Hon. Nancy Watkins McLaughlin (Ret.), JAMS Mediator and Arbitrator

Hon. Nancy Watkins McLaughlin (Ret.) joins JAMS in St. Louis following 11 years of distinguished service with the St. Louis County Circuit Court (21st Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri) and 30 years in private practice. On the bench, Judge McLaughlin presided over more than 100 civil and criminal trials in appellate, business/commercial, employment, family law and personal injury matters, among others.

As an attorney, Judge McLaughlin’s litigation practice focused on employment, labor, administrative and appellate work. She appeared before the Missouri Supreme Court, the Missouri Court of Appeals (Eastern and Southern districts) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh and Eighth circuits. Her appellate work included high-stakes matters involving the state property tax charitable use exemption, the Missouri Administrative Procedure Act, collective bargaining and the Missouri Teacher Tenure Act.

During her time on the bench, Judge McLaughlin championed alternative dispute resolution, frequently referring cases to mediation to encourage early, amicable resolution. She remains committed to the belief that candid dialogue between parties is critical to resolving disputes effectively.

Representative Matters

While on the bench, Judge McLaughlin presided over a wide variety of matters, including:

Appellate

Served as an appellate judge by order of the Missouri Supreme Court in the following matters:

Shupe v. Treasurer of Missouri as Custodian of Second Injury Fund, 435 S.W.3d 705 (Mo. App. 2014)
Prince v. Replogle, 437 S.W.3d 393 (Mo. App. 2014)

Business Commercial

Presided over a three-day jury trial for claims of common law trespass and conversion: Penn Tenant, LLC v. Shout Outdoor Missouri, LLC et al., 701 S.W.3d 659. (Mo. App. 2024)
Adjudicated an employer liability matter where proximate cause was at issue for employee actions taken outside the scope of employment: Campbell v. Baxter International, Inc., 697 S.W.3d 36 (Mo. App. 2024)
Adjudicated a commercial property owner’s claims for fraud and fraudulent concealment, where the claims were time barred by the statute of limitations: Schultz v. Bank of America Merrill Lynch Credit Corp., 645 S.W.3d 689 (Mo. App. 2022)
Conducted a bench trial involving creditor plaintiff’s claims against LLCs and their members under the Missouri Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act (MUFTA), governing transfers as to present and future creditors; the evidence supported the piercing of the corporate veils of the corporate defendants: Dieckmann v. J.H. Construction 2, LLC, 619 S.W.3d 513 (Mo. App. 2021)
Presided over a bench trial involving bank’s claims on promissory notes; property owner’s wife was liable for obligations owed pursuant to promissory notes signed by her husband, where she ratified her husband’s authority to execute the promissory notes and related deeds of trust concerning her solely owned property: People’s National Bank, N.A. v. Fish, 600 S.W.3d 273 (Mo. App. 2020)
Adjudicated, as a matter of law, a coverage claim where the insured did not give the defendant insurance company notice of his claims for seven years and five years, respectively, after the insured’s instigation of litigation: Lurie v. Commonwealth Land Title Company, LLC, 558 S.W.3d 583 (Mo. App. 2018)
Conducted a bench trial involving plaintiff’s claims for breach of contract, quantum meruit, unjust enrichment and violation of Prompt Pay Act, Section 431.180.1-2 R.S.Mo.: Rocky Mountain West Telecom, Inc. v. Glenmartin Holding Co., LLC, 15SL-CC03112
Presided over class action lawsuits involving service of process in default judgments

Employment Law

Presided over a five-day jury trial involving plaintiff’s claims of constructive discharge and breach of contract: Boone v. Facilitec, Inc., 13SL-CC00224
Presided over a three-day jury trial involving plaintiff’s claims for discrimination on the basis of age and violation of the Missouri Service Letter Statute, Section 290.140 R.S.Mo.: Munie v. Cleaver-Brooks Sales and Service, Inc. and Holman Boiler Works, Inc., 15SL-CC00468
Presided over a weeklong trial involving plaintiff’s claims for discrimination and retaliation on the basis of disability: McKee v. Mo. Dept. of Corrections, 17SL-CC01269
As an attorney, represented working people in hundreds of arbitration cases and administrative hearings involving interpretation and enforcement of collective bargaining agreements, including both disciplinary and contract matters
As an attorney, represented plaintiffs and defendants in employment discrimination litigation

Family Law

Presided over more than 25 trials regarding dissolution of marriage, motions to modify and motions for contempt while assigned to the Family Court for the 21st Circuit; issues included:
- Adult abuse petitions
- Child support
- Custody
- Domestic violence
- Dissolution of marriage
- Divorce
- Guardianship
- Motions for contempt
- Motions to modify
- Motions to terminate child support/maintenance
- Paternity
- Restraining orders
- Spousal support
- Valuation

Personal Injury

Presided over a four-day jury trial involving plaintiff’s claims for wrongful death of decedent: Boren v. UFM Operations, LLC d/b/a U-City Forest Manor, 2024 WL 2091839 (Mo.Cir.Ct.)
Conducted a two-day jury trial involving plaintiff’s claims for personal injuries: Jentsch v. Midwest Elevator Co., 21 SL-CC04115
Adjudicated a matter with respect to the rule governing dismissal of actions where there were two pieces of prior litigation and a time-barred claim: Ferrill v. Yeung. 577 S.W.3d 818 (Mo. App. 2019)
Presided over four multi-day jury trials involving plaintiff’s claims for personal injuries arising out of alleged medical negligence: See, e.g., Linnertz v. SSM Cardiovascular and Thoracic Services, Inc., 14SL-CC01045

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

Memberships and Affiliations

Member, Missouri Bar Association
Member, Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater St. Louis
Member, Trial Judges Section, American Bar Association
Member, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Member, St. Louis County Bar Association
Member, Board of Trustees, University of Missouri-Columbia Law School Foundation
Commissioner, Missouri Public Defender Commission, 2009–2014
Commissioner, Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission, 2010–2014
Member, Missouri Supreme Court Civil Justice Commission, 2017–2021
Served in the 21st Judicial Circuit Speakers Bureau

Certifications

Certified Mediator, University of Missouri School of Law Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution, 2024
Certified Mediator, National Judicial College, 2023

Background and Education

Circuit Judge, 21st Judicial Circuit, Civil/Criminal, St. Louis County, Missouri, 2016–2025
Associate Circuit Judge, Family Court, St. Louis County, 2014–2016
Attorney, Private Practice, St. Louis, 2002–2014
Attorney, Private Practice, St. Louis, 1982–1998
Law Clerk to the Hon. David J. Dixon, Missouri Court of Appeals, 1981–1982
J.D., University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 1981
B.A., Washington University, 1978

Bar Admissions