CALL FOR CONSULTATION

(502) 589-9254

Bruce A. Brightwell, Principal Attorney

Following graduation from law school, Bruce went to work for the large firm of Boehl, Stopher and Graves, practicing insurance defense. Bruce then moved into small firm practice to represent individuals and families, establishing Brightwell Law in 1998. His experience in insurance defense taught him that everyone needs protection and strong legal representation to preserve their best interests. Bruce is not only a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, but serves on the Editorial Board for the NAELA Law Journal.

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PRACTICE SUMMARY

  • Sole practitioner
    August 1998 – present
  • Trautwein & Keeney PLLC
    Louisville, Kentucky
    Associate, July 1996 – August 1998
  • Kruger, Schwartz & Morreau
    Louisville, Kentucky
    Partner, January 1996 – July 1996
    Associate, July 1993 – December 1995
  • Boehl Stopher & Graves
    Louisville, Kentucky
    Associate, April 1992 – July 1993
  • Law Offices of Steve Voelker
    Jeffersonville, Indiana
    Law Clerk, summer 1990 and 1991

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Indiana University School of Law
Bloomington, Indiana
J.D. 1992, magna cum laude
  • Instructor, Appellate Advocacy (1991 – 1992)
  • Research Assistant, Professor Mary Ellen O’Connell (1992)
  • Am. Jur. Award, Criminal Procedure (1991)
  • National Moot Court Team (1991)
    • Quarter-finalist, Midwest Regional (1991)
  • Jessup Moot Court Team (1991, 1992)
    • Quarter-finalist, Midwest Regional (1991)
  • American Moot Court Team (1992)
Indiana University, School of Journalism

B.A. in Journalism with minor in Business, 1989 (graduated in three years)

PUBLICATIONS

  • Police ‘Expert’ Testimony Regarding Drug Trafficking Should be Examined under the Daubert Test, The Advocate (May/June 2002)
  • Engaging Issue – Who Gets to Keep the Engagement Ring When the Marriage is Called Off? 28 The Advocate, Vol. 4, 14 (2001)
  • Liability of Creditor and Repossession Agent for Wrongful Repossession and Tortious Acts Committed During Repossession, 42 Am Jur Proof of Facts 3d 355 (1997)
  • Negligent Issuance of Life Insurance Policy Resulting in Injury to, or Death of, Insured, 37 Am Jur Proof of Facts 3d 149 (1996)
  • The Hague Convention on Service of Process Abroad: An Overview, 37 Res Gestae 420 (1994)
  • Availability of Jury Trials for Statutory Damages in Copyright Infringement Cases: The Easy Answer, 8Adelphia L.J. 145 (1992)

SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS

  • Presentation on Law Office Technology, NAELA Annual Conference (April 2012)
  • Legal Writing Seminar, National Business Institute (June 2005)
  • Challenges in Insurance Coverage, National Business Institute (October 2002)
  • Bad Faith Litigation, National Business Institute (April 2000)
  • Basic Insurance Law for the Paralegal, National Business Institute (February 1999)
  • Insurance Law: Third Party Coverage, National Business Institute (May 1998)
  • Appeals in Insurance Coverage Cases, ABA TIPS Mid Year Meeting, San Diego (February 1999)

REPORTED CASES

  • Yeager v. McLellan, 177 S.W.3d 807 (Ky. 2005)
  • Rakhman v. Zusstone, 957 S.W.2d 241 (Ky. 1997)
  • In re Clark, 206 B.R. 439 (Bkrtcy.W.D.Ky.,1996)
  • DesJardins v. State, 759 N.E.2d 1036 (Ind.2001)
  • Jeffries v. Clark Memorial Hospital, 832 N.E.2d 571 (Ind.App. 2005)
  • Deloney v. State, 938 N.E.2d 724 (Ind.App. 2010)
  • Schrenger v. Caesars Indiana, 825 N.E.2d 879 (Ind.App. 2005)
  • In re Commitment of Berryman, 797 N.E.2d 820 (Ind.App.,2003)
  • Russell v. Richards, 384 F.3d 444 (C.A.7 (Ind.)2004)
  • Doan v. Watson, 168 F.Supp.2d 932 (S.D.Ind.,2001)
  • Higginbottom ex rel. Davis v. Keithley, 103 F.Supp.2d 1075 (S.D.Ind.,1999)

BRIEFS

  • Co-author, Amicus Brief, American College of Legal Medicine, Kentucky Ass’n of Health Plans, Inc. v. Miller, 538 U.S. 329, 123 S.Ct. 1471 (2003)

CERTIFICATIONS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION

  • Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate by National Board of Trial Advocacy (2010 – present)
  • Accredited Attorney with Veterans Administration (2010 – present)
  • Registry of Indiana Civil Mediators (2002 – present)
  • Registry of Indiana Family Law Mediators (2002 – present)

AWARDS

  • American College of Legal Medicine, President’s Award (2003)
  • Kentucky Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Award (2003, 2004)
  • Louisville Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award (1997)
  • Order of the Barristers (1992)

BAR ADMISSIONS

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys  (2010 – present)
  • Louisville Bar Association (1992 – present)
    • Member, Communications Committee (2005 – present)
    • Chair, Young Lawyers Section (1996 – 1997)
    • Chair, Solo and Small Firm Section (1997 – 1998)
    • Professional Responsibility Committee (1996 – 1998)
    • Law Week Committee (1997, 1998)
  • Louis D. Brandeis American Inn of Court, Barrister (2002 – 2004)
  • Sherman Minton American Inn of Court, Barrister (2006 – present)
  • American College of Legal Medicine (2000 – present)
  • American Bar Association (1992 – present)
    • ABA TIPS Appellate Committee (1997 – 2003)
    • Council of Appellate Lawyers (2000 – 2004)
    • Nominating Committee (2001)
    • Chair, Publications Committee (2001 – 2002)
  • Associate’s Club (1992 – 1996)
    • President (1995 – 1996)
  • Chair, Technology Committee, Jefferson County Law Library (1995 – 1998)

CIVIC ACTIVITIES

  • Focus Louisville (2003)
  • Toastmasters International (1990 – 1998)
    • President-Advanced Toastmasters Club (1993)
    • Area Governor (1994)
  • MENSA (2002 – present)
  • Navy League (2004 – present)

MEDIA APPEARANCES

  • WHAS Radio, Mock Trial Presentation (October 1996)
  • WHAS Radio, Ask The Lawyers Program (April 1997, September 1998, May 1999, December, 1999, March 2001, March 2004, May 2005, April 2006, February 2007)

REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS

  • Dunn-Rite Construction Company; Intra-Med Services, Inc; Stanley Schultze Company; Weissinger-Gaulbert Apartments