Practice Areas:

Since joining the firm in 1980, Bill Tretbar has represented hundreds of individuals and businesses in courts throughout the State of Kansas. He is best known for his expertise in addressing the legal needs of newspapers and television stations, and has spoken to numerous bar and professional groups on a variety of media law topics. Mr. Tretbar’s achievements in this area include the successful representation of the state’s largest daily newspaper in Wichita Eagle and Beacon Publishing Company, Inc. v. Simmons 274 Kan. 194, 50 P.3d 66, 30 Media L. Rep. 2505 (2002), the Kansas Supreme Court’s most comprehensive analysis of the Kansas Open Records Act since its passage more than 20 years ago.  He is also a recognized authority on issues relating to the journalist's privilege, authoring the chapter on the subject in the Kansas Bar Association Media Law Handbook, scheduled for release in 2008.

Mr. Tretbar has also developed expertise in the representation of fiduciaries and others in a wide variety of probate disputes, in employment law, including grievance arbitrations and advice regarding collective bargaining agreements; and in tort and insurance coverage litigation. Among Mr. Tretbar's significant reported decisions are:

• Underhill v. Thompson, 37 Kan.App.2nd870, 158 P.3d 987 (2007), rev. denied (2007)[limitations]

• In re Estate of Doffing, 2007 WL 3341742_P.3d_(Kan.App.November 9, 2007)[enforcement of settlement agreement]

• Medina v. American Family Mutual Insurance Company, 29 Kan.App.2d 805, 32 P.3d 205 (2001) [underinsured motorist coverage]

• Gragg v. Wichita State University, 261 Kan. 1037, 934 P.2d 121 (1997) [premises liability/adequacy of security]

• Kimbrell v. ADIA, S.A., 929 F.Supp. 373 (D. Kan. 1996) [corporate litigation]

• In re Estate of Bennett, 19 Kan.App.2d 154, 865 P.2d 1062 (1994) [will contest]

• Planned Parenthood of Kansas, Inc. v. City of Wichita, 729 F.Supp. 1282 (D. Kan. 1990) [civil rights].

The father of two daughters, Mr. Tretbar served for many years as a mentor with the Communities in School Program and as a volunteer on a number of boards. He recently completed service on a subcommittee of the Kansas Judicial Council, and authored the Kansas chapter of the Reporters’ Committee for Freedom of the Press compendium of state reporters’ privilege laws.

Mr. Tretbar is a past recipient of the Wichita Bar Association President’s Award for his work as the first editor of the association’s monthly magazine, the Bar-o-Meter.