MANION STIGGER - Key Persons
Andrew John "A.J." Manion is a Co-Founder and Partner of Manion Stigger, LLP. A.J. is an attorney and former construction project manager with over three decades in the construction industry. He represents and advises general contractors, construction managers, design-builders, and subcontractors throughout the United States in various construction-related matters. A.J. uniquely serves clients by applying the lessons learned from his law, business administration, and engineering degrees as well as his project management experience, litigation experience, and work as a Law Clerk in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
A.J.'s goal is to proactively manage client projects to prevent them from getting to the dispute phase in the first place. He accomplishes this through close working relationships with clients and gaining a deep understanding of their business model and specific challenges. He then works with clients to develop and implement project management systems that are not only easy to apply but that also proactively protect their businesses from risk. He is equipped at negotiating and drafting agreements pertaining to various construction-related transactions to further mitigate operational risk. In the event of disputes, A.J is also a skilled trial attorney with experience in jury trials, court trials, arbitrations, and appeals, having prosecuted and defended substantial claims in a variety of construction contexts.
A.J. frequently lectures on topics in the construction industry and dedicates significant time to bar associations and construction-related industry groups. He is included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Construction Law and Litigation - Construction and is the recipient of Martindale-Hubbell's AV Preeminent® rating, given to attorneys ranked at the highest level by their peers.
Job Titles:
- Electronic Documents Coordinator
Cody J. Cann is an Associate at Manion Stigger, LLP. Cody has been working in the construction industry for over fifteen years. Prior to joining the firm, Cody worked as a senior engineer for a multinational engineering and design firm, where he managed a team of inspection, testing, and survey personnel on various highway construction projects for the Nevada Department of Transportation, the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County, Nevada, and the Colorado Department of Transportation. Notably, he served as an assistant project manager on the SouthEast Connector, a new $215 million, six lane arterial in Reno and Sparks, Nevada.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at Manion Stigger, LLP
Danny Fuchs is a Partner at Manion Stigger, LLP. Danny has extensive experience supporting general contractors, specialty subcontractors, owners, suppliers, and design professionals in the construction of power generation plants, petrochemical facilities, paper mills, food processing plants, governmental buildings, healthcare, hospitality, commercial, and multifamily facilities across the country. Danny was educated as a civil engineer, worked for a heavy civil contractor, and leans heavily on his years of experience in project management to provide practical advice and meaningful analysis.
Danny has drafted and negotiated contracts for project delivery through design-bid-build, design-build, EPC agreements, construction management at-risk and as-advisor, and fast-track construction methods. He has successfully resolved disputes involving scheduling problems, acceleration, delays, productivity impact, defective construction, defective design, termination, and bond claims through litigation, arbitration, and mediation.
During a project, Danny's clients regularly look to him to minimize operational risks and manage problems to avoid disputes and deliver a successful project outcome. Danny's experiences - both in the field and in his legal practice - provide him with the unique ability to address legal issues on a project site with practical considerations in mind. Danny has been selected for the Kentucky Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for his work in Construction Litigation as an acknowledgment of his efforts.
Bruce Stigger is a Co-Founder and Partner of Manion Stigger, LLC. Since 1988, Bruce has exclusively represented general contractors, subcontractors, developers, owners, suppliers, and sureties in all facets of the construction process, from the preparation of contract documents to counseling on business and legal issues that arise during projects and the resolution of disputes. His work has involved a myriad of private and public projects from the construction of office buildings, roads, and sewers to hospitals, power plants, water treatment facilities, and sports venues.
Bruce is experienced in handling the difficult issues that can arise in complex arbitration and litigation including intricate claims pertaining to extra work, defective work, delays, suspension of work and loss of productivity, liens, subcontractors, insurance coverage, surety, and other related issues. He has handled numerous construction claims throughout the country before arbitration tribunals, state and federal trial courts, state, and federal appeals courts, Boards of Contract Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Kentucky. Bruce was appointed to the Order Of Maximus by Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA) for trying to verdict or arbitrating to decision one hundred or more cases.
Bruce has been responsible for achieving numerous successful results for clients, including converting terminations for default to convenience, prosecuting delay and impact claims against state and local owners, and confirming law in Kentucky that allows claims by contractors against owners and designers. Bruce is one of the most sought-after professionals in the field because of both his legal acumen and his personal commitment to his clients. He is included in the 2021 and 2022 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® for Construction Law and Litigation - Construction and is the recipient of Martindale-Hubbell's AV Preeminent® rating, given to attorneys ranked at the highest level by their peers.
Jean M. Terry is a Partner at Manion Stigger, LLP. Jean began working in the construction industry over twenty years ago, serving as an intern for a crane manufacturer in her native South Carolina. After earning her engineering degree, Jean worked as a civil engineer on numerous projects throughout the public and private sectors for a multinational engineering and construction firm. She contributed to the Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control chapter of the Tennessee Department of Transportation's Drainage Manual, and is certified in the Fundamentals of Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Jean's extensive work as a civil engineer combined with her experience in construction law and civil litigation has made her invaluable in the management and design aspects of large-scale construction, including the legal issues that affect these projects. Jean draws upon this experience and her passion for the industry to represent contractors, suppliers, and other building professionals in all phases of project construction, from contract formation through arbitration and litigation. Jean was chosen for the Kentucky Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for her work in Construction Litigation from 2020-2021 as well as Louisville Business First's 20 People to Know in Law in 2019.
Job Titles:
- Legal Administrative Assistant & Paralegal
Job Titles:
- Paralegal & Law Firm Administrator
Job Titles:
- Assistant and Paralegal
- Paralegal
Lisa Lytle is a Legal Assistant and Paralegal at Manion Stigger, LLP. Prior to joining the firm Lisa spent 25 years in construction litigation. She manages project records, litigation documentation, and provides litigation support for trials in state and federal courts and in arbitrations. Lisa also has experience in law office management.
Mark D. Smith is an Associate at Manion Stigger, LLP. Mark has over twenty-five years of experience in the construction industry as both an attorney and a civil engineer. Before attending law school, Mark was a civil designer and project manager for a major engineering firm headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri where he created designs for structural plans, property development, and wastewater treatment. In that role, he proactively minimized risks and solved problems involving various types of infrastructure.
Additionally, Mark served as a project engineer for the City of Saint Louis for ten years providing construction management for heavy commercial construction projects valued at over $20 million while gaining extensive knowledge about the performance of construction contracts and the issues that can arise. He also served the City of Saint Louis, Building Division for six years as a building inspector and code enforcement official for the Building Commissioner where he researched and applied city ordinances and investigated alleged violations. While working for the City, he was called upon as a citing officer and witness in administrative judicial actions.
Mark effectively utilizes his diverse experiences and insights to advise general contractor clients on contracting, dispute resolution, and risk management. He handles numerous construction disputes including owner non-payment, subcontractor failures, defective work claims, delays, unforeseen conditions, change order requests, lien and bond claims, union/non-union work, bankruptcy, and others.
Melissa K. Lonergan is an Associate at Manion Stigger, LLP. Melissa works with the attorneys on construction claims, mechanics liens, and civil litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Melissa worked as a Law Clerk for the Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company where she conducted analytical contract review, completed legal research, and drafted legal memoranda for the in-house counsel team. Specifically, she worked on property interest issues, contracts, and regulatory matters, as well as litigation and regulatory matters relating to utility construction. Melissa also previously clerked at a Louisville law firm where she prepared Appeals briefs for the Sixth Circuit, motions for summary judgement, and other pleadings.
Olivia A. Polston is an Associate at Manion Stigger, LLP. Olivia conducts document and contract reviews for clients. She also prepares discovery, pleadings, motions, briefs, and other legal memorandums and documents, and conducts legal research.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the American
Tamara N. Schmitt is an Associate at Manion Stigger, LLP. Prior to joining the firm, Tamara worked for over ten years as corporate counsel for a Fortune 500 manufacturing company where she was responsible for contract drafting and negotiation, contract lifecycle management, and compliance (both domestic and international). She designed and implemented the company's formal compliance program, working with all departments to address suitable policies and training to reduce risk. She also developed the company's online training courses on topics related to antitrust, anticorruption, supply chain transparency and more. Tamara applies her corporate experience when providing insight into the business needs of the firm's construction clients.
Tamara is a member of the American, Indiana State and Evansville Bar Associations where she is involved in various capacities.
Job Titles:
- Architectural and Engineering Examiners Certified Engineer Intern