News

KDC is pleased to welcome its two newest members:

Keri E. Hieneman of VanAntwerp Attorneys, Ashland, Kentucky.  Ms. Hieneman graduated from the University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law and practices in the areas of Appellate, Auto, Business Litigation, Contract, Education, General Liability, Insurance Coverage, Medical Malpractice, Premises Liability, Professional Liability, Tort and Workers' Comp.  She is sponsored by KDC President, Mitch Hall.

Samantha Fields Sycks of VanAntwerp Attorneys, Ashland, Kentucky.  Ms. Sycks graduated from the University of Cincinnati, College of Law and practices in the areas of Appellate, Business Litigation, Commercial, Construction, Contract, Education, Employment, General Liability, Medical Malpractice, Nursing Home, Premises Liability, Property and Tort.  She is sponsored by KDC President, Mitch Hall.

Join DRI & KDC and June 21 at 12:30 p.m. eastern time for Security is Only as Good as the Weakest Link:  Legal Tech Security Measurers Every Lawyer Must Take. Barron Henley of Affinity Consulting will be presenting this 1.0 hour program. 

Model Rule 16(c) stipulates that a lawyer must make reasonable efforts to prevent the disclosure of confidential client information.  The comments to Rule 1.6 require lawyers to act competently to safeguard client information, and use reasonable safety precautions when transmitting a client communication.  The exact meanings of "reasonable efforts," "act competently," and "reasonable precautions" may be subject to debate.  However, doing nothing certainly won't see nth standard.  The good news is that you don't have to be a security expert or a techie to protect yourself and your office.

For more information on the program and for information on registering, click on this link.  06-21-18 Security Is Only as Good as the Weakest Link.pdf

KDC is pleased to welcome Janet Luo of Sturgill, Turner, Barker & Moloney, PLLC, Lexington.  Ms. Luo is a graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Law and practices in the areas of Appellate, Bad Faith, Government Entity, Medical Malpractice and Tort.  She is a member of DRI and is sponsored by KDC Past President, Pat Moloney.

KDC welcomes its newest member Olivia Flora Amlung of Adams, Stepner, Woltermann & Dusing, PLLC, Covington.  Ms. Amlung is a University of Cincinnati College of Law graduate and practices in the areas of Auto, Government, Insurance, and Tort.  She is sponsored by KDC Vice President, Claire Parsons.

KDC is pleased to welcome it newest member, Jordan Michael White of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP, Louisville.  Mr. White is a graduate of the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and practices in the areas of Business Litigation, Commercial, Employment, General Liability and Tort.  He is sponsored by KDC member, Donald Kelly.

In the Fall 2017 member survey, many KDC members requested a "ListServ" type program.  With many thanks to KDC Secretary-Treasurer, Paul Lawless, and his firm's IT guru, John Mitchell, we have now set-up an email list which all KDC members may use to communicate.  This will be used instead of the need to go through the KDC office, and will help expedite responses.  Four-five administrators will be available to review the email requests and approve them for immediate distribution.  All KDC members have been sent a link to confirm their inclusion on the list.

We plan to review the use of this program in 6-8 months to determine its usage.  If the demand is there, we will look into adding additional groups, such as "Medical Malpractice", "Workers' Comp", "Young Lawyers", "Publication Committee" ...  

KDC welcomes the following new members:

Chad O. Propst of Thompson Miller & Simpson PLC, Louisville is a University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law graduate.  Mr.  Propst practices in the areas of Appellate, Business Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Professional Liability and Tort.  He is sponsored by KDC Past President, Brad Hume, and is a member of DRI.

Joey A. Wrightof Thompson Miller & Simpson PLC, Louisville is a University of Kentucky Law School graduate.  Mr.  Wright practices in the areas of Appellate, Business Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Professional Liability and Tort.  He is sponsored by KDC Past President, Brad Hume, and is a member of DRI.

KDC is pleased to welcome the following new members:

Alexis Orland Gonzalez-Lopez of VanAntwerp Attorneys, Ashland, is a University of Kentucky Law School graduate.  Mr. Gonzalez-Lopez practices in the areas of Contract, Insurance Coverage, and Medical Malpractice.  He is sponsored by KDC President, Mitch Hall.

Brittany B. McKenna of Napier Gault Schupbach & Stevens, Louisville, is a University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law graduate.  Ms. McKenna practices in the areas of General Liability, Medical Malpractice and Nursing Home.  She is sponsored by KDC Director/Publication Chair, Kristen Fowler

Kevin Shay Owens of Napier Gault Schupbach & Stevens, Louisville, is a University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law graduate.  Mr. Owens practices in the areas of Medical Malpractice and Nursing Home, and is sponsored by KDC Director/Publication Chair, Kristen Fowler

DRI has extended the deadline for completed applications for the DRI Diversity Law Student Scholarships to April 10th. As you know, we award two $10,000 scholarships each year to two deserving law students who advance the cause of diversity in the law profession. Please pass this information along to law schools or eligible students in your area and urge them to apply.  Click here to download the information you will need to apply dri-2018-diversity-scholarship-application-fnl.pdf

Please encourage law students you know to apply.

We were really saddened to learn of the death of KDC's Past President, Robert G. Breetz this past Thursday.  Our condolences are extended to the entire Breetz family, including his son Matt, who is also a Past President of KDC.  Louisville has lost a fine leader.

Robert G. Breetz, Sr., Louisville - 82, unexpectedly filed his final brief Thursday March 22, 2018, at 4 PM. He was born May 25, 1935, in Covington, KY to Herbert George Breetz of New Albany, IN and Evelyn Bechtold Breetz of Covington, KY. 

Bob was a loving husband, a dedicated father and grandfather, an extraordinarily compassionate lawyer and judge, and a friend to all. He has long been known for his keen intelligence, wonderful sense of humor, and kind, generous, and loving nature. After attending seminary for a time, he moved to Louisville and entered law school, graduating from the University of Louisville School of Law in 1960. He was a member of the Kentucky National Guard for a number of years, where he was told he couldn't even peel a potato well. He was a founding member of the Louisville recreational softball team, the Heffalumps, where he routinely turned triples into singles by virtue of his exceptional speed. His talents were put to their best use in his long and varied legal career, beginning as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Roy Shelbourne, working as an associate and then for decades as a partner in the law firm Stites & Harbison, as a judge on the Kentucky Court of Appeals, and as the initial claims counsel and subsequent COO of Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company of Kentucky. He retired in 2010 but still loved the law and used his knowledge to help others even after he retired. 

Bob lost the love of his life, Dalarna Gayle Tuttle, in 2014, after 53 years of marriage. He is survived by his five children, Robert Gregory "Greg" (Ginger) of Franklin, TN, Bethany Ann "Beth" (Ron Loughry) of Louisville, Juliet Marie "Julie" Miller-Breetz (Greg) of Towson, MD, Matthew Warren "Matt" (Sandra) and Christopher Alan "Chris" (Brigid) both of Louisville, KY, twenty grandchildren (Jordan, Bailey, Kenzie, Trey, Walker, Mason, Jemma, Katie, Madeline, Anna, Jude, Tibebe, Kaleab, Nathaniel, Abigayle, Hawi, Aden, Austen, Tristan and Emma) his brother William "Bill" Breetz of Cincinnati, OH and his sister Ann (Dick) Elmer of Wilmington, NC. He also left behind a men's group he participated in for over 40 years who supported one another during the ups and downs of life, a group of friends he and Dalarna had since their college days, and a wonderful community at Magnolia Springs, where he lived the last couple of years playing poker or bridge or both almost every day. Finally, his family wishes to thank the "dream team" at University of Louisville Hospital, including the many fabulous nurses and others on 7 West, who provided excellent care and showed great compassion during his final week.

Visitation will be at Pearson's,149 Breckinridge Lane on Monday, March 26 from 1 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Tuesday, March 27 at Beulah Presbyterian Church, 6704 Bardstown Road, with visitation afterwards at the church. 

In lieu of flowers donations to either Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (KCADP.org) or Fern Creek Highview United Ministries (FCHUM.org) would be greatly appreciated.