Douglass Farnsley
Doug Farnsley is a trial lawyer. He has most recently tried cases to a jury in 2012, 2013, and 2015. Doug is also a Fellow of three invitation-only trial organizations - the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the International Society of Barristers.
Doug focuses on civil trial work, including the defense of product liability claims and professional and hospital liability claims. He has also tried cases involving employment law issues, to enforce payment pursuant to an insurance policy, for breach of warranty, and representing plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury and death claims. Doug has over 35 years of trial experience, including 50 plus matters successfully tried to verdict. He has argued cases before state and federal appellate courts.
Doug served as President of the Kentucky Bar Association (2015-2016) and served for ten years as a member of the KBA’s Board of Governors. He currently serves as a member of the ABA’s House of Delegates and previously served as a member of the Executive Council of the National Conference of Bar Presidents.
Doug is Stites & Harbison's General Counsel and previously served on the firm's management committee.
In a 2015 jury trial, secured a $4.951M verdict on behalf of a 27 year old man who was struck by a city bus
Represents Fortune 50 company in the defense of claims throughout Kentucky
Successful defense of class action claims against a major nonprofit and for a telecommunications company
Represents national rehabilitation healthcare provider throughout Kentucky
Representation of medical device manufacturer in cases in California, Indiana, and Iowa
Defended and managed the defense of more than 700 medical malpractice cases for the former Kentucky Medical Insurance Company
General Counsel for the firm
Management Committee, Former Member
The Friends of the Farnsley-Kaufman House
Board of Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing
Actors Theatre of Louisville, Advisory Board
University of Wisconsin
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Research Assistantship, 1976-77 Thesis--Gambling and the Law, 1980 Wis. L.R. 811
cum laude
University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law
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Student Bar Association, President
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Morehead Scholar (complete four-year scholarship)
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President Delta Upsilon (1972)
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Freshman Soccer
Doug obtained an LL.M. in Legal History from the University of Wisconsin. After attending UW, Doug clerked for Judge Thomas Ballantine, United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Doug's father served as mayor of Louisville and in the U.S. House of Representatives. Doug is a passionate supporter of two historic sites associated with his family and located in southwestern Jefferson County, Ky.
Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated
Best Lawyers in America®, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2007-21)
Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Lawyers of the Year (2020)
Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Product Liability Litigation Lawyer of the Year (2011)
Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year (2010)
Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2007-20)
Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Top 50 Lawyers in the state (2009-11, 2017-20)
Benchmark Litigation magazine, Litigation Star (2015-19)
Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, Public Advocacy Award (2016) (for outstanding work to advance diversity in the legal profession)
Kentucky Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, Nathanial Harper Award (2016) (for promoting full and equal participation in the legal profession)
Louisville Magazine Top Lawyers (2016)
Louisville Bar Association, Justice Martin E. Johnstone Special Recognition Award (2015) (LBA's highest award)
University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, Distinguished Alumni Award (2015)
