV-21-00533 (USDC, W.D. Washington).