David Skeens comes from a family of lawyers and so his gifts of persuasion, compassion, and tenacity come naturally. After exploring life as a ski bum following college, all it took was one semester in law school to awaken his talents and launch his legal career. 

Before joining Davis Bethune & Jones in 2025, David practiced first in Big Law but after a few years, following his heart, he moved to a plaintiff’s trial practice. He spent 24 years as a shareholder in a nationally recognized boutique trial law firm, trying and resolving personal injury, class action and commercial cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States resulting in recoveries for his clients of over 750 million dollars.  

David did not come to DBJ as a stranger.  He met and formed life-long friendships with DBJ’s founding members in law school and worked with DBJ on cases over the years. It was, therefore, a natural fit for David to join DBJ and add his experience and skills to the extraordinary team of lawyers and staff at DBJ.

When David is not working you can find him traveling with his wife Melissa, snow skiing, cheering on the Missouri Tigers, or pretending to be a farmer.

Obtained a $2.7 million jury verdict in Johnson County, Kansas against a client’s former employer for defaming him and interfering with certain insurance producer contracts the client held.  The jury found that the client was entitled to actual and punitive damages.

Achieved arbitration award of $24 million on behalf of a class of borrowers against PNC Bank as successor to Community Bank of Northern Virginia relating to predatory second mortgage loans.

Attained a $10.25 million jury verdict in the death of a 20-year-old Missouri man who, while seeking help for his alcohol abuse and eating disorder, died due to the negligence of a drug and alcohol detox facility in California. It was one of the largest verdicts ever awarded in Orange County. In this same matter, negotiated a $3.7 million dollar settlement with a co-defendant.

Negotiated a $300 million allowed claim in bankruptcy of Residential Funding Company for RESPA, TILA, HOEPA and RICO claims relating to second mortgage loans made to some 70,000 borrowers nationwide.

Obtained more than $350 million in settlements and verdicts as lead counsel in Missouri second mortgage class action matters.  These matters include a jury verdict of $105 million against predatory second mortgage lenders, a $168 million dollar settlement against U.S. Bank and a $36.3 million settlement with First Horizon Home Loan Corporation.

Achieved $2.1 million settlement for a man who suffered a severe electrical shock when he dug into a 7200 volt power line in his yard that the utility company had neglected to mark.  Key to the settlement was the ability to show that the client was severely injured physically and emotionally despite his outward appearance of health.

Obtained substantial recoveries for Missouri and Arkansas rice farmers as part of an overall $750 million dollar settlement against Bayer CropScience relating to claims against Bayer for contaminating the U.S. rice supply with genetically modified rice.

Negotiated a $4.5 million dollar settlement for a family resulting from the negligence of a brokerage firm in providing estate planning advice and services.

Education

J.D., with distinction, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, 1988

• Order of Bench and Robe (Top 10%)

• Law Review

B.S. in Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri, 1983

• Dean’s List

• Kappa Sigma Fraternity, President, 1982

Honors & Awards

AV (highest) rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, a peer rating system for attorneys

KCBJ Best of the Bar, 2019

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2010, 2017-2024

Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Boy Scouts of America, Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award

Eagle Scout

Memberships

Missouri Bar Association

Kansas Bar Association

American Bar Association

Bar Admissions

Missouri

Kansas

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

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

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Missouri

U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas

Organizations

American Association for Justice

Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys

  Board of Governors (2019 – present)

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association

UMKC Law Foundation

  Board of Trustees (2019 – present)

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association

  President Civil Litigation Section (2014)

 Member at Large (2015-2017, 2018-2019)

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation

  Treasurer (2015)

  Vice President (2016)

  President (2017)

Indian Hills Country Club

• Board of Governors, Legal Advisor (2016-2018)

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church