Summary Judgment in Favor of Hospital Obtained

Susan Phillips and Hayley Abbott obtained summary judgment for a hospital in a case involving alleged sexual abuse by a male nurse against a patient in the hospital’s emergency department.

Susan Phillips is Selected as 2023 Lawyer of the Year in Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Susan Phillips was selected by her peers to receive the distinguished award of 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants by The Best Lawyers in America®. Only a single lawyer in each practice area and community is honored with this distinguished award.

PPOA Attorneys Earn Local, Statewide, and National Awards in 2021

Susan Phillips, Patricia Le Meur, and Jack Phillips were each recognized for outstanding legal merit or volunteerism in 2021. Susan was named the Kentucky Defense Trial Lawyer of the Year by the American Board of Trial Advocates. Susan was also awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Louisville Bar Association. Tricia earned recognition from the LBA as Vice Chair of the Health Law Section, which was named the Section of the Year. Jack was named an Outstanding Coordinator by the Kentucky Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. Congratulations, Susan, Tricia, and Jack!

Hospital Client in Significant Medical Malpractice Claim

Susan Phillips and David Thompson received a defense verdict for their hospital client in a significant medical malpractice claim arising out of the neurological impairment of a newborn. The Plaintiffs contended that their daughter suffered neurological impairment, which resulted in profound cerebral palsy, during labor and delivery. The Plaintiffs claimed the nursing staff was negligent in failing to identify the critical nature of the baby’s status, and failing to contact the physicians to ensure their timely arrival at the hospital. Ms. Phillips and Mr. Thompson presented two leading authorities in neonatology and nursing care as expert witnesses, both of whom strongly defended the care of the nursing staff and supported the defense theory that the injury occurred prior to the Plaintiffs’ presentation to the hospital. After four and one-half weeks of trial, the jury deliberated for a little over an hour before returning a unanimous defense verdict in favor of the hospital.

Susan Phillips Inducted as LBA Vice President/Treasurer

Susan Phillips was inducted on January 19, 2012, as the Vice President/Treasurer for the Louisville Bar Association for 2012. She will serve as President-Elect next year and will then serve as President of the LBA in 2014.

Susan Phillips 2014 President of Louisville Bar Association

PPOA is excited to announce that founding partner, Susan Phillips, has been elected to serve as President of the Louisville Bar Association for 2014. Susan has previously led the LBA in a variety of roles, including: President-Elect (2013), Vice President/Treasurer (2012), and Secretary (2011). She also served as President of the Louisville Bar Foundation in 2009. In her new capacity, Susan hopes to improve collegiality among Bar members. We congratulate Susan on yet another fine achievement and look forward to her leadership in 2014!

Susan Phillips Delivers Keynote at UK Law Litigation Banquet

On April 21, 2014, Susan Phillips gave the keynote address at the University of Kentucky College of Law Litigation Banquet.  Susan, and PPOA, have been long-time supporters of UK’s Trial Advocacy Board and U of L’s Moot Court Program, serving regularly as volunteer judges at local, regional and national trial competitions.  PPOA believes that the next generation of trial lawyers will emerge from these programs, and they deserve our support.

Louisville Magazine’s Top Lawyers

Founding partners, John Phillips and Susan Phillips, were recognized in Louisville Magazine’s 2014 list of “Top Lawyers.” John was recognized as a top lawyer in the fields of Medical Malpractice Law – Defense and Professional Malpractice Law – Defense. Susan was recognized as a top lawyer in the fields of Medical Malpractice Law – Defense and Personal Injury Law – Defense. Congratulations to John and Susan!

PPOA Attorneys Selected as SuperLawyers

William Orberson and Joseph M. Effinger were selected as SuperLawyer® in Civil Litigation Defense; John W. Phillips, Susan D. Phillips, and John F. Parker were selected in Medical Malpractice Defense; and Patricia Le Meur, M. David Thompson and Nicholas R. Hart were chosen as Rising Stars for 2015.

PPOA Welcomes Three New Associates

John “Jack” C. Phillips, Matthew J. Wheatley, and Ryan D. Nafziger have recently been hired as new associates in the Louisville office. Jack graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2015 and spent a year as a clerk for The Kentucky Supreme Court before joining the firm this summer. He is the son of partners, John W. and Susan Phillips. Matthew J. Wheatley joins the firm after graduating from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2016. Matt started as a clerk at PPOA during the summer of 2015. Ryan D. Nafziger joins after graduating from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law in 2016.