Local legal news in Kentucky.
by Robert Hedges ©

Local attorney James W. Craft is successfully sued for malpractice in Judge Hood's U. S. District Court, for $171,000.00.

Pike County successfully sued in Judge Hood's U. S. District Court, having no qualified immunity to suit. This case has been to the 6th Circuit once at least.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Hood was aware at least by August 26, 1992 that: "We [former KY Supreme Court Chief Justice John S. Palmore said,] think that courts ought to decide cases on the merits and write opinions," he said.

Three Jefferson County employees, and the Jefferson County jail are charged with a constitutional deprivation, $1,180,000 in actual and punitive damages by a jury in US District Court. This case has been to the 6th Circuit at least once, but the records are not available publicly to determine what happened here.

A Louisville lawyer is saved $174,300. in damages for malicious prosecution. The state court of Appeals said that Ben Hardy, Esq could not have known he would not win. The case was based on an estate in which the allegation of malicious prosecution was raised.

Jefferson Co KY pays out $500,000. in strip-search damage cases, averaging $27,777.00 per plaintiff in 18 cases.

Local lawyers made three million in fees while local displaced home-owners received four million in Airport development and expansion cases.

Judge Charles Allen sanctions and fines the KY defendant's counsel for filing an argument and ruled that pleading an argument rejected previously, and thus failing to follow stare decisis was a violation of Rule 11, in the strip search cases. Violations of stare decisis seem mere ethics violations.

Louisville settles in Jones v Louisville, Bishop, for $225,000 . settlement. The case compelling the settlement is in the US District Court.

Judges have a remorselessness-quota. - "tired old judge who has temporarily filled his quota of remorselessness." Senior Judge Jack B. Weinstein from Brooklyn Federal Court at Cardoza Law School in April 1993.

Wilmer "Woody" Gash, the coroner has had an indictment just plumb lost in Anderson County, KY.

Paul Richwalsky of the Attorney General's Office is assigned to investigate.

Markita Shelburne, Commonwealth Attorney, is receiving the negative press as a result. She was notified of the complaints when she was elected, which were pending from the days of Ted Inglehart (complaint letters dated 9 June; 30 Sept.; 7 Oct.; 9 Oct. 1993;) . There has been no other contact with her since.

Tom Loftus, CJ writer is on the story.

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Last modified: October1996