Member Bio
Mrs. Richardson handles all aspects of litigation with a strong focus on insurance defense, including commercial and personal lines for bodily injury, UIM/UM, and wrongful death. She also has extensive experience handling education claims, employment claims, government and municipality claims, and blasting cases.
Mrs. Richardson has tried over a dozen cases and has the distinction of being identified as the "Most Prolific Trial Attorney" in 2011, when she tried five cases to verdict. Mrs. Richardson led the list of the top twenty-five attorneys identified and was the only female to receive that distinction.
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Professional Experience
Member, Walter Meadows Richardson, PLLC, Lexington, Kentucky, 2015-present
Member, Golden & Walters, PLLC, Lexington, Kentucky, 2013-2014
Associate, Walters Meadows Richardson, PLLC, Lexington, Kentucky, 2007-2013
Education
University of Kentucky, College of Law, Lexington, Kentucky, Juris Doctor, May 2007
Centre College, Bachelor of Arts Classical Studies and History, summa cum laude, May 2004
Bar Admissions
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Accomplishments, Honors, and Affiliations
DRI -- Women in Law Committee (WITL) (2015-2016)
DRI -- WITL Liaison to Legal Project Management (LPM) Committee (2016)
2016 Kentucky Rising Stars
Kentucky Trial Court Review, Most Prolific Attorney, 2015
Member, Claims Litigation Management, 2014 to present
Member, Trial Attorneys of America, 2015
Recipient of 2 Golden Gavels for Outstanding Trial Advocacy from Westfield Insurance Company, 2011 and 2012
Kentucky Trial Court Review "Most Prolific Attorney," 2011
Presenter, Kentucky Blasting Conference, 2013
Member, Defense Research Institute, 2011 to present
Member, Trial Advocacy Board's National Team, 2007
Kentucky Intrastate Mock Trial Tournament Winner, 2007
American Trial Lawyers' Association Regional Semifinalist, 2006
Member, Trial Advocacy Board, 2005-2007
Member, Moot Court Board, 2005-2007
Recipient, Golden & Walters Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy, 2007
Recipient, Peter Pearlman Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy, 2006
Representative Matters
After obtaining a defense verdict in favor of the defendant boater at trial in Fayette Circuit Court, the Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment. The Court of Appeals held that the Trial Court did not err in failing to direct a verdict in favor of the plaintiff because the evidence supported a verdict in favor of the defendant where it permitted the jury to conclude that the defendant consistently maintained a proper lookout but the plaintiff failed to do so. As such, the Trial Court did not err in refusing to conclude as a matter of law that the defendant acted negligently or breached his duty to keep a proper lookout. Kelley v. Poore, 328 S.W.3d 683 (Ky. App 2009).
After being awarded summary judgment by the Circuit Court, The plaintiff appealed to the Kentucky Court of Appeals on this slip and fall off a piece of scaffolding. The defendant had raised the open and obvious defense. On appeal the plaintiff attempted to opine that the holdings in the recently-decided McIntosh case precluded summary judgment. The Court of Appeals disagreed and affirmed the opinion of the Circuit Court. A motion for discretionary review was filed and subsequently denied. Bentley v. Bentley, 2012 Ky. App. Unpub. LEXIS 801.
Smith v. Turner and M & W Milling, involved a loaded grain truck that struck the plaintiff's vehicle on a two-lane road after the front, driver's side wheel of the truck literally came apart. A defense verdict was entered. The plaintiff subsequently appealed this matter, and the decision was reversed by the Kentucky Court of Appeals based largely on the fact that the inspection report proffered by the defendants was not properly admitted into evidence and that photographs of other trucks in M & W Milling's fleet were improperly admitted. A new trial was ordered by the Court of Appeals. However, this matter is currently awaiting & ruling by the Kentucky Supreme Court on the Defendants' Motion for Discretionary Review. 2013 Ky. App. Unpub. LEXIS 433.
Jones v. Topf Ceramic Tile, which was tried to a unanimous defense verdict in Jefferson Circuit Court in 2012, is now pending before the Kentucky Court of Appeals. This case was premised on a contract that the plaintiff claimed was formed by this defendant by virtue of the fact that he purchased a building permit that permitted a separate contractor to perform work on the plaintiff's commercial property. The Kentucky Court of Appeals affirmed the verdict. 2014 Ky. App. Unpub. LEXIS 930.
Gonzales v. Haydon Brothers Contracting, was a blasting case in Pike Circuit Court, wherein the plaintiff alleged that a rock from the blast struck him in the head. The plaintiff admitted that he heard the pre-blast warnings and that he knew the purpose of these warnings, but, nevertheless, failed to take cover. The plaintiff recovered $20,000, as compensation for his medical bills and lost wages only. 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 721032.