Member

Matthew W. Breetz

Mr. Breetz has a sophisticated trial practice and regularly appears in courtrooms across Kentucky, Tennessee, and upon occasion, Southern Indiana. He is co-leader of the firm's Torts & Insurance Practice Service Group.

Matt defends numerous professionals, including lawyers, insurance agents and brokers, accountants, debt collectors, engineers, title agents, architects and home inspectors in professional malpractice suits throughout the region. Mr. Breetz has a robust practice representing nurses, nursing homes and a variety of allied health professionals in actions alleging significant personal injury or death. Mr. Breetz has a significant premises liability practice, in the past defending a national chain of restaurants throughout the states of Kentucky and Tennessee. He has comprehensive experience in coordinating the defense of hundreds of complex toxic tort cases throughout the country, working as national counsel for one company in asbestos litigation; in addition, Matt has been included in three asbestos jury trials within the past few years. At any given time, Mr. Breetz will also have cases involving motor carrier litigation.

Mr. Breetz is very well versed in both insurance coverage work as well as bad faith litigation, regularly counseling carriers on such issues and defending such clients as necessary.

Recent News, Articles & Speaking Engagements

Legal Ethics for In-House Counsel

Kentucky Bar Association In-House Counsel, February 20, 2024

Suits (Not the TV Show). What to Do

Speaker, Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities (KAHCF) 2023 Annual Meeting, Louisville, Ky., November 14-16, 2023

Nursing Home Lawsuits: How To Avoid Risk and What To Expect During the Litigation Process

co-presenter, KAHCF Annual Meeting, November 16, 2022

Insurers Need Not Defend Shooting Injury Suit, Judge Rules

by Hope Patti, Law360 Insurance Authority, September 30, 2022

Ethical Considerations for In-House Counsel

2022 Issues for Corporate House Counsel Seminar, Kentucky Bar Association, April 12, 2022

Nursing home Negligence Lawsuits: Common Risk Areas and What to Expect During the Litigation Process

2021 KHACF/KCAL Annual Meeting and Expo, November 9-11, 2021

Case Law Update 2021

Moderator, Fall 2021 National Legal Malpractice Conference, Nashville, TN, September 22-24, 2021

Hot Button Issues - Long Term Care Litigation

Panelist, Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities Annual Conference, November 2019

Kentucky High Court Restores $80M Punitive Damages Against Firm

Law360, December 13, 2018

Commanding the Courtroom

University of Kentucky College of Law, Lexington, Ky., November 2, 2018

Choosing Wisely: Can Picking the Right Client Prevent Malpractice Cases?

2018 Argo Pro Lawyers Professional Liability Conference, Las Vegas, NV, June 14, 2018

Ethical Considerations for CPAs

Mountjoy Chilton Medley LLP, Louisville, Ky., December 11, 2017

Defending Professionals in Court and Before Licensing Boards

DRI Professional Liability Seminar, New York, December 8, 2017

It Wasn’t Me: It Was the Judge

DRI Professional Liability Seminar, New York, December 4, 2015

Division of Loyalties: The Impact of Conflicts of Interest and Waivers

Sixth Annual Lawyers' Professional Liability Risk Management Conference, Las Vegas, Nev., May 16, 2012

Professional Liability and the Restatement of the Law : What is it Restating?

DRI's Professional Liability Seminar, New York, NY, December 15, 2011

Judgmental Immunity for Lawyers

Harmonie Group Professional Liability Seminar, New York, NY, May 13, 2010

Defending Legal Malpractice Claims

DRI's Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute, Chicago, Ill., April 6, 2010

Estate Planning—Being Sued by Persons You Never Met for Things Your Client Did Not Ask You to Do

Legal Malpractice Risk Management Conference, Chicago, February 27, 2008

The Uncertainties in Trial Practice - Do They Constitute Malpractice

Defense Research Institute's For the Defense, March 2007

Prevention and Risk Control

The Harmonie Group's Transportation Industry Seminar, Denver, Colo., November 1, 2006

Crossing State Lines - Ethical and Malpractice Issues Arising From Multi-Jurisdictional Practice

Defense Research Institute's Annual Meeting, San Francisco, Calif., October 12, 2006

Ethical Considerations for the Defense Lawyer

Kentucky Defense Counsel, August 31, 2006

Choice of Jurisdictions

The Harmonie Group Transportation and Trucking Seminar, Chicago, Ill., February 22, 2006

Legal Malpractice Issues Involving Estate Planners

Annual Midwest/Midsouth Estate Planning Institute, University of Kentucky, July 21, 2005

Legal Malpractice: Negligent Settlement Advice

Harmonie Group's Spring Conference, May 13, 2005

State and National Activity in Nursing Home Litigation

Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities, April 19, 2005

The Strict Privity Rule: A Limit on Estate Planner Liability

For the Defense, published by Defense Research Institute, February 2004

Grounds for Indemnity on Foreign Sourced Products

Defense Research Institute Product Liability Conference, Children's Products Session, February 10, 2004

Nursing Home Malpractice in Kentucky: Successful Case Management from Investigation to Trial

National Business Institute, October 23, 2003

Recent Kentucky Ethics Opinions and Judicial Decisions Concerning Ethical Issues

Louisville Bar Association, June 26, 2003

Experts and Daubert

Real Evidence for the Trial Practitioner in Kentucky, Lorman Education Services, February 6, 2003

Pitfalls with Experts: Turning Your Work Product Into Evidence

Real Evidence for the Trial Practitioner in Kentucky, Lorman Education Services, February 6, 2003
Recent Assignments
Bar Admissions
Kentucky
Tennessee
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
U.S. Supreme Court
Firm Leadership

Torts & Insurance Practice Group, Co-Chair

Professional Liability Practice Group, Team Leader

Ethics Committee, Former Chair

Memberships
American Bar Association, Professional Liability Litigation Committee, member
Kentucky Bar Association
Louisville Bar Association
Kentucky Defense Counsel, Former President
Federal Bar Association, Former President of Kentucky Chapter
Defense Research Institute, Professional Liability Committee, Past Chairman
Claims & Litigation Management Alliance, Member; Insurance Coverage Litigation, Insurance Bad Faith and Professional Liability Committees
American Board of Trial Advocates
Professional Liability Underwriting Society
Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers
Community Involvement

Southeast American Board of Trial Advocates, Board of Directors

Citizens for Better Judges, Steering Committee (2022-present)

Education
More Than Stites & Harbison

Mr. Breetz lives and dies University of Kentucky football, when his wife and eleven children give him the opportunity. He formerly coached middle school girl's lacrosse and announced high school field hockey and lacrosse games. Mr. Breetz is also an advocate for international adoptions, as his family has been blessed with three children from Ethiopia and two children from China. Mr. Breetz is a member of the Board of Directors for Southeast American Board of Trial Advocates and is a member of the Prichard Committee on Academic Excellence.

Accolades

Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated

Best Lawyers in America®, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2015-24)

Benchmark Litigation magazine, Litigation Star (2020-24)

Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2009-24)

Louisville Magazine's "Top Lawyers" for Professional Malpractice - Defense (2013, 2014, 2016)

MH AV 2024 300
Breetz M Best Lawyers2024
Breetzmsuperlaw
See more related to Matthew W. Breetz
Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers® Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2024

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2024 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers® recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 35 attorneys to the Super Lawyers® list and 14 attorneys to the Rising Stars® list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 12, 2024
Press Releases

Benchmark Litigation 2024 Honors 14 Stites & Harbison Attorneys

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2024 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 11 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC October 16, 2023
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2024 Best Lawyers® Publications

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 101 of its lawyers are included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 24, 2023
Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2023 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 37 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 12 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 12, 2023
Press Releases

Benchmark Litigation 2023 Honors 15 Stites & Harbison Attorneys

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2023 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 12 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky. The guide honors the firms and attorneys who have demonstrated the ability to consistently handle complex, high-stakes cases in multiple jurisdictions.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC November 17, 2022
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® Publications

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 98 of its lawyers are included in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Additionally, 11 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 19 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 18, 2022
Events

2022 Issues for Corporate House Counsel CLE Seminar

Louisville office attorneys Matt Breetz and Brian Cromer will be speakers at the Kentucky Bar Association's 2022 Issues for Corporate House Counsel CLE Seminar on April 12, 2022.

Brian A. Cromer and Matthew W. Breetz February 14, 2022
Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 37 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2022

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2022 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 37 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 29 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and eight attorneys to the Rising Stars list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 11, 2022