Thomas Wade Lavender

Biographical Information

I have handled a variety of cases n the Boyd Circuit Court and other Circuit Courts throughout Northeastern and Southeastern Kentucky. I have either tried or assisted in the trial of about 43 Circuit Court cases—trying the vast majority by myself. The trials have involved the defense of people and/or insurance companies sued as a result of motor vehicle accidents, people injured by motor vehicle accidents, boundary disputes, state condemnation of land, breach of rental agreements, hazardous waste contamination of property, defective products, defective new cars (lemon law), non-payment of child support charges, illegal gambling charges, and a murder charge.

I have also handled several appeals dealing with issues such as unemployment, applicability of insurance coverage, child custody, division of business in a divorce, illegal gambling, illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and persistent felony offender charges, and various issues following trials involving motor vehicle accidents.

I have argued multiple cases before the Kentucky Court of Appeals, a case before the Supreme Court of Kentucky, and a case before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. Three of my cases have been published: A Court of Appeals case in 1992 that changed Kentucky law on joint custody; A Supreme Court case from 1992 involving illegal gambling charges; A Court of Appeals case from 2003 that involved civil procedure issues connected with damages claimed in motor vehicle accident.