Joseph L. White
866-936-6290
Joe White is a seasoned and accomplished trial lawyer. He has represented injured individuals throughout Kentucky for over 40 years. His skill in settlements and trials has helped hundreds of families and individuals repair their lives after devastating, catastrophic injuries and losses.
Throughout his career, Joe has concentrated on plaintiffs cases in litigation. He has been involved in numerous trials and settlements in cases before trial. Joe practices in areas of serious, catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, hospital acquired infections, wrongful death, premises injuries, and products that caused harm.
Joe is a highly honored trial lawyer. He has earned awards from many organizations. Joe is listed and recognized by Kentucky Super Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, and as a Top Trial Lawyer by the American Trial Lawyers Association as one of the 100 Best Trial Lawyers in Kentucky. Joe has received the highest rating from his peers for skill and ethics and is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell. He is recognized by Louisville Magazine as one of the Best Lawyers in Louisville and was awarded the Peter Perlman Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award from the Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys. Joe is a Life Fellow of the Kentucky Bar Association.
Joe's practice often includes high profile cases. He is regularly asked by local and national companies and media outlets for commentary, case studies, and evaluations. Additionally, many of Joe's cases are referrals from other attorneys who want quality legal representation for their friends, family members, and clients when they are injured.
An active and proud member of the Kentucky Justice Association and the Louisville and Kentucky Bar Associations, Joe has held the highest offices in these legal organizations. Joe has served as the President of the Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys and as a Member of the Board of Governors of the Kentucky Bar Association. He has had many roles in the Louisville Bar Association. He is an attorney member of Citizens for Better Judges Steering Committee and is a member of its Executive Board. Joe also was a member of the Louis D. Brandeis American Inn of Court. He held the rank of Master attorney as a member.
Joe is a lifelong Kentuckian and is from lifelong Kentucky families. He earned his Law Degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. He received a B.A. in Liberal Arts from the University of Louisville and is an alumnus of St. Xavier High School.
Joe is a teacher and a mentor to other attorneys, and he is a frequent lecturer at legal seminars. He has authored publications for the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and the Salmon P. Chase School of Law at Northern Kentucky University.
Joe is admitted to the practice of law in Kentucky, federal courts in the 6th and 7th Circuits, and the Supreme Court of the United States. He has also been admitted pro hac vice to practice cases in other states
Practice Experience
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Small Firm Practitioner Entire Career
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40 plus years of Civil Trial and Appellate Experience
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Concentration in personal injury, medical negligence, products liability, and premises liability cases
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Lead counsel in 60 plus jury trials and 90 plus mediations
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Arbitrator in several complex cases
Areas of Practice
- 60% Plaintiff's Personal Injury
- 30% Other Plaintiff's General Civil Litigation
- 10% Estate/Probate and Will Contests
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Kentucky, 1967
- U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky, 1973
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1979
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1979
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1982
Education
- Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
- J.D. - 1967
- University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
- B.A. - 1958
- Major: Liberal Arts
Published Works
- "The Tort of Outrageous Conduct Causing Serious Emotional Distress and Employment Law" (With Marlin M. Voltz, Fred B. Rothman & Co.), Fourth Annual Labor and Employment Law Institute at the University of Louisville School of Law, 1988
- "The Doctrine of Comparative Negligence Should be Adopted in Kentucky", Northern Kentucky Law Review, Vol. 11 - No. 1, 1984
Representative Cases
Classes/Seminars
- "Tort Reform & Constitutional Issues: Plaintiff & Defense Bar Perspectives" , KBA, Kentucky Law Update, 2003
- "Problem Cases: Dealing With Unrealistic Clients", KATA, Overcoming Obstacles in Settlements - The Subrogation Seminar, 2005
- "The Care and Tending of the Plaintiff, Your Client", KATA, Trial Tactics from Trial Masters, 2005
- "How to Decide Whether to Accept a Medical Negligence Case", KATA, Understanding Medical Records , 2002
- "Special Concerns for Wrongful Death Actions for the Death of a Child", Lorman Education Services, Successful Handling of Wrongful Death Cases in Kentucky, 2002
- "Ethical Considerations of Deposition Discovery", KATA, Ethics Seminars, 2002
- "A Lawyer's Guide to Trial Consulting and Focus Groups", KBA, Annual Convention, 2000
- "Location and Effective Use of Medical Experts", KATA, Medicine for Trial Lawyers Seminar, 2000
- "Handling the Personal Injury Case from the Perspective of the Solo or Small Firm Plaintiff's Attorney", LBA/University of Louisville School of Law, Handling the Personal Injury Case Seminar, 1999
- "Evidence of Damages", KATA, Nuts and Bolts of Evidence and Procedure Seminar, 1999
- "Handling the Medical/Dental Negligence Case from Start to Finish", KATA, Professional Malpractice Seminar, 1998
- "How to Win Your Case Through Voir Dire", KATA, Annual Spring Break Seminar, 1997
- "Handling the Personal Injury Case from Start to Finish" , LBA, How to Find the Courthouse from People Who Know How, 1995
- "Proof of Personal Injury Damages: Plaintiff's Perspective", Professional Education Systems, Inc., Proof of Personal Injury Damages in Kentucky, 1995
- "Effective Use of Expert Witnesses in Premises Liability Cases" , KATA, Premises Liability Seminar, 1995
- "Products Liability: Panel Discussion", KATA, Annual Spring Break Seminar, 1995
- "Kentucky Premises Liability Law: The Plaintiff's Perspective", Professional Education Systems, Inc., Kentucky Premises Liability and Tort Law Update, 1995
- "Proof of Personal Injury Damages: Plaintiff's Perspective", Professional Education Systems, Inc., Proof of Personal Injury Damages in Kentucky Seminar, 1994
- "The Prosecution/Defense of a Malpractice Case: Trial Pointers", National Business Institute, Medical Malpractice in Kentucky Seminar, 1993
- "Voir Dire a Medical Negligence Cases" , KATA, Jury Selection Seminar, 1993
- "Final Argument or Summation", KATA, Fast Track Seminar, 1993
- "Initial Considerations", National Business Institute, Insurance Litigation in Kentucky, 1992
- "How to Settle a Medical Negligence Case", KATA, Seminar in the Sun, 1992
- "Crawl Before You Walk: Investigating and Evaluating a Personal Injury Case", LBA/University of Louisville School of Law, How to Find the Courthouse Seminar, 1991
- "Locating Expert Witnesses", KATA, Annual Seminar and Convention, 1991
- "How to Handle Pre-Existing Conditions and the Uglier Side of the Case", KATA, Enhancing Damages & Damage Control in Personal Injury Cases, 1990
- "Examination of the Expert Witness", KATA, 17th Annual Convention & Seminar, 1989
- "How to Deal with Experts "Yours and Theirs", KATA, Winning Styles Seminar, 1989
- "The Tort of Outrageous Conduct Causing Serious Emotional Distress and Employment Law", University of Louisville, Fourth Annual Labor & Employment Law Institute, 1987
- "Final Argument or Summation", KATA, Mid-Winter Seminar, 1987
Honors and Awards
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America
- Listed in Kentucky Super Lawyers, 2008 - 2009
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Kentucky, American Trial Lawyers Association, 2008 - 2009
- Louisville Magazine 2009 Best Lawyers in Louisville, 2009
- Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys Peter Perlman Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award, 2002
- Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys Fund Raising Award, 1993
- University of Louisville School of Law Book Award - 2nd Highest Average in the Class, 1965 - 1966
- Life Fellow, Kentucky Bar Association
- Senior Counselor and Honorary Lifetime Member of the Kentucky Bar Association
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Kentucky Bar Association
- Louisville Bar Association
- Kentucky Justice Association (Formally the Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys)
- American Trial Lawyers Association
- Kentucky Justice Association, Board of Governors, 1991 - Present
- Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, President, 2000
- Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, President Elect, 1999
- Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, Vice President, 1998
- Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, Secretary, 1997
- Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, Treasurer, 1996
- Louisville Bar Association, Board of Directors, 2001 - 2007
- Louis D. Brandeis American Inn of Court, Master, 1999 - 2006
- American Board of Trial Advocates, 1995 - 2005
- Kentucky Bar Association, Litigation Committee, 2002 - 2005
- Kentucky Bar Association, Chair, Litigation Committee, 2002 - 2003
- Kentucky Bar Association Lawyer Assistance Commission, Chair, 2002 - 2007
- Kentucky Bar Association, Board of Governors, 2001 - 2007
- Kentucky Bar Association, Rules Committee, 2001 - 2007
- Kentucky Bar Association House of Delegates, 1998 - 2001
- Kentucky Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Commission, 1994 - 2000
- Kentucky Bar Association, Budget Committee, 2000
- Governor's Council, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Civil Remedies Committee, 2000
- Citizens for Better Judges, Chairman, Attorney Steering Committee, 1999
- Citizens for Better Judges, Vice-Chairman, Attorney Steering Committee, 1998
- Citizens for Better Judges, Secretary/Treasurer, Attorney Steering Committee, 1997
- Citizens for Better Judges, Steering Committee, 1996 - Present
- Kentucky Bar Association Task Force on Solo/Small Firm Practitioners, 1992 - 1995
- Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, Chairman, CLE Committee, 1995
- Louisville Bar Association Task Force on Judicial Access, 1994
- Louisville Bar Association Litigation Task Force, 1993
- Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys Fund Raising Committee, Chairman, 1992
- Louisville Bar Association, Secretary, 1981 - 1983
