James F. Stigall

As a founding member and Lead Trial Lawyer of SWL Injury Lawyers, James F. Stigall believes that his duty is to represent people who have been harmed and help them when they are at their lowest point. James comes from a long tradition of Kansas City lawyers and is carrying his own torch since founding the law firm of SWL Injury Lawyers. As a young child he remembers hearing stories from his grandfather and father about fighting for the rights of victims of terrible tragedies at both the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office and in the civil law forum at their own respective firms. In addition, his mother was a successful attorney at one of the most distinguished defense firms in the nation. This has afforded James the opportunity to learn from successful attorneys on both sides of the law and cultivate not only the work ethic, but also the experience and resources needed to vigorously fight for his clients.

James’ legal career began at the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law where he focused on trial practice and worked for several judges in Jackson County and the Missouri Court of Appeals.  After he graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City and made the tough decision to join the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, rather than immediately enter the civil law forum. While at the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office, he handled hundreds of cases that consisted of homicides, assaults, burglaries, sex crimes, and vehicular crimes. His courtroom experience at the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office consisted of over twenty jury trials, ranging from homicides to vehicular fatalities, and handling over two hundred pleas of guilty. This resulted in him ultimately winning the Patrick B. Trial Attorney of the Year Award, which is presented to the top trial attorney at the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office.

In 2016, James decided to leave the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office and fight for the rights of injured individuals at one of the most respected and prominent personal injury law firms in the United States. James participated in and received broad training from experienced attorneys that taught him our two main goals, as attorneys, are to help a family or individual through a tragic moment and make sure that nobody ever has to go through that same tragedy again. Over time he was able to work on multi-million-dollar cases and obtain large, favorable results for his clients that now encourage defendants to settle for sizable amounts rather than roll the dice at trial.

The lessons and experience James learned from his family, at the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law, at the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office and in the civil law forum provided him with the opportunity to found Stigall Whitworth with his lifelong friend Luke Whitworth. Luke had previously developed a prosperous personal injury firm in Kansas City, Whitworth Law Office. Luke expanded his practice with the addition of James Stigall, a persuasive and successful trial attorney that could capture the respect of clients and jurors alike.  In 2024, Luke and James partnered with Jarrett Leiker to form SWL Injury Lawyers.  Luke, James and Jarrett are currently regarded as some of the most sought after and talented young lawyers in Kansas City. SWL Injury Lawyers is one of the largest personal injury law firms in the Midwest and one of the fastest growing personal injury law firms in America.

James grew up in Blue Springs, MO and attended Blue Springs High School. He then attended the University of Missouri Columbia on a full football scholarship and earned spots on the Big 12 All-Academic First Team and Commissioner’s Honor Roll. When James is not busy working on obtaining results for his clients you can find him spending time with his wife, Cicily, and daughter, Vivienne, at or near their home in Kansas City. James also enjoys golfing (aka looking for his lost golf balls), hunting, fishing, playing with his two dogs, and spending time at the Lake of the Ozarks.