Melody R. Dickson

Partner

Phone Number: 816.701.1170

4740 Grand Avenue Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64112

In Brief

Represented a class of 140,000 business merchants seeking redress for a multi-million-dollar overbilling scheme

Has specialized knowledge in litigating personal injury claims in tractor-trailer accidents

Named to Kansas and Missouri Rising Stars for Business Litigation, Personal Injury, and Transportation Law

Melody Dickson is an experienced litigator that dedicates her practice to complex commercial litigation and business disputes. Melody has successfully represented businesses across the country in State and Federal Courts, ranging from sole proprietorships to Fortune 500 Companies. Melody has assisted in obtaining millions of dollars in compensation for our clients that have been harmed by unfair or illegal practices. Melody’s experience includes prosecuting claims involving financial and investment fraud, False Claims Act, RICO, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, and bad faith insurance disputes, among others.

Most recently, Melody was part of team of lawyers led by partner Ty Hudson, that successfully prosecuted a nationwide class action on behalf of 140,000 business merchants seeking redress for a multimillion-dollar overbilling scheme orchestrated by an independent sales organization. As part of the firm’s business litigation practice, Melody also played a role in the successful representation of a hotel franchisee in a complex commercial fraud and contract dispute against a national hotel franchisor, represented 15 community banks in a high-profile commercial loan dispute, and litigated to resolution a private nuisance action and multimillion-dollar bad faith insurance dispute.

Melody has also prosecuted cases on behalf of consumers and individuals who have fallen victim to corporate greed, product defects, and gross negligence. She recently served as counsel in Bang v. BMW of North America, No. 2:15-cv-6945 (D.N.J.) alleging defects in BMW’s N63 engine. She also has experience litigating personal injury claims, with specialized knowledge in tractor-trailer accidents, resulting in eight-figure recoveries for personal injury and wrongful death victims.

Since 2016, Melody has been named to Kansas and Missouri Rising Stars for Business Litigation, Personal Injury, and Transportation Law which recognizes less than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state.

Notable Litigation

  • Bang v. BMW of North America, No. 2:15-cv-6945 (D.N.J.)

    Wagstaff & Cartmell attorney, Eric Barton, served as Co-Lead Class Counsel in an excessive oil and battery consumption class action. He helped obtain final court approval of a settlement awarding financial and extended service benefits to a class of over 80,000 owners and lessees of BMW vehicles with an N63 engine.

  • Skip’s Precision Welding, et al. v. Central Payment Co. (D. Neb.)

    Wagstaff & Cartmell attorney, Ty Hudson, served as the court-appointed lead counsel for a certified class of more than 200,000 merchants suing an independent sales organization for breach of contract, fraud, and RICO violations alleging the company engaged in a scheme to overbill small businesses on credit card processing fees.

  • Hotel Case

    Wagstaff & Cartmell attorney, Ty Hudson, acted as lead counsel for a Kansas City-based hotel franchisee in a complex commercial fraud and contract action against an international hotel franchisor. He helped obtain a confidential settlement for the client after more than five years of litigation.

Practice Areas

Other Practice Areas

  • Consumer Fraud
  • Trucking Accidents
  • Bad Faith Litigation
  • Business Disputes

Education

  • J.D., University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law
    • Order of the Barristers
    • UMKC Law Review
    • National Moot Court Team
    • Honors in Pro Bono Public Service
  • B.A., University of Missouri – Columbia

Honors + Awards

The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40

Rising Star, Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyer – 2016-Present