Barbara Edelman has extensive complex litigation experience. She focuses on commercial litigation and many types of business disputes. The matters litigated include contract disputes, fiduciary duty claims, lender liability, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, trade secrecy and financial class actions in state and federal courts. She also advises clients in employment-related matters, and has litigated many Title VII, wrongful discharge, non-competition and employment-related cases.
Over the course of her career, Barbara has appeared in all of the federal district courts in Kentucky, numerous Kentucky circuit courts throughout the state and in courts of other jurisdictions. She has tried more than 50 jury trials in state and federal courts and has handled more than 30 appeals to the Kentucky Court of Appeals, Kentucky Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Barbara is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in appellate law, Bet-the-Company, and commercial litigation. She has also been selected by Chambers & Partners - Chambers USA in commercial litigation, Kentucky's Super Lawyers for 2011, Kentucky's Super Lawyers for 2011 Top 25 Women, Kentucky's Super Lawyers for 2011 Top 50 Lawyers in the State, and Benchmark Litigation as a "Local Litigation Star."
In 2009, she was selected as a "Leading Woman in Central Kentucky by Business Lexington, and the Lane Reports' "Top Women in Business." She is a frequent speaker on litigation and evidentiary issues. She also serves on the Joint Rules Committee for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky and has previously served on the Merit Selection Panel for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to recommend nominees for the Bankruptcy Court of the Eastern District of Kentucky and on the Merit Selection Panel to select a federal magistrate judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky. She previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and served on the Department of Justice's Economic Fraud Commission. Barbara was also the head of the Coal Fraud Task Force for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Memberships & Affiliations
· Joint Local Rules Committee for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky
· Merit Selection Panel for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Bankruptcy Court
· Merit Selection Panel for Magistrate/Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky at London
· Federal Bar Association
· Supreme Court Historical Society
· LexArts, Board Member
· Kentucky Bar Association 2008 Convention Planning Committee
· Kentucky Bar Association, Chairman of Marketing and Communications Sub-committee
· Fayette County Women's Bar Association, former President
· Kentucky Bar Association, former service on Code of Evidence Task Force, Convention CLE Committee, Law Day Committee, Instructions Committee, Judicial Evaluation Task Force
· Kentucky Bar Association for Women, former Treasurer
· Fayette County Bar Association, former service on Committee on Court Efficiency, Committee for Courthouse Building, Nominating Committee
· University of Kentucky Law School Alumni Association, past President
· Governor's Counsel on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Civil Remedies Committee, former member
· Lexington Journal Club - 14 Attorney Membership
· St. Ives Journal Club - 18 Attorney Membership - Chancellor
Distinctions
· Named "Lawyer of the Year" in Lexington for Appellate Practice by The Best Lawyers in America®, 2012
· Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
· Listed in the Lane Report "Top Women in Business"
· Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 1995
· Selected for the Kentucky Super Lawyers® List
· Selected Kentucky Super Lawyer Top 25 Women by Law & Politics since 2008
· Selected Kentucky Super Lawyer Top 50 Lawyer by Law & Politics
· Ranked in Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Business Lawyers
· Named a "Local Litigation Star" in Benchmark Litigation
Experience
Papa Johns International, et al. v. Gary McCoy
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Filed amicus curiae bried in suit involving issue of liability of franchisor for torts allegedly committed by franchisee's employees
Ron Reynolds v. Thomas & King
Casual Dining Restaurant Company
Shareholder derivative suit involving fiduciary duty claims by minority shareholder.
Anonymous Plaintiffs v. Large National Coal Company
Large National Coal Company
Declaratory judgment suit involving claims of breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation, and tortious interference with contract
Jaguar Cars, Inc. v. Kentucky Motor Vehicles Commission
Jaguar Cars, Inc.
Declaratory judgment
James A. Thompson and T.R. Technologies Ky, Inc. v. Edward L. Underwood, Crescent Capital Investments, Inc., et al.
Crescent Capital Investments, Inc.
Defense of breach of contract suit against national investment capital group
RSI v. LG & E
Large Utility Company
Defense of claims made by coal producer stemming from a declaration of force majeure.
Anonymous Plaintiffs v. ESOP Plan Trustees
ESOP Plan Trustees
Defense of plan trustees of an ESOP against claims of breach of fiduciary duty
Ticona Polymers, Inc. v. Solutia, Inc.
Solutia, Inc.
Suit involving claims of breach of contract and breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing
Restaurant Franchise Owner v. Landlord
Restaurant Franchise Owner
Dispute over $5,000,000 lease involving claims of breach of contract
Solutia Inc. v. FMC Corporation
Solutia Inc.
Suit for a specialty chemicals company involving claims in excess of $300 million for breach of a joint venture contract, fraud, misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary duty
Sue Spencer v. Feather, Inc.
Feather, Inc.
Jury Trial on behalf of defendant in a suit alleging sexual harassment.
Jaguar Cars, Inc. v. Blackhorse Motors
Jaguar Cars, Inc.
Defense of fraud, RICO and breach of contract claims
Big Sandy Company, L.P. v. Sidney Coal Company and Cliffs Mining
Big Sandy Company, L.P.
Breach of contract
City of Maysville v. Commonwealth of Kentucky, Finance and Administration Cabinet
Kentucky League of Cities
Action for declaratory judgment related to interpretation of Kentucky funding statutes
Class Action Plaintiffs v. Credit Company and Law Firm
Law Firm
Defense of class action suit involving alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Act
Large National Coal Company v. Power Producer
Large National Coal Company
Declaratory judgment suit involving claims of breach of contract
Bankruptcy Trustee v. Thoroughbred Farm Owner
Thoroughbred Farm Owner
Defended fraudulent conveyance claims filed over transfer of property.
Automobile Parts Manufacturer v. Health Insurer
Automobile Parts Manufacturer
Suit involving claims of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and negligent misrepresentation related to alleged failure to provide insurance coverage
Host Communications, Inc. v. Sprint Communications, Inc.
Host Communications, Inc.
Declaratory judgment action involving claim of breach of contract
Former Council Member v. Former Vice-Mayor
Former Vice-Mayor
Defense of former Vice-Mayor against claims of defamation, tortious interference and abuse of process
Francine Jackman, et al. v. Check Into Cash of Kentucky
Check Into Cash of Kentucky
Defense of class action suit alleging violations of Kentucky deferred deposit statutes and usury laws
Douglas Industries, Inc. and JAIR United, Inc. v. Lear Siegler Services, Inc.
Lear Siegler Services, Inc.
Defense of claims involving alleged breach of contract and unjust enrichment
Former Client v. Kentucky Law Firm
Law Firm
Defended law firm and its partners in a matter involving coal property valuation issues.
Publications
November 20, 1998, "Pre-trial and Tribulations: Amended Discovery Rule 26 Revisited," Bench & Bar, Vol. 62, No. 5, November 1998
November 1, 1998, "Parties", Pre-trial and Trial Practice, Lawyer's Cooperative Sixth Circuit Practice Guide
Presentations
June 17, 2011, "Watching Sparks Fly: An Oral Arugument on Texas v. Johnson," Kentucky Bar Association Annual Convention 2011, Speaker
April 13, 2011, "Rainmaking: Building and Maintaining Your Practice," Fayette County Bar Association - Women Lawyer Section, Panelist
September 2010, Kentucky Chapter on Class Action, "A Practitioner's Guide to Class Actions," American Bar Association
June 29, 2010, "Million Dollar Closing Arguments - from the Defense Table," Fayette County Bar Association, Bench & Bar 2010, Speaker
June 20, 2008, "How to Become a Rainmaker: Kentucky Lawyer Strategies for Marketing and Client Development," Kentucky Bar Association Annual Convention 2008, Speaker
June 13, 2008, "Top Ten 'Gotcha's' in Federal Court Practice," Dinsmore & Shohl, Panelist
December 7, 2007, "Ethical Ramifications of Conflicts of Interest," Dinsmore & Shohl Ethics, Professional & Substance Abuse Seminar, Cincinnati, Ohio, Panelist
June 22, 2007, "Advanced Appellate Practice," Kentucky Bar Association Annual Convention 2007, Panelist
"General Counsel's Perspective - What They Want and Don't Want to See," Fayette County Bar Association, Women Lawyers Section, Moderator