Douglass Farnsley
Doug Farnsley is a trial lawyer and is 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 more than forty years of trial experience, and has successfully tried to verdict more than fifty cases. He has argued cases before state and federal appellate courts.
Kentucky Super Lawyers listed Doug among the state’s Top 50 Lawyers, 2009-11 and 2017-20. Best Lawyers in America selected Doug as Personal Injury Litigation Defendants Lawyer of the Year (2020), Product Liability Litigation Lawyer of the Year (2011), and Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year (2010).
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 served as Stites & Harbison's General Counsel from 2016 through 2021 and currently serves as a member of the firm’s General Counsel Committee. Doug also 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
Office of General Counsel, Member
Former General Counsel for the firm (2016-21)
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 (2007-23)
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® (2007-22)
Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Top 50 Lawyers in the state (2009-11, 2017-20)
Benchmark Litigation magazine, Litigation Star (2015-23)
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)
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.
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.
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.
Benchmark Litigation 2022 Honors 15 Stites & Harbison Attorneys
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2022 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 12 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 93 lawyers are included in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Additionally, 11 attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 14 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.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 41 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2021
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2021 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 42 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2021 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 82 lawyers are included in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 45 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2020
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2020 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 42 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 32 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 13 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.