Stites & Harbison, PLLC

Joseph L. Hardesty

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". . . an excellent litigator. Joe invests his time and energy to learn about his clients and their business so that he may best apply his legal skills to enable his clients to achieve their business goals. I would recommend Joe with enthusiasm and without reservation."

     - The Best Lawyers in America^® 2010

Joe Hardesty handles complex litigation for clients with particular emphasis on representing clients in construction and business disputes.  He has defended and prosecuted claims for clients arising from major construction projects throughout the country, surety disputes, commercial real estate disputes and a variety of disputes arising from business transactions.  He also advises clients on matters related to government contracting and compliance.

Prior to joining the firm, Joe served as Senior Attorney for BellSouth Corp. where he handled litigation and regulatory matters.  He is listed in Kentucky Super Lawyers magazine (2007-11) in the area of Business Litigation and Construction Litigation and in The Best Lawyers in America^© (2009-12) for Construction Litigation.

Recent Assignments

• Represented Construction Manager on a variety of legal issues arising from construction of the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville
• Obtained a summary judgment in federal court in favor of a residential home builder arising from a commercial real estate dispute
• Successfully defended a payment bond surety in an insurance bad faith suit
• Successfully prosecuted a claim for a general contractor against a subcontractor for delays and defective work arising from Federal construction project at Fort Campbell, Kentucky
• Recovered additional compensation for subcontractor for work on construction project in Toronto, Canada
• Defended telecommunication company in directory advertising contract dispute

Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications

• "Is your construction project subject to the Davis-Bacon Act?," Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Client Alert, November 23, 2011
• "Supreme Court Enforces Arbitration Clause Limiting Class-Action Lawsuits," Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Client Alert, April 26, 2011
• "Federal contract reporting of first-tier subcontracts now applied to prime contracts greater than $25,000," Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Client Alert, February 21, 2011
• "Disappointed bidders must file timely bid protests," Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Client Alert, November 17, 2010
• "Homebuilder's commercial liability insurance may not completely protect you," Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Client Alert, co-author with Michael D. Risley, March 30, 2010
• "Legal Issues for Kentucky Design Professionals," Half Moon Seminars, Louisville, Ky., March 12, 2008
• "What to do When a Construction Project Goes Bad," Lorman Education Services, Louisville, Ky., February 26, 2008
• "Brown v. Board of Education -- 50 Years Later in Jefferson County," Louisville Downtown Rotary Club, July 22, 2004

Before Stites & Harbison

Mr. Hardesty was in-house counsel at BellSouth Corporation where he handled litigation and regulatory matters. Prior to law school, Mr. Hardesty was a field artillery officer in the U.S. Army, where he served in the Eighth Infantry Division in Germany and First Army Headquarters in Maryland. After leaving the active Army to attend law school, Mr. Hardesty continued to serve in the Army Reserves until 1999.

More Than Stites & Harbison

Mr. Hardesty has been a member of the Jefferson County Board of Education since 1990 and has served as Chair of the Board in 1997, 1998 and 2004-2008. In 2008, he was named the Outstanding School Board Member for Kentucky by the Kentucky School Board Association. He has served on the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, Lincoln Heritage Council, and has served as a United States Military Academy Admissions Representative to assist local youth in applying to the Military Academy.

Besides Stites & Harbison

During his free time, Joe enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. He enjoys water sports, golf and outdoor activities.