Robert L. Jackstadt

Attorney At Law / Shareholder

Robert L. Jackstadt practices in the areas of commercial, construction and education litigation. Rob has tried to a conclusion numerous jury and bench trials in federal and state courts located in Illinois and Missouri. Rob has tried and/or handled hundreds of different civil litigation matters involving a wide variety of complex matters including construction defects, employment contracts, retaliatory discharge, railcar leases, letters of credit, minority shareholder claims, unfair labor practices, condemnation, products liability, non-competition agreements, mechanic’s liens, tax increment financing districts, and securities.

Rob also has extensive experience negotiating construction contracts and providing advice to public entities on public construction projects. He has been selected by his peers as an Illinois Leading Lawyer in the area of Construction Law. Rob has also received an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell in both St. Louis and Edwardsville, the highest rating available.

Rob is a founding Shareholder of the Firm. Prior to co-founding this Firm, Rob was a partner at Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin (now Husch Blackwell Sanders, LLP) for eight years. In addition to his private practice, from May 2005-April 2021, Rob served as the Mayor of Glen Carbon, Illinois – a part time position.

Education

J.D., St. Louis University School of Law, 1985

• Staff Member, Saint Louis University Law Journal
• Legal Research and Writing Instructor

B.S. Finance, College of Business and Administration, University of Illinois, 1982

• Graduated with Honors

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association – Construction Forum
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Illinois Council of School Attorneys
• The Missouri Bar

Honors and Awards

• Illinois Leading Lawyer: Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; and School Law
• AV Preeminent ® Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell

Significant Cases

• Harris v. East Alton Wood River High School District. Personal injury claim (broken jaw) filed by student after another student punched plaintiff during a passing period. The student asked the jury to award him $148,776.37. The Madison County jury deliberated two hours and returned a defendant’s verdict.
• Krieg v. Edwardsville Community Unit School District. Retaliatory discharge claim filed by substitute teacher in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. She alleged violations of the Rehabilitation Act, American with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Act. After less than two hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendant.
• Union Pacific Railroad Co. v. St. Louis Marketplace, 212 F.3d 386. (8th Cir. 2000). $1.7 million breach of construction contract case involving city’s requirement to obtain a payment bond for certain work done for redevelopment project.
• Hitchcock v. Saint Louis University. Tenured professor filed lawsuit in the City of St. Louis against University employer alleging damages for articles published in student newspaper. A directed verdict was entered after plaintiff’s case in chief.
• Peters v . Hill Loma, Inc. dba Hill-Acme. Injured female worker with severely injured hand filed a  personal injury claim in the City of St. Louis against pinch roll machine manufacturer. She sought $3.5 million in damages from the jury. The jury returned a defendant’s verdict.
• Bosley v. Kearney R-1 School District. Student on student sexual harassment claim filed in United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. The Title IX claim was submitted to the jury. Plaintiff sought $200,000 in damages from the jury. The jury returned verdict for only $2,500. The trial court granted motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and the federal appellate court affirmed.
• W.A. Scheckendanz Agency, Inc.v. Cover-All Systems, Inc. Case involved the validity and enforceability of a contract forum selection clause for a computer software company before the Illinois Appellate Court Fifth District. On appeal, the court upheld the clause and remanded it back to the Circuit Court of St. Clair County.

Selected Publications and Presentations

• “Mastering the Fine Print: Contract Essentials and Legal Challenges” Tueth Keeney Higher Education Seminar, June 2023
• “The Construction Process: Reducing Defects”,  2016 Regional Conferences in Decatur and Mt. Vernon Illinois (October 26-27, 2016)
• “Illinois Construction Lien Laws”, Lorman Education Services, (February 1999-2000 and July 2001)
• “Emails: Open Meetings Act and Record Keeping Implications”, Southwestern Division of Illinois Association of School Boards (September 29, 2005)
• “Avoiding Problems with Vendors”, Missouri Association of School Board Officials, (April 2004)
• “Annexations, Consolidations and Detachments,” IASB/IASA/IASBO Joint Conference (November 23, 2002)
• Co-Author, “Punitive Damages: Malice and Other Recent Developments,” 43 Missouri Bar Journal 455 (October-November 1987)
• Author, “Board of Regents of University of Oklahoma v. NCAA: Antitrust Violations in College Football?” 29 Saint Louis University Law Journal 207 (1984)

Civic Activities

• Director, Gateway Center of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. (entity overseeing development of Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park located across from the Gateway Arch), 1999 to present
• Mayor, Village of Glen Carbon, May 2005 to April 2021
• Member, Board of Education for Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7, 2001 to 2003
• Trustee, Village of Glen Carbon, May 1995 to April 1999
• Member, Village of Glen Carbon Planning & Zoning Commission, 1993-1995