Joseph Hummel

Joseph Hummel

502-582-2030

Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Construction Defects and Liability; Products Liability; Asbestos Litigation; Mass Tort Litigation; Toxic Tort Litigation; Construction Accidents; Wrongful Death; Premises Liability; Boating and Personal Watercraft Accidents; Truck Accidents; Automobile Accidents; Insurance Bad Faith; Insurance Coverage; Complex Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Trial Practice; Appellate practice

Admitted: 1996, Kentucky, U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Law School: University of Kentucky, J.D. , 1996

College: Centre College, B.A., 1993

Member: Louisville, Kentucky and American Bar Associations; Defense Research Institute; Kentucky Defense Counsel

Born: Louisville, KY

Full Bio

Joe Hummel is a member/partner of our firm. He is rated AV Preeminent for professional ability and ethics by Martindale Hubbell.  He has been  listed in “Best Lawyers in America” and “Kentucky Super Lawyers” since 2012. He was named  Best Lawyers’ 2017 Louisville Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions –“Lawyer of the Year” .

Joe graduated from Centre College in 1993 and University of Kentucky College of Law in 1996.  He is coverage counsel for Auto-Owners Insurance Co. and has represented numerous Fortune 500 companies in asbestos, mass tort and trucking litigation cases. He has reported opinions on cases of first impression in the Kentucky Court of Appeals and Supreme Court as well as the Federal District Courts and 6Th Circuit Court of Appeals involving numerous issues including insurance coverage, asbestos liability, property owner duties, and expert competence .   His most recent Kentucky Supreme Court matter was a case of first impression which clarified and affirmed a landlord’s duties (and Summary Judgment) under the Kentucky Landlord Tenant Act. See, Waugh v Parker, 584SW3d748 (KY 2019. The Court ruled in Joe’s client’s favor 7-0.

Mr. Hummel’s practice involves litigation of all forms.  He has tried over 25 cases to verdict.  His practice includes litigating mass tort, products liability, trucking, construction claims, premises liability,  insurance contract and coverage disputes, bad faith, commercial claims, contract disputes and tort actions. In the past five years, Mr. Hummel has obtained over fifteen summary judgments in cases involving wrongful death, premise liability, insurance coverage and asbestos liability.

Representative Cases

Waugh v Parker, 584 SW2d748 (KY 2019)

Landreth v Brake Supply Co, 2017WL2392522

Mannahan v Eaton Corporation, 2016WL3887037

Cardinal v Norris, 2009WL562614

American Contractors Ins Co. v United National Ins. Company 2006WL2366433

Cocharn v Premier Concrete Pumping Inc, 2010WL1728920

Hillerich and Bradsby v Travelers, 2007WL403596