Ian Cooper and Mollie Mohan Win Appeal After Successful Trial

Jun 11, 2020

In December of 2018, Ian Cooper and Mollie Mohan won a Judgment for the City of Columbia, Missouri in Boone County Circuit Court.  The case, Sanders v. City of Columbia, involved a former Police Officer for the City who was dismissed following his use of force on a prisoner in a holding cell.  The former Officer filed suit seeking reinstatement, back pay, benefits, and other relief.  A Judge in the Cole County Circuit Court initially ruled in favor of the Officer and reinstated him to the Police Department with back pay and benefits.  Following an appeal, the case was remanded to the Circuit Court for trial.  After transfer of the case to Boone County Circuit Court, Ian and Mollie were retained by the City to try the case.  After a three day bench trial, visiting Judge Dennis Rolf entered Judgment in favor of the City and against the Officer on all claims.  The Officer appealed this Judgment to the Western District Court of Appeals on four grounds.  On May 26, 2020, the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s Judgment on all claims.  The case received widespread national and local media coverage.


Mollie G. Mohan practices primarily in the areas of labor & employment, litigation, and higher education. Mollie represents colleges, universities, and private employers in labor and employment matters. Prior to joining the firm, Mollie worked at a large-sized litigation firm in Saint Louis. While in law school, Mollie was a student law clerk to the Honorable Jean C. Hamilton of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Ian P. Cooper is a founding Shareholder of Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C. Ian practices in the areas of employment law, higher education law, and litigation and regularly serves as lead trial and appellate counsel in significant employment lawsuits, including class actions and other complex litigation. Ian has been elected a Fellow in both the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and in Litigation Counsel of America.  He has also been named a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.  Ian was also selected to the Top 50 2018 St. Louis Super Lawyers list.

Appellate Practice –  Tueth Keeney lawyers have briefed and argued hundreds of appeals, including appeals in all Missouri and Illinois state and federal appellate courts and in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Appellate Practice Group represents clients on a wide range of issues impacting businesses, individuals, government entities, and educational institutions. Tueth Keeney attorneys are also available to contribute their considerable experience (including more than 90 arguments before the Missouri Supreme Court) to appeals handled by others’ strategizing, assisting with briefs, and preparing for oral argument.

Labor and Employment – Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C. has successfully represented a number of businesses, large and small, throughout the Midwest in labor and employment matters. Our broad range of experience includes employment discrimination litigation, wage-hour investigations, affirmative action revision plans development, INS audits, and a variety of traditional labor matters.