City of Lee's Summit >> Departments >> Law

Law Department

City Attorney Teresa Williams

Civil Division

220 SE Green Street
Lee's Summit, MO 64063
Directions

Hours: Mon-Fri: 8 am-5 pm
Phone: (816) 969-1400
Fax: (816)969-1401

Prosecution Division

10 NE Tudor Road
Lee's Summit, MO 64086
Directions

Hours: Mon-Fri: 8 am-5 pm
Phone: (816) 969-1420
Fax: (816)969-1421

FAQ

Law Department

The Missouri Bar, Jackson County Courthouse, American Bar Association, Municipal Court

Mission Statement

The mission of the Law Department is to provide quality legal services to the City of Lee's Summit so it can govern lawfully and effectively. The Law Department is committed to providing excellent, timely, and cost-effective legal advice, representation, and services to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, City departments, and boards & commissions to support their efforts to serve the citizens of Lee's summit, and is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the City through ethical and professional enforcement of the Code of Ordinances.

Summary

Civil Division

Teresa S. Williams, City Attorney
John L. Mautino, Deputy City Attorney
Trevor L. Stiles, Assistant City Attorney
Beth Murano, Police Legal Advisor
Jackie McCormick Heanue, Property & Liability Risk Management Officer
Colleen M. Fetz, Legal Records Coordinator
Julie A. Gilman, Receptionist

The Law Department is divided into two divisions: Civil and Prosecution. In the Civil division, the Department's personnel consists of the City Attorney, one Deputy City Attorney, one Assistant City Attorney, one Legal Records Coordinator, and a part-time Receptionist. In the Prosecution division, the Department's personnel consists of two full-time Prosecutors and two Legal Assistants. By the City Charter, the City Attorney supervises and directs the Law Department.

The Civil Division provides legal advice and counsel to the Mayor, City Council, appointed officials, and City staff on the full range of legal issues which confront the City of Lee's Summit. The City Attorney or his/her designee attends all City Council meetings and other board and committee meetings as necessary or upon request to provide legal guidance. In addition, the Civil Division attorneys regularly:

confer and work with the City Manager, Department Directors and City staff to develop strategies for resolving legal issues;
respond to lawsuits against the City;
review and approve contracts and other legal documents prior to consideration by the City Council;
draft ordinances, contracts, resolutions, conveyances and other legal documents;
monitor and coordinate all litigation files with outside legal counsel;
research, prepare memoranda and provide advice on various legal issues such as economic development, employment, real estate, environmental, procurement, contract compliance, planning and zoning, open records and meetings, local government liability and numerous constitutional matters;
review current case law and legislative enactments to evaluate potential impact on the City; and
work with City departments to collect on past due accounts.

Prosecution Division

Terri Cipolla Round, Chief Prosecuting Attorney
Maria Krug, Legal Assistant
Gina Marin, Legal Assistant

The Prosecution Division is responsible for prosecuting city ordinance violations in the City's Municipal Court and trials de novo, appeals, and jury trials in the Circuit Court of Jackson County. The ordinance violations range from routine traffic offenses to domestic violence offenses and include nuisance and animal control violations. The Prosecution Division also enforces the City's Fire Code, Building Code, and Zoning Regulations. The Prosecutors also advise police and other enforcement staff on the preparation and presentation of cases in court, as well as issues related to the Open Records laws.