Joe Hummel is a decorated trial and appellate lawyer. He has been committed to the defense of insurance companies, their insureds, and other self-insured entities for nearly 25 years. Joe joined the firm as a partner in 2020 to round out the firm’s offerings with more construction, trucking, and mass tort experience. He holds an AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell and 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 has a diverse practice 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 state and federal courts in Kentucky involving numerous issues including insurance coverage, asbestos liability, property owner duties, and expert competence . Joe has tried over 25 cases to verdict including trucking matters, asbestos matters, construction disputes, and other tort actions. In the past five years alone, Joe has obtained over fifteen summary judgments in cases involving wrongful death, premises liability, insurance coverage, and asbestos liability. When not helping his clients, he enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering at his son’s school.
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
Admissions:
Kentucky, 1996
U.S. District Court, Western Districts of Kentucky, 1996
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, 1996
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1996
Education:
University of Kentucky, J.D. , 1996
Centre College, B.A., 1993
Memberships:
Defense Research Institute
Kentucky Defense Counsel
Trucking industry Defense Association
Kentucky Bar Association
American Bar Association
Louisville Bar Association
Representative Cases
Waugh v Parker, 584 S.W.2d 748 (KY 2019)
Landreth v Brake Supply Co, 2017 WL 2392522
Mannahan v Eaton Corporation, 2016 WL 3887037
Cardinal v Norris, 2009 WL 562614
American Contractors Ins Co. v United National Ins. Company, 2006 WL 2366433
Cocharn v Premier Concrete Pumping Inc, 2010 WL 1728920
Hillerich and Bradsby v Travelers, 2007 WL 403596