BCCN - Key Persons


Andrew S. Epstein

Job Titles:
  • Louisville Personal Injury & Employment Law Attorney
Andy Epstein is a Louisville-based litigation attorney who routinely practices in both the Federal and State Courts throughout Kentucky. Andy specializes in medical malpractice, employment discrimination, and personal injury cases.

Brian D. Cook

Job Titles:
  • Founding Member and Partner at Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger PLC
  • Partner & Louisville Personal Injury Lawyer
Brian D. Cook is a founding member and partner at Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger PLC. He focuses his legal practice on helping people that have been harmed by the carelessness and poor decisions of others. Brian recognizes that even when there is an accident, it almost always involved a choice by an individual or a company to take the less safe path, to cut corners, or to do what was easier instead of what was safer. When people and companies make choices like these that are not focused on the safety of others and those decisions hurt someone else, Brian's experience helps those that are hurt to pick up the pieces and try to put their lives back together. Those efforts to help injured people recover almost always begin by confronting the people or companies that caused the harm and their insurance companies. Sometimes things can be worked out, but other times these situations can become a real battle. Fortunately, these are battles that Brian is able to wage on behalf of his clients through years of experience, education, and training. Brian has been an early adopter of iPad and other "legal technology" in the courtroom to help his clients. In fact, he has been asked to speak at many local, regional, and national seminars (including the Louisville Bar Association, Kentucky Justice Association, and American Association for Justice) on the topics of technology in the practice of law, the use of iPads and other wireless technology in trial and pre-trial setting, and other methods of digital audio/visual presentation inside and outside of court. Brian served as lead counsel in a case involving a young college student who was killed when ejected from a vehicle. The case involved multiple, complex coverage issues including obtaining compensation for the family from liability, uninsured, underinsured, and no-fault motorist policies. Brian served as lead counsel in a case involving the sexual abuse of a patient at a Louisville-area hospital. The abuser was an employee of the hospital who had been previously reprimanded for inappropriate sexual behavior with co-employees. The client was one of several women who were assaulted. Brian helped hold the hospital accountable for continuing to employ a known risk and by trying to cover up the abuse from police, prosecutors and the state inspector's office. Brian served as lead counsel on a case involving the fall of a patient at a rural regional hospital, causing a shattered hip and months of rehabilitation. He successfully argued that the facility violated its own policies and procedures by failing to aid the client in moving from the bed to the bathroom without assistance, causing the severe injuries. Brian served as co-lead counsel on a case involving the death of an inmate at a Kentucky metro jail facility. The facility and its third-party medical provider failed to provide adequate medical care to the inmate who eventually died a horrific death from dehydration. The deceased was survived by three minor children who will now have financially secure futures, despite the loss of their mother. Brian served as lead counsel on a motor vehicle vs. pedestrian case involving multiple orthopedic injuries as well as traumatic brain injuries. The client was mowing his lawn when he was struck by an elderly driver whose vision was blinded by the sun. The money that was recovered is helping the client adjust to a life with permanent brain injuries and served as seed money for the client to found a small company to try and remain independent in life. Brian served as lead counsel on a boating accident involving the death of a man who was killed by being run over by a pontoon boat while training for an Iron Man competition in Western Kentucky. The case was also notable because the deceased was from Germany and completing the case involved the resolution of some very complex probate and estate issues. Brian served as lead counsel on a case involving a severe job-site accident where approximately 4,000 lbs. of plate windows were dropped on his client's legs, pinning him inside of a tractor trailer and crushing his lower legs. The client, a truck driver, sustained permanent nerve damage to his legs leaving him with injuries that affected his ability to work and left him with a drop-foot. Brian served as co-lead counsel on a motorcycle accident in Oldham County, Kentucky. The client was killed when another vehicle pulled in front of him into a shopping center. The deceased was survived by a wife and two small children. The case involved allegations that the client was at fault himself, but was successfully resolved despite this difficult hurdle. Brian served as lead counsel in a case involving a young man who was overprescribed methadone and other pain killers by a Northern Kentucky doctor, ultimately resulting in his death from an overdose. The doctor in the case was involved in the death of almost a dozen other patients and was under both criminal investigation and disciplinary action by the state medical licensure board. In addition to helping this family, Brian is proud to have played some small part in helping stop the spread of prescription drug abuse by proving the dangers of an out of control physician. Brian served as lead counsel in a motor vehicle accident involving a vehicle turning in front of the client's vehicle. The client's injuries included a completed shattered hip and pelvis and required months of bed rest and rehabilitation.

David W. Mushlin

Job Titles:
  • Associate & Personal Injury Lawyer
David W. Mushlin spent the first ten years of his legal career as an insurance defense litigation attorney. He represented some of the largest corporations in the world, and concentrated his practice on defending doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, and religious institutions throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. For the last ten years, David has focused his practice on litigating personal injury claims on behalf of individual injury and accident victims. He handles all types of litigation, especially cases that are decided in the courtroom before a jury, including: Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Medical Malpractice Products Liability (pharmaceutical and medical device) Auto Accidents Motorcycle Accidents Trucking Accidents Aviation Accidents Slip & Falls Criminal Matters

J. Chris Sanders

Job Titles:
  • Counsel
  • Associate & Personal Injury Lawyer
I'm a lawyer for working people, active in law, labor, faith and politics. I litigate, negotiate, campaign, teach, speak, organize, network, and advocate.

John A. Bahe

Job Titles:
  • EDUCATION
John A. Bahe, Jr. is a former corporate and insurance defense litigation attorney at a large, well-known Louisville defense law firm. Mr. Bahe now uses this experience to help the injured effectively prosecute their claims at Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger PLC.

John Doyle

Job Titles:
  • Louisville Personal Injury Attorney
John Doyle has been an attorney in Kentucky for more than a decade. He has tried many jury trials in Jefferson County and in other parts of the state and handled numerous multi-million dollar injury claims. In fact, John is a member of the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, one of the most prestigious groups of trial attorneys in the United States. Membership is limited to lawyers who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members.

Nathan D. Williams

Job Titles:
  • Partner & Personal Injury Attorney
Nathan Williams joined Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger PLC after beginning his legal career as a litigation associate at Greenebaum, Doll & McDonald, a large regional law firm headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. The experience and perspective he gained defending some of the worlds' largest corporations in high profile litigation is invaluable in his practice now as a plaintiff's personal injury attorney. Knowing how the other side thinks and works is crucial in getting cases successfully resolved.

Patrick E. Markey

Job Titles:
  • Partner & Louisville Personal Injury Attorney
  • Partner at Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger PLC
Patrick E. Markey is a partner at Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger PLC. Mr. Markey has significant experience working with, and helping, those in need in the legal system. Prior to being admitted to the practice of law, Mr. Markey spent nearly eight years working as a court employee and helping individuals who suffer from the disease of addiction to change their lives. Mr. Markey believes that the United States legal system can, and should be, an accessible means to help make whole those who have been harmed.

Vanessa B. Cantley

Job Titles:
  • EDUCATION
  • President - Elect of the Kentucky Justice Association
Vanessa Cantley is a trial attorney with an unwavering passion for justice. Justice isn't just a word or a slogan to Vanessa. It's what our nation's founders risked their lives for. It's what separates us from the cheaters, the bullies, and the barbarians. It's what drives not only her law practice but her life. This viewpoint has helped Vanessa experience great success representing injured individuals and families in Louisville, Kentucky and Indiana state and federal courts. Recent Successes $6.2 Million Dollar Verdict: Representing the injured victim of a defective farm machinery product. After a two-week jury trial, the jury returned a $6.2 million dollar verdict in her client's favor. $330,000 Verdict: Representing the back seat passenger in an rear-end collision at a stop light. While the client incurred just over $6,000 in medical expenses and experienced a 6-month delay and 4-year gap in treatment, the jury awarded her $330,000. $434,171 Verdict: Representing an independent contractor in a workplace injury. With just over $4,000 in medical expenses, the jury awarded Vanessa's client $434,171. $1.027 Million Dollar Verdict: Representing the victim of a fall at a nursing home. Vanessa was hired by another attorney just 5 weeks before trial to take over a nursing home negligence case. Vanessa prepared and tried the case to a jury in a notoriously conservative jurisdiction. With just over $27,000 in medical expenses, the jury awarded the full amount of medical bills and an additional $1 million in pain and suffering. (The Defendants asked the jury to award Vanessa's client zero.) $400,000 Verdict: Representing the victim of medical negligence. Vanessa tried this against an emergency room physician who failed to treat a wound properly resulting in a severe infection and emergency surgery to save the client's foot. After no offer to settle was made, Vanessa tried the case to Green County, Kentucky jury. She sought no medical expenses in the case but a total of $400,000 in total suffering and pain. The jury awarded the full amount of damages requested. $257,017.46 Verdict: Representing the victim of a fall in the restroom of a local office building. Vanessa was asked by another attorney a month before trial to try this case against two local maintenance companies. Pre-trial offers to settle the case were $20,000 from one Defendant and $3,000 from the other, with both blaming the victim for his own injuries. The jury awarded $257,017.46 with no fault apportioned to Vanessa's client. $190,000 Verdict: Representing the victim of a rear-end collision. Vanessa was asked by another attorney to try this case when final pre-trial settlement negotiations failed. Defendant's last offer to resolve the case was $26,000, arguing low-speed impact and minimal property damage as well as a morbidly obese plaintiff with severe pre-existing conditions. The jury awarded $190,000 after a 4-day trial. $1.441 Million Dollar Verdict (10% comparative): Representing the driver of a vehicle who rear-ended a dump truck on a two-lane highway, Vanessa tried this case to a rural Kentucky jury. The verdict included $25,000.00 in punitive damages for the truck's out-of-service violations. Vanessa currently serves as President-Elect of the Kentucky Justice Association (KJA)- a statewide organization of her peers - and the Louisville Bar Foundation. She is regularly called upon by the KJA to debate the issue of tort reform in the media and other public forums. She also testifies in Kentucky House and Senate committees for or against bills that affect the civil justice system and injured individuals' rights.

William D. Nefzger

Job Titles:
  • Partner & Louisville Personal Injury Attorney
Will Nefzger primarily devotes his practice to representing those who have been harmed by the careless or willful actions of others throughout the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky. Will's experience representing clients ranges from pre-lawsuit dispute and case resolution to appeals in the Supreme Court of Kentucky as well as every step in between, including serving as primary trial counsel in numerous jury trials. He has the experience and knowledge to help clients in a variety of matters, including: Motorcycle, truck, and car accidents Boating accidents Brain injury Dangerous drugs Dog bites and animal attacks Fire and burn injuries Injury to minors Medical malpractice Nursing home neglect or abuse Personal injury litigation Workplace accidents and workers' compensation Wrongful death Consumer protection Insurance bad faith and unfair claims settlement actions Premises liability (slip and fall, trip and fall, and unsafe conditions) EDUCATION J.D. Loyola University of New Orleans, 2000 Loyola Law Review Member (membership extended to those in the top 10% of their class) BA, University of Vermont, 1996