DRI members:  Please consider nominating an individual you feel is worthy of any of the awards as outlined in the following brochure.  You and the individual you are nominating needs to be a member of DRI.  Not sure if an individual is a member of DRI, please feel free to contact the DRI office or DRI State Rep, Kit Hornback, and they will assist you.

2017-Professional_Achievement_Awards.pdf

KDC congratulates KDC member, Thomas Travis, as being named a Judge for Fayette County by Governor Matt Bevin.  KDC wishes Mr. Travis the best!

Thomas L. Travis, a Member at Ward, Hocker & Thornton, PLLC, was selected by Governor Bevin to fill the vacant Fayette Circuit judgeship in the Court’s 8th Division on March 7, 2017. Travis was among three Lexington attorneys submitted to the Governor in January to fill the seat.

Travis’ legal career has spanned nearly 30 years with his practice consisting of all types of civil litigation, disputes regarding insurance coverage and trial and appellate advocacy. He has litigated across the Commonwealth in numerous jurisdictions and venues. He has been an attorney with Ward, Hocker & Thornton, PLLC for 26 years.

Travis graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1987. He is a native of Glasgow, Kentucky, and resides in Lexington with his wife Lisa. They have two adult children.

Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction that hears civil matters involving more than $5,000, capital offenses and felonies, divorces, adoptions, termination of parental rights, land dispute title cases and contested probate cases. The Circuit Court judicial seat became vacant when Judge Thomas L. Clark resigned in November 2016.

KDC welcomes the following attorneys from Dressman Benzinger & LaVelle psc, Crestview Hills:

Michael Joseph Entzweiter graduated from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law and practices in the areas of Employment and Medical Malpractice.  He is a member of DRI.

Ryan Michael McClane graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law and practices in the areas of Business Litigation and Medical Malpractice.

Cathy Lee Stickels graduated from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law and practices in the area of Medical Malpractice.

Thanks to KDC Director, Nick Birkenhauer, and KDC Past President, Robert Hoffer, for sponsoring these new members!

KDC welcomes its newest member, Wilson Henry Ewen of Ewen & Kinney, PLLC, Louisville.  Mr. Ewen graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and practices in the areas of Auto, Insurance and Tort.  He is sponsored by KDC member, A. Ewen Kinney.

KDC welcomes its newest member, Priscilla Page of O'Bryan, Brown & Toner, Louisville.  Ms. Page graduated from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and practices in the areas of Medical Malpractice, Premises Liability, Product Liability and Professional Liability.  She is sponsored by KDC Director, Katherine Kerns Vesely.

Nunery & Call have relocated their offices to 225 E. First Street, Campbellsville, Kentucky.

KDC member Carl N. Frazier is one of three young lawyers honored by the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division as a finalist for the 2016 William Reece Jr. National Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, an annual recognition of an ABA young lawyer who exhibits professional excellence, service to the profession and the bar, service to the community, and a reputation for or the advancement of legal ethics and professional responsibility. This is one of several awards Carl has been recognized with.

“Nomination for this prestigious award is an amazing accomplishment and a testament to your superb reputation as an outstanding lawyer, servant to the public and bar leader,” said Lacy Durham, chair of the ABA’s National Outstanding Young Lawyer Award.

According to Durham, Katy Boatman of Houston was selected as the 2016 National Outstanding Young Lawyer; Timothy Ting of Carbondale, IL joins Carl as a finalist. “The Board commends Carl on his amazing accomplishments and remarkable reputation within his community,” Durham said.

KDC welcomes its newest member, Trevor L. Earl of Reed, Weitkamp, Schell & Vice PLLC, Louisville.  Mr. Earl graduated from law school at the College of William and Mary and practices in the areas of premises liability and product liability.  He is sponsored by KDC Past President, Ridley M. Sandige.

Congratulations to KDC member, Greg Funfsinn on his recent defense verdict!

... a good result for a restaurant client ... after a 3-day jury trial in Bell County, KY. The case involved a slip/trip and fall on a recently mopped floor at a quick serve restaurant. Plaintiff sustained a trimalleolar ankle fracture with dislocation that required multiple surgeries and hardware. She asked the jury for more than $673,000 in damages. The jury returned a verdict placing 51% fault on Plaintiff and 49% on my client. She was awarded only her past medical expenses and lost wages. 

Congratulations to KDC members Ashley Brown & Tucker Willis on their recent defense verdict:

Ashley Brown and Tucker Willis obtained a unanimous defense verdict today in a jury trial in Jefferson County.  The premises liability case involved allegations of a traumatic brain injury and claimed medical expenses of $160,000.  The claimed damages were diminished through pretrial motion practice, resulting in the plaintiff being permitted to claim $5,500 at trial.  The jury deliberated and returned a defense verdict on liability, finding no dangerous condition on the defendant’s premises.