BROWN & TONER - Key Persons
PETE PULLEN is an experienced litigator and trial attorney that has successfully practiced in all aspects of civil litigation including through arbitration, jury trial, and appellate practice. He specializes in the defense of personal injury and wrongful death claims regarding long-term nursing care/nursing home litigation and compliance, auto and trucking litigation, premises liability, and insurance and bad-faith law. Mr. Pullen is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell Peer Review, which is the highest rating possible for legal ability and ethical standards. He has also been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star from 2017 through 2019. Mr. Pullen received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Kentucky in 2001. After working abroad and in the private sector, he obtained his J.D. from the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville in 2006. He is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Kentucky and the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. He also has been admitted pro hac vice to practice in Indiana. When not working, Pete enjoys cycling and spending time with his wife and two sons.
Educational Background
J.D. University of Louisville
B.A. Political Science, University of Kentucky
Pete Pullen obtained summary judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of [...]
ADRIEL WILSON grew up in Lexington, Kentucky. She graduated from Bellarmine University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communication. Subsequently, she earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law graduating magna cum laude. She simultaneously obtained a Master of Health Administration from the University of Kentucky College of Public Health, summa cum laude, via a dual degree program. Adriel joined O'Bryan, Brown & Toner as a summer law clerk in 2022 and began practicing with the firm in 2023. Her primary practice area is insurance defense litigation with an emphasis on medical malpractice defense. She is licensed to practice law in Kentucky.
Outside the office, Adriel enjoys riding her horse, Fendi; spending time with family; and cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats.
Educational Background:
J.D. University of Kentucky, J. David Rosenberg College of Law, summa cum laude
MHA University of Kentucky College of Public Health, summa cum laude
B.S. Bellarmine University
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Certified Pediatrician
BEN WEIGEL represents clients in Kentucky and Indiana state and federal courts. His practice includes defense of physicians and hospitals in medical negligence claims, defense of first-party and third-party insurance bad faith claims and the defense of general liability claims. Ben also has substantial practice representing health care providers in professional licensing matters pending before various administrative agencies. Ben is a native of Somerset, Kentucky. Ben and his wife, Jennifer, and their 2 children, Anna and Jack, also enjoy spending time with friends and family.
Benjamin Weigel defended a Louisville-based chiropractor against allegations that she improperly received referrals for patients. Weigel was able to negotiate an agreed sanction that allowed the [...]
Benjamin Weigel obtained a dismissal of an administrative violation by the United States Department of Health and Human Services for a London, Kentucky chiropractor. HHS alleged that the [...]
Partner, Boehl, Stopher, Graves & Deindoerfer, Louisville, Kentucky, January 1983-December 1990. Area of practice was insurance defense with emphasis on medical malpractice.
Brent E. Dye has exclusively practiced Kentucky workers' compensation law since 2006. He has already handled well over a 1,000 cases in his career. Brent has litigated every case type, ranging from orthopedic injuries to complex occupational disease and death ones. He also has significant administrative experience and knowledge.
From January 16, 2017 through July 14, 2020, Brent served the Commonwealth as a workers' compensation Administrative Law Judge. During his tenure, Brent successfully managed a consistent 400-plus case docket, held over 850 Benefit Review Conferences, presided over 315 Hearings, and wrote 468 decisions. He never missed a deadline, and was rarely overturned on appeal. This valuable experience will serve his clients well.
In his spare time, Brent enjoys working outdoors, gardening, visiting historical sites, attending musicals/plays, and watching sports.
Educational Background
J.D. Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, magna cum laude
B.S. Business Administration, Georgetown College, cum laude
BRIAN DAVIDSON was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended the University of Kentucky for both undergraduate and law school. He earned a Juris Doctorate and became a member of the Kentucky Bar in 2015. Prior to becoming a practicing attorney, Brian assisted the general counsel at the Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts office. Since 2016, his practice has focused on workers' compensation defense.
Brian joined O'Bryan, Brown & Toner in 2023. He brings years of experience defending workers' compensation claims at every level, including precedent setting victories at the Kentucky Supreme Court.
Outside of work, Brian spends time with his wife and two daughters. They help maintain a multi-generational family farm in Shelby County.
Educational Background:
J.D. University of Kentucky College of Law
B.A. University of Kentucky
CAROLINE BRUENDERMAN began her career in Washington, D.C. working on regulatory issues for utility companies. She earned an M.B.A. from the George Washington University in 2008 and spent several years consulting for commercial aviation companies and aviation-based trade associations.
Caroline graduated cum laude from University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law. While attending law school, she clerked for the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney in the appellate division. Following admission to the Kentucky Bar, she served as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in the general trial division. She joined O'Bryan Brown & Toner in 2022, and her practice includes insurance defense litigation with a focus on medical malpractice.
Outside of work, Caroline enjoys long car rides with her dog, Rita.
Educational Background:
J.D. University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, cum laude
M.B.A. The George Washington University
B.A. Indiana University, Bloomington
CHAD J. BRADFORD has represented healthcare providers on a wide range of issues confronting Indiana providers. He has been licensed to practice since 2002. His practice has primarily focused on assisting physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners and other healthcare providers in the defense of malpractice actions. His experience also includes defense of general civil liability claims including landlord-tenant, insurance law and appellate practice. Chad's background includes experience as a Claims Attorney handling both medical and dental claims in approximately 2 dozen states. He has spoken to numerous groups regarding medical malpractice litigation and risk management issues alike.
Chad has been involved in several high stakes jury trials. In one such case, he obtained a defense verdict in favor of an emergency room doctor and his group practice following a 3 week jury trial against claims of wrongful death for an alleged failure to diagnose aortic dissection. He has secured multiple defense verdicts in wrongful death and other significant damage cases despite medical review panel opinions in favor of plaintiffs in those same cases. He has developed particular expertise in the emergency medicine, radiology, anesthesiology, dentistry and surgical disciplines.
Chad and his wife, Gina, were married after law school graduation and are the tremendously proud parents of four children. Chad has recently served as the manager of his sons' travel baseball teams as well as a board member for the local youth football league.
Chad J. Bradford obtained a defense verdict in favor of an emergency medicine doctor and his group practice in Lake Superior Court (Crown Point, Indiana) on March 1, 2018
CHRIS O'BRYAN earned both his Juris Doctorate and his undergraduate degrees from University of Louisville. He served as the Managing Partner of O'Bryan, Brown & Toner from its inception in 1991 through December 2018. Chris has been instrumental in helping the firm fulfill its original goal of becoming a well-respected, top tier litigation firm. Chris is also an accomplished trial attorney having successfully defended cases involving insurance coverage and bad faith, medical malpractice and an assortment of other types of professional malpractice claims against attorneys, insurance agents, directors and officers. Additionally, Chris has extensive experience in defending claims involving motor vehicle liability, liquor liability, product liability and premises liability.
Chris previously served for many years on the Board of the Louisville Bar Foundation and is currently an active member of the Insurance Law Committee of DRI. He currently serves on the Board of the Baptist Health Foundation. Chris and his wife, Carol, are the proud parents of three young adults: a son, Sean, and twins, Neal and Allison.
CLAY EDWARDS is a partner who has been with the firm since 1995. He is licensed in both Kentucky and Indiana. He practices insurance defense litigation and trial work primarily in the area of medical malpractice, long-term care/nursing home defense, personal injury, premises liability, product liability and insurance coverage. Clay has tried dozens of cases to verdict as lead counsel for physicians and other medical care providers throughout Kentucky and Indiana. He has successfully argued appellate cases before the Kentucky Court of Appeals, Kentucky Supreme Court and United States Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He has also served as a frequent speaker to groups in the area of risk management, medical review panel legislation and medical malpractice litigation. Beginning in 2012, he has been named a Super Lawyer in the area medical malpractice defense. In addition, he was also recognized in The Best Lawyers in America.
He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts degree and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Louisville School of Law, where he was Executive Editor for the law review.
Clay Edwards represented a neurologist before KBML in 2019 who was accused of inappropriate [...]
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Certified Anesthesiologist
- Certified Pediatrician
DON BROWN is an experienced and exceptionally prolific trial attorney whose primary practice area is insurance defense litigation, with an emphasis in medical malpractice defense as well as nursing home/long term care defense. Don has been licensed to practice law since 1980. He has successfully defended numerous professionals and companies from claims seeking millions of dollars in high-profile suits. In the past twenty years, Don has had over 55 verdicts, placing him in the top ten most prolific attorneys in Kentucky for that period. At the end of 2019, Don was one of only 5 Kentucky lawyers inducted into the first annual Kentucky Trial Court Review Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame. He has also won several state and national awards and recognitions and he is a well-known seminar speaker on the subject of medical malpractice.
Outside the office, Don enjoys golf, music, traveling and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Don was featured on the front page of the Courier-Journal newspaper on January 14, 2011.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Oldham County Physical Therapist
GERALD TONER is a defense lawyer concentrating in medical malpractice, product liability, and first party insurance liability. He has tried well over one hundred cases to a verdict over the past forty-plus years. He has formerly served on the Board of Directors of DRI (The Voice of the Defense Bar) and the Kentucky Defense Counsel. This past year, he was honored as the Kentucky Defense Counsel "Diplomat of the Year 2021." He currently serves on the Board of the Kentucky Pediatric Foundation, U of L Pediatric Endowment Foundation and the Kentucky Bench and Bar. He previously served as President of the Louisville Bar Association from 2018-2019. Gerry graduated from Harvard College, cum laude, and from Vanderbilt University Law School. His interests include softball, photography, and writing; his short stories have been published in Redbook, Saturday Evening Post, Ladies' Home Journal and other national magazines and in four hard-cover volumes by Pelican Publishing & Butler Books. Gerry's wife, Carol, is a former school teacher and recently retired professional caterer. He has two married children, Jennie and John, and a future POTUS in his granddaughter, Lydia Dilara Algin.
Job Titles:
- University School of Law Captain, Vanderbilt International Moot Court Team ( JESSUP ) .
JAMES GROHMANN is one of our most active trial attorneys. He focuses his practice on the defense of malpractice claims against medical and legal professionals and appellate practice. He has been licensed to practice since 1990. James has first chaired over 40 jury trials and has been recognized by the Kentucky Trial Court Review as one of Kentucky's most prolific trial attorneys.
James and his wife, Cynthia, also a lawyer, are the proud parents of three sons, Patrick, Jack, and Charlie.
JENNINGS KLEEMAN was born in Lexington, Kentucky. He attended the University of Kentucky, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics and Minors in Political Science and Business. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 2020 and has licenses to practice law in Kentucky and Ohio.
After law school, Jennings worked in real estate law in Cincinnati, Ohio. He joined O'Bryan, Brown & Toner as an associate attorney in 2023. His primary practice areas include insurance defense litigation primarily in medical malpractice.
When not at work, Jennings enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, and trying new restaurants.
Educational Background:
J.D. University of Cincinnati College of Law
B.A. University of Kentucky
JOHN SHOCKLEY was born in Marietta, Georgia but raised in Lexington, Kentucky. He attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas where he obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky. He joined O'Bryan, Brown & Toner as an associate attorney in 2019 after clerking with the firm during his first summer of law school.
John is licensed to practice in both Kentucky and Indiana. His primary areas of practice include insurance defense litigation with a focus on medical malpractice, long term care/nursing home negligence, the defense of general civil liability claims, and ยง 1983 federal claims.
Outside of the office, John enjoys spending time with family and friends, golfing, traveling, and cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats and TCU Horned Frogs.
Educational Background:
J.D. University of Kentucky College of Law
B.B.A. Texas Christian University
JOEY KLAUSING is licensed in both Kentucky and Indiana and he represents clients in a variety of litigation matters. Joey is AV rated by his peers which reflects the combination of the highest general ethical and legal ability ratings. His practice currently includes the defense of physicians and hospitals in malpractice claims, the defense of attorneys in legal malpractice actions and various general litigation matters. He has defended numerous physicians in product liability and medical malpractice litigation involving Cox-2 inhibitors, Avandia and steroid methyl- prednisolone acetate as part of multi-district litigation in San Francisco, New Orleans and Boston. Joey graduated from Centre College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and from University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, with his Juris Doctorate. Joey is happily married to his college sweetheart, Jessica. He enjoys spending time at home with his children, Luke and Emma, watching sports, and helping coach football at St. Agnes grade school. Joey is the founder and director of Cure CF, a Louisville based charity, which has raised over $500,000.00 in the past two years for Cystic Fibrosis research.
JOSEPH P. MANKOVICH was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in Accounting. And he earned his J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he was an editor for the Kentucky Law Journal and was named Most Outstanding Third-Year Staff Editor. Before joining O'Bryan, Brown & Toner, Joey spent several years working for other respected defense firms in Louisville, where his work was primarily focused on medical-malpractice defense, nursing-home defense, and appeals. Before then, he worked as a judicial law clerk for former Deputy Chief Justice Mary Noble of the Kentucky Supreme Court. At OBT, his primary areas of practice remain medical-malpractice defense, nursing-home defense, and appellate work.
Joey lives in Louisville with his wife, Paige. In his free time, he enjoys cycling and spending time with his two dogs, Tutti and Trapper. He is also a member of the Derby City Curling Club. And he cheers for the Wildcats, Gamecocks, and Chelsea FC.
JOSHUA DAVIS maintains a diversified practice involving complex civil litigation throughout Kentucky and Indiana. His practice focuses upon defending claims of negligence against physicians, hospitals, lawyers, real estate appraisers and other licensed professionals. He also has significant experience in matters of workers' compensation defense, employment disputes, personal injury litigation and issues of property and casualty insurance. Joshua received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Centre College and his Juris Doctorate from University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. He and his wife, Beth, have always enjoyed spending time with family and friends. They are the proud and happy parents of three young children, Beatrice, Foster and Eliza Mae.
KATE DUKE is originally from Dayton, Ohio. She earned her bachelor's degree in Spanish and sociology and her master's degree in multi-age Spanish education from the University of Dayton. She taught Spanish for eleven years at the high school and university levels before deciding to pursue her dream of practicing law. Kate graduated magna cum laude from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, where she served as the editor in chief of the University of Louisville Law Review. She came to O'Bryan, Brown & Toner in the fall of 2022 as a law clerk and transitioned to associate attorney after graduation. Her practice allows her to combine her life-long interest in medicine with her passion for the law.
In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and her German Shepherd, Knox. Although she is spectacularly unathletic, she loves watching sports, particularly when the Ohio State Buckeyes or the Louisville Cardinals are playing.
Educational Background:
J.D. University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law, magna cum laude
B.A. University of Dayton, summa cum laude
Job Titles:
- Emergency Medicine Physician
- Partner
KATHERINE KERNS VESELY is licensed in both Kentucky and Indiana and has successfully defended healthcare providers and other professionals in high risk cases through trial by jury and appellate practice. Katherine represents clients in matters of complex civil litigation against diverse clientele. Her practice is centered on defending professional negligence claims against medical professionals of all levels and specialties (including physicians, nurse practitioners, mid-wives, physician's assistants, physical therapists, nurses, etc.), hospitals, dentists, attorneys, land surveyors, and landowners. Additionally, Katherine has significant experience in appellate practice and has successfully defended cases before all levels of the Kentucky and Indiana appellate courts. She also represents professionals in matters before professional licensure boards in Kentucky and Indiana, including the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure and the Office of Consumer Protection at the Office of the Indiana Attorney General.
Katherine serves as a frequent speaker to groups on various medical and legal topics, including medical review panel legislation and implementation, risk management strategies for hospitals and practice groups, strategies to maintain HIPAA compliance in the workplace, and medical malpractice litigation.
Before embarking on her legal career, Katherine served two years abroad as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Krosno, Poland. These days, Katherine and her husband, Bill, enjoy traveling, cooking, and spending time outdoors with their daughter and black lab.
LEAH SCHARFF was born and raised in Floyds Knobs, Indiana. She graduated cum laude from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science and a minor in International Business. She went on to earn her law degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law where she graduated magna cum laude. While in law school, Leah served as the Managing Editor of the University of Louisville Law Review and the President of the Moot Court Board. Leah joined the firm as an associate attorney in 2021. Her primary area of practice is insurance defense litigation with a focus on medical malpractice. She is licensed to practice law in Kentucky and Indiana.
MARK HAMMOND is licensed in Kentucky and Indiana and has been practicing law since 2000. His area of practice includes matters of negligence and tort claims, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, dram shop liability, workers' compensation, product liability, general personal injury and insurance coverage. Most recently, he has represented physicians and nursing homes in a variety of malpractice cases throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Mark has defended physicians and nursing homes in over 30 jury trials in Kentucky and Indiana for the past twenty years and has seen defense verdicts rendered on behalf of his clients consistently.
Outside of work, Mark likes to spend time with his wife, Rachel, and their two young children, Ellie and Evan. He's an avid fan of University of Kentucky athletic teams and he also tries to find time to run, play golf, watch sports, and read.
MARY DYCHE was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Centre College. She earned her law degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude. Mary joined O'Bryan, Brown & Toner as a summer law clerk in 2020 and began practicing with the firm in 2022. Her primary area of practice is insurance defense litigation with a focus on medical malpractice. She is licensed to practice law in Kentucky. Outside of the office, Mary enjoys spending time with friends and family.
MARY BETH O'BRYAN grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. She attended the University of Louisville for undergraduate work in Political Science. She spent one year abroad studying in France. She went on to obtain her law degree from the University of Louisville. During law school, Mary Beth worked as a law clerk at the Jefferson County Attorney's office. After graduating from law school, she went to work at O'Bryan Law Firm for five years spending several years involved with work on the San Juan Dupont hotel fire litigation. She is licensed to practice in Kentucky and is currently the managing attorney at O'Bryan, Brown & Toner. Mary Beth enjoys volunteering for the Waterfront Botanical Garden project. She and her husband Steve have three daughters, love to travel and enjoy spending time with their family.
Educational Background
J.D. University of Louisville
B.A. University of Louisville
MATTHEW GORE was born and raised in West Virginia. He attended West Virginia University where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He earned his Juris Doctorate from West Virginia University College of Law. He joined O'Bryan, Brown & Toner as an associate attorney in 2022 after working as an associate at a regional defense firm.
Matthew is licensed to practice in Kentucky. His primary areas of practice include insurance defense litigation with a focus on car accident defense and premises liability defense. In his role as second chair he participates in motion practice, drafts pleadings and discovery, consults with experts, and covers depositions.
Outside of the office, Matthew enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, traveling, and cheering on the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Educational Background:
J.D. West Virginia University College of Law
B.S. West Virginia University
MERIT HARRIS was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a minor in Political Science from Bellarmine University, where she played on the women's field hockey team. She went on to earn her law degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, where she graduated cum laude. While in law school, Merit served as the President of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society and the Articles Editor of the Journal of Animal and Environmental Law. Merit joined O'Bryan, Brown, & Toner as a summer law clerk in 2022 and began practicing with the firm in 2023. Her primary area of practice is insurance defense litigation with a focus on medical malpractice. She is licensed to practice law in Kentucky.
Outside of the office, Merit enjoys spending time with her friends and family, traveling, and cheering on the Louisville Cardinals.
Educational Background:
J.D. University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law, cum laude
B.A. University of Louisville
MIKE DAILEY is an experienced trial attorney representing a wide variety of clients in matters of complex civil litigation throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. His practice is currently centered upon defending claims of professional negligence levied against physicians, hospitals, lawyers, real estate agents and other licensed specialists. Additionally, he has significant experience in matters of product liability, premises liability and personal injury litigation. Mike received his Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Kentucky, magna cum laude, and his Juris Doctorate from University of Louisville School of Law. Mike and his wife, Jennifer, are the proud parents of three beautiful daughters, Madison, Sarah, and Gracelyn.
MORGAN MOTTLEY was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. She graduated, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Louisville. She went on to earn her law degree from the University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude. While in law school, Morgan served as Notes Editor on the Journal of Law and Education. Morgan has been licensed to practice in Kentucky since 2016. Her practice is dedicated to insurance defense litigation with a particular focus in medical malpractice defense. Morgan represents medical professionals of all levels and specialties as well as hospitals, long-term care facilities, and nursing homes in both Kentucky state and federal courts. Morgan has worked on many complex litigation matters, including several appeals.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, and cheering on the Louisville Cardinals.
MORGAN BLIND was born and raised in Somerset, Kentucky. She graduated, summa cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Louisville. She went on to earn her law degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and was a summer associate at O'Bryan, Brown and Toner during both her first and second summers of law school. Morgan joined the firm as an associate attorney in 2018. Her primary area of practice is insurance defense litigation with a focus on medical malpractice.
Educational Background
J.D. University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law, magna cum laude
B.S. University of Louisville, summa cum laude
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Certified Anesthesiologist
NICHOLAS DAVIS was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He graduated from the University of Kentucky, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Nick then attended the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he served as a member of the Moot Court Board and the Kentucky Law Journal. He joined O'Bryan, Brown & Toner as an associate attorney after clerking with the firm during his last summer of law school.
NOEL R. HALPIN is an experienced trial attorney, licensed in Kentucky, and he practices insurance defense litigation. More specifically, his areas of practice include matters of negligence and tort claims, medical malpractice, premises liability, general personal injury, and insurance coverage disputes.
Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, Noel graduated cum laude from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Political Science, and a Graduate Degree in Business Studies. He subsequently moved to Washington D.C. where, for eight years, he worked for Price Waterhouse, PwC, and IBM as a management consultant, delivering large scale process improvement, complex change, and business development transformations within the federal government and the private sector. Following that, he attended and graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law. While in law school he received awards for academic excellence in the areas of Trial Advocacy, Advanced Trial Advocacy, and Advanced Constitutional Law. After law school, Noel joined an insurance defense firm in Louisville where he successfully litigated complex cases in state and federal courts on behalf of insurance companies and their policyholders across Kentucky, with a focus on medical malpractice defense, premises liability, insurance coverage disputes, and other general civil liability causes of action. Noel joined O'Bryan, Brown & Toner in October 2019.
Outside of work, Noel likes to play golf, follow college and pro sports, and travel with family and friends. Noel and his wife, Lauren, are the proud parents of two wonderful children.
RACHEL DALTON DEARMOND is licensed in both Kentucky and Indiana. Rachel represents clients in matters of complex civil litigation and has successfully defended healthcare providers and other individuals in high risk cases through trial by jury and appellate practice. Her primary areas of practice include professional negligence defense involving healthcare providers and other professionals, long term care and nursing facilities, as well as the defense of property and casualty claims. Additionally, she represents medical professionals in matters before professional licensure boards in Kentucky and Indiana. Rachel was influential in changing the preferred venue requirements in Indiana as they relate to medical corporations. Rachel's work to change the preferred venue requirements in Indiana allows for medical corporations to ensure that cases filed against them will be heard by a jury of their peers from their community, as opposed to a county in which they are not located.
Outside of the office, Rachel enjoys being outdoors, cheering on the University of Louisville Cardinals, and spending time with family and friends. She particularly enjoys going on adventures with her husband and their chocolate lab, Booker.
SARAH VRABEL is a native of Canfield, Ohio. She participated in collegiate athletics while pursuing her undergraduate degree. While in law school, Sarah served as Vice President of Health Law Society and as a legal writing tutor with the Dean's Tutorial Society. She was also inducted into the International Legal Honor Society of Phi Delta Phi.
Prior to joining O'Bryan, Brown & Toner, Sarah worked as a law clerk for a civil litigation firm in Indianapolis, Indiana. She also served as an extern with the patent division of Eli Lilly and Company and with the in-house counsel of Community Health Network. Sarah is licensed to practice in both Indiana and Kentucky. Her primary area of practice is insurance defense litigation with a focus on medical malpractice.
Outside of the office, Sarah enjoys being outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Educational Background:
J.D. Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, cum laude, with a Graduate Certificate in Health Law
B.S. Saginaw Valley State University
SCOTT BURROUGHS was born in Columbus, Ohio and grew up in London, Kentucky. He eventually found his way back to Columbus to attend college at The Ohio State University from 2004 to 2008, graduating magna cum laude, with a B.A. in History. He earned his J.D. in 2011 from the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he was a member of the National Moot Court team, Moot Court treasurer, and Vice-President for the Environmental Law Society. Scott began his legal career with a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Judge Gregory A. Lay of Kentucky's 27th Judicial Circuit. Following his clerkship, he practiced for four years with a Louisville insurance defense firm successfully defending claims at the Administrative level, Court of Appeals, and the Kentucky Supreme Court. He joined O'Bryan, Brown & Toner in August 2016. His primary area of practice is insurance defense litigation with a particular focus in medical malpractice defense and workers compensation defense
In his free time, Scott enjoys time with his wife, Becca, their son, and their dog, Bodhi. He also enjoys spending time with extended family and friends, playing hockey, playing golf, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and really any and all other outdoor or sporting pursuits. As an avid college football and basketball fan, he cheers on both of his alma maters, the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Kentucky Wildcats.
SHEM BEARD focuses his practice with O'Bryan, Brown and Toner on medical malpractice, particularly long-term care facility defense. He joined the firm in 2023 having worked in-house for the previous decade for a regional healthcare company with offices around Kentucky. While in-house he handled a wide range of legal tasks including Medicaid audits; licensing board actions; insurance reimbursement and claims matters; employment disputes, including successful resolution of matters with the Kentucky Department of Labor and the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights; drafted and negotiated contracts with insurers, independent contractors, partners, employees, and vendors; litigated cases and prosecuted appeals on a variety of issues; researched and advised on issues relating to HIPAA compliance, statutes and administrative regulations governing healthcare enterprises, health law, non-profit law, zoning, and tax law. While in law school, he served in the leadership of the Student Health Law Association and clerked for a plaintiffs' firm.
Shem received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Centre College and his Juris Doctorate cum laude from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. He and his wife Dawn enjoy spending time with their eight children. In his spare time, Shem enjoys writing both classical compositions and rock and roll music, hiking in woods, and ATV racing in circuits such as GNCC, MSXC, and ISXC.
Educational Background:
J.D. University of Louisville, cum laude
B.A. Centre College
TRACY PREWITT is a partner who has been with the firm since 1999. She is a trial lawyer who is licensed in both Kentucky and Indiana and her civil practice includes the defense of clients in the areas of professional negligence and tort claims, professional licensure board actions, product liability, general personal injury, and insurance coverage. She received her Bachelor of Science degree, with highest honors, from University of Louisville and her Juris Doctorate, with High Honors, from University of Louisville School of Law. She is consistently named a Kentucky Super Lawyer and has been listed several times as one of the Top 25 Women Attorneys in Kentucky.
TRENT ADKINS hails from the heart of central Kentucky, Lexington. He embarked on his academic journey at the University of Kentucky, where he earned a Bachelor of Human Health Science in Clinical Leadership and Management. After completing his undergraduate studies, Trent pursued a brief but impactful career at UK Healthcare, where he served as a perioperative clerk. This experience allowed him to gain valuable insights into the healthcare industry and fostered a deep appreciation for the complexities of medical practices.