James C. Ochs

Since 1984, James C. Ochs has tried over 125 jury trials in Missouri, Illinois, and Florida, including jury trials to verdicts in both criminal and civil matters, over 500 bench trials, and appellate cases in Missouri, Illinois, and Georgia. His experience ranges across a variety of practice areas, including injury, family law, criminal law, business litigation and civil matters. James C. Ochs has developed a practice defending contractors criminally prosecuted for consumer fraud. He has successfully represented accused contractors and individuals in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Iowa, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma, Kansas, California, Nebraska, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oregon, Washington and South Carolina. For over 30 years, James C. Ochs has staunchly represented his clients in a variety of matters, and continues to draw on his experience to pursue justice for individuals and their families.

Appellate Court Decisions

• Obtained reversal of Judgment in Dissolution of Marriage for wife for improper abatement of child support due to claimed interference with visitation. Cule v. Cule, WL343128 (Mo. App. E.D. 2015).
• Obtained reversal of Judgment in Dissolution of Marriage for husband for improper valuation of marital business interest providing law that fair market value is the preferred methodology. Wood v. Wood, 361 S.W.3d 36 (Mo. App. E.D. 2011).
• Obtained reversal of Judgment in reference to court using stale data for determining marital value of investment account. Meier v. Meier, 306 S.W.3d 692 (Mo. App. E.D. 2010).
• Obtained reversal of judgment against car dealership involving alleged violation of Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. Woods v. Mehlville Chrysler-Plymouth, Inc., 198 S.W.3d 165 (Mo. App. E.D. 2006).
• Obtained reversal of convictions for Murder in the Second Degree and Armed Criminal Action. State v. Battle, 32 S.W.3d 193 (Mo. App. E.D. 2000)
• Judgment upheld in favor of changing custody from mother to joint physical custody with father. Cromer ex rel. Cromer v. Tucker, 987 S.W.2d 470 (Mo. App. E.D. 1999)
• Won the right to hearing on ability to pay in a family law case. Wagner v. Wagner, 945 S.W.2d 689 (Mo. App. E.D. 1997)
• Obtained reversal of conviction for Deviant Sexual Assault in First Degree. State v. Ellis, 820 S.W.2d 699 (Mo. App. E.D. 1991)
• Common-law doctrine of interspousal immunity is not a bar to claims for personal injuries inflicted by one spouse against another during marriage. Townsend v. Townsend, 708 S.W.2d 646 (Mo. banc 1986)
• Obtained reversal of conviction for Involuntary Manslaughter. State v. Goforth, 721 S.W.2d 756 (Mo. App. E.D. 1986)

Licensed to Practice Law

• Missouri, 1984
• Illinois, 1986
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri, 1985
• U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1995
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 2015
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit, 1985
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, 1990
• U.S. Tax Court, 1987
• Supreme Court of the United State of America, 1990
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 2016

Legal Employment

• Charles M. Shaw; Shaw, Howlett & Schwartz, Associate, 1984-87
• Harlan & Harlan, Associate, 1987-90
• Schwartz & Ochs, Partner, 1990-99
• James C. Ochs, Attorney, P.C., 1999-2006
• Ochs & Klein Attorneys, P.C.,, Partner, 2006- Present

Education

• Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, B.S., 1981
• St. Louis University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 1984