University

University of Kentucky, B.S., 1970

Law School

University of Kentucky, J.D., 1974

Admitted

1974, Kentucky and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky; 2004, U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

General Civil Mediator — Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts Roster of Court Approved Mediators

Memberships

  • Fayette County, Kentucky and American Bar Associations
  • St. Ives Journal Club (1998 – present)
  • The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals Member (2019)

Born

Lexington, Kentucky, August 26, 1948

Practice

  • Gess, Mattingly, Saunier & Atchison 1974 – 1978
  • Assistant United States Attorney 1978 – 1980
  • Stoll Keenon & Park 1980 – 2004
  • Savage, Elliott, Houlihan, Moore, Mullins & Skidmore 2004 -2012
  • Elliott, Houlihan & Skidmore 2012 – 2015

Service to Bar

  • Elected KBA Board of Governors 1985 – 1990
  • Member KBA Evidence Rules Study Committee (chaired by Prof. Robert G. Lawson)  resulting in 1992 adoption of  KRE
  • UK Law Litigation Skills Teacher, Mock Trial Coach  2004 – 2010
  • Mentor KBA Pilot Mentor Program 2009
  • Kentucky Bar Foundation Fellow
  • Fayette County Bar Foundation Fellow

Community

YMCA of Central Ky – Board of Directors 1997 – 2002; Board Chair 1999 during completion of Capital Campaign which built the North and Beaumont YMCA branches; Red Triangle Award 1999.

Awards

  • 2010 KBA President’s Special Service Award for service to Board of Governors of Kentucky Bar Association
  • 2010 Nathaniel R. Harper Award for efforts to increase diversity in legal profession in Kentucky presented by KBA Young Lawyers Section
  • 2015 UK Law Alumni Association Professional Achievement Award.

Mediation Training

  • December 2014, 40-hour course in Basic Mediation Training at the Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution, The University of Texas School of  Law, Austin Texas — taught by Kimberlee K. Kovach (noted trainer and author of Mediation: Principles And  Practice  (3rd ed. 2004).
  • October 2015, 3-Day Mediator Bootcamp: Surviving in the Trenches, Pepperdine School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution — taught by Tracey Allen and Eric Galton

Areas of Substantial Practice Experience:

  • Plaintiff Medical Negligence
  • Legal Malpractice (Plaintiff & Defense)
  • Employment Litigation (Plaintiff & Defense)
  • Commercial Litigation (Plaintiff  & Defense)
  • Estate/Will Litigation (Plaintiff & Defense)
  • Personal Injury (Plaintiff & Defense)
  • Fiduciary Duty (Plaintiff & Defense)
  • Partnership Disputes (Plaintiff & Defense)
  • Civil Fraud (Plaintiff & Defense)
  • Business Torts (Plaintiff & Defense)
  • Business & Property Valuation (Plaintiff & Defense)
  • Plaintiff Product Liability
  • First Amendment Law
  • Defamation
  • Independent Investigation
  • KBA Disciplinary (Board & Respondent)
  • Criminal

Lawyer Peer Ratings

National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals Member (2019)

Martindale-Hubbell

  • AV® Preeminent™ 1991 – 2018

The Best Lawyers in America

  • Commercial Litigation: 1993-2018
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation: 2008-2018 (Lexington Metro Lawyer of the Year 2009)
  • First Amendment Law: 2007-2018

Super Lawyers

  • Personal Injury – General: Plaintiff, Business Litigation Lawyer 2007 – 2018