Ms. Banahan Dagestad joined Evans & Dixon in 2016, after graduating from Saint Louis University School of Law, where she received the CALI Excellence Award in Legal Research & Writing. Ms. Banahan Dagestad is a member in our Civil Litigation Department and concentrates the majority of her practice on insurance defense. The bulk of Ms. Banahan Dagestad’s experience is concentrated in personal injury litigation stemming from vehicular accidents, medical malpractice and premise liability claims. Her clients include businesses, individuals, and government entities. In addition to practicing civil litigation, Ms. Banahan Dagestad handles a number of criminal matters including traffic violations and DWI’s.
Since joining the firm, Ms. Banahan Dagestad has had the opportunity to second chair six civil jury trials under the direction of supervising partner James E. Godfrey, Jr., in jurisdictions including St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Francois County, and Jefferson County. In early 2020, Mr. Godfrey and Ms. Banahan Dagestad tried back-to-back jury trials in a nine day timeframe. After obtaining a Defendant’s verdict in a slip and fall case with an at-trial demand of over $800,000, they obtained a favorable verdict in a serious motor vehicle accident wherein the jury awarded just $10,000 in damages to the Plaintiff, despite a demand of $2,000,000.
Ms. Banahan Dagestad is an active member of the Missouri Bar, the Illinois Bar, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri and is a member of the Medical Professional Liability (MPL) Association.