Stites & Harbison, PLLC

Ms. Breetz's practice focuses on both federal and state appellate advocacy, complex commercial litigation, including financial institution, real estate, and trust and estate litigation. She currently serves as co-chair of the firm's Appellate Advocacy group.

Beth is listed in the The Best Lawyers in America^® (2009-2012) in the category of Appellate Practice for 2012.

Recent Assignments

• Represents the City of Louisville in U.S. District, Circuit, and Supreme Courts and in Kentucky Circuit Court, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court in dispute over Ohio River railroad bridge to be condemned for use as pedestrian bridge
• Handles a variety of federal and state court litigation and appellate matters for the Louisville Regional Airport Authority
• Represents various Kentucky Bar Association defendants in challenge to certain canons of Kentucky's Code of Judicial Canons; district court opinion currently on appeal to Sixth Circuit, Carey v. Wolnitzek, et al. (08-6468, 08-6538)
• As appellate counsel, represents a construction subcontractor in its appeal from a $2 million jury verdict on issues related to negligence and apportionment
• Convinced the Kentucky Supreme Court to grant discretionary review and reverse decisions from the trial court and Court of Appeals on issues related to arbitration waiver, Am. Gen. Home Equity, Inc. v. Kestel, 253 S.W.3d 543 (Ky. 2008)
• As appellate counsel, obtained reversal of $5.9 million jury compensatory and punitive damage verdict against steel products manufacturer arising from alleged metallurgical defects in an agricultural implement, Haven Steel Product v. Cowan, 2005-CA-2295 (Ky. App., June 1, 2007)
• As appellate counsel, convinced the Kentucky Supreme Court to reverse a million-dollar bad faith verdict against an insurer, Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. v. Rodgers, 179 S.W.3d 815 (Ky. 2005)
• Convinced the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit to reverse summary judgment entered in favor of the opposing party and direct that summary judgment be entered in favor of our client. Republic/NFR & C v. Reg'l Airport Authority, 410 F.3d 888 (6th Cir. 2005)

Recent Publications

• Co-Author, "Timelines and Tips for Practicing in Kentucky Appellate Courts," presented by the Kentucky Bar Association at Continuing Legal Education seminars throughout Kentucky
• Co-author for many years of the Kentucky portion of the Media Law Resource Center's 50-State Survey of Privacy and Related Law

Before Stites & Harbison

For three and a half years after law school, Ms. Breetz served as law clerk to the Honorable Charles Leibson and then to the Honorable Nicholas King, both of the Kentucky Supreme Court.

More Than Stites & Harbison

Beth was the first chair of the Kentucky Bar Association's Appellate Advocacy Section when that section was established by the Kentucky Supreme Court in 2007. She is a past chair of the Louisville Bar Association's Appellate Section. She was recently appointed to the Kentucky Supreme Court Civil Rules Committee and was named chair of the Appellate Rules Subcommittee.

Beth serves as a volunteer attorney for clients of the Legal Aid Society and The Center for Women and Families in Louisville. She also serves as a volunteer with Fern Creek-Highview United Ministries, a not-for-profit social service agency. In addition, Beth is a long-time supporter of the arts in Louisville.