Our attorneys

Bar admissions

• State of Kentucky
• State of Tennessee
• State of Missouri
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Awards

• Named to Kentucky Super Lawyers, 2007-2010, 2013-2020
• Continental Who’s Who, Pinnacle Lifetime Member
• AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
• Named 10 Best Personal Injury Lawyers from the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys

Professional associations and memberships

• American Bar Association
• Kentucky Bar Association
• Tennessee Bar Association
• Missouri Bar Association
• Kentucky Justice Association, Contributing Editor of Trial Practice Magazine The Advocate
• American Association for Justice, Litigation Medical negligence, and Railroad Sections
• National Board of Trial Advocacy
• Hopkins County Bar Association
• Madisonville-Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, Chairman (2000-2001)
• Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, Contributing Editor of Trial Practice section for The Advocate
• Kentucky Attorney Disciplinary System, Trial Commissioner
• Hopkins Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Hopkins County Salvation Army, Board Member

Education

• University of Kentucky – Lexington: B.A., with distinction, 1979
• University of Kentucky – Lexington: J.D., 1982

Case Results

• 2019 – Lead counsel for a motorcyclist in Tennessee who suffered catastrophic injuries against a major transport company resulting in confidential settlement. Lead Counsel in a products liability case against a cosmetic manufacturer
• 2019 – Lead counsel for the Estate of a woman against a physician in Tennessee who repeatedly failed to advise of cancerous findings she received in two different pathology reports, which was a substantial factor in her death. Confidential settlement.
• 2017 – Lead counsel for a motorcyclist in Kentucky who suffered catastrophic injuries against a major transport company resulting in confidential settlement.
• 2016 – Lead Counsel for a group of individuals in a products liability case against a cosmetic manufacturer resulting in confidential settlement.
• 2016 – Lead counsel for a motorcyclist in Kentucky who suffered catastrophic injuries against a major transport company resulting in confidential settlement.
• 2016 – Lead counsel for a motorcyclist in Iowa who suffered catastrophic injuries against a major transport company resulting in confidential settlement.
• 2015 – Lead Counsel in Don McAfee, et., al. v Carol Lopatin, U.S. District Ct., Middle District of Missouri, Cause No. 2:14-cv-4209, a motorcycle injury case, resulting in a $73,336.82 jury verdict.
• 2015 – Lead Counsel in Appalachian Land Company v EQT Supreme Court of Kentucky, 2013-SC-000598-CL changing the law in Kentucky regarding deduction of coal severance taxes in mineral leases in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
• 2015 –  Lead Counsel in Lawrence Holmes and Jason D. Myers v. Forrest “Ben” Waide and Liberty Rehabilitation PSC  No. 13-CI-1193 (Hopkins (KY) Circuit Court), resulting in a $681,000 jury verdict.
• 2014 – Sutton, et al. v. The Federal Materials Company, Inc., et al, No. 07-CI-00007 (Ky. Cir. Ct) (Co-Lead Counsel; $10.1 million class settlement for owners of residential and commercial properties constructed with defective concrete).
• 2014 – Young, et al. v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co, et al., No. 11-5015 (E.D. Ky.) (series of class actions against multiple insurance companies arising from unlawful collection of local taxes on premium payments; class certified and affirmed on appeal, 693 F.3d 532 (6th Cir., 2012); settlements with all defendants for 100% refund of taxes collected)
• 2013 – Co-lead Counsel on a three week jury trial in Madisonville, Kentucky resulting in a $1.39 million verdict in favor of a church and a business against two coal companies for causing subsidence to their properties
• 2012 – Nichols v. Progressive Direct Insurance Co., et al., No. 2:06cv146 (E.D. Ky.) (Class Counsel; class action arising from unlawful taxation of insurance premiums; statewide settlement with Safe Auto Insurance Company and creation of $2 million Settlement Fund;statewide settlement with Hartford Insurance Company and tax refunds of $1.75 million )
• Co-Lead Counsel for a client injured by the acts of a against a railroad company resulting in a confidential settlement.
• Lead Counsel in a products case where the design flaw of a shuttle car resulted in the death of a miner, resulting in a $625,000 settlement.
• Lead Counsel in a case involving negligent nursing supervision of intensive care monitoring, resulting in a confidential six figure settlement.
• Co-Lead Counsel for Staton v. IMI South, et al. (Ky. Cir. Ct.) Class settlement for approximately $30 million for repair and purchase of houses built with defective concrete.
• Counsel for recipients of the Bjork Shiley heart valve, leading to a worldwide settlement against the manufacturer
• Obtained numerous million dollar judgments for various landowners throughout Kentucky who were victims of fraudulent mine royalty practices
• Represented hundreds of homeowners in Western Kentucky for defective concrete utilized in their homes and businesses
• Co-counsel for a class of Kentucky residents overcharged for premium insurance taxes, resulting in settlements against insurance companies for several million dollars
• Co-Lead Counsel in the Pyro Mine Disaster that claimed the lives of 10 miners at the Williams Station Mine in Union County Kentucky