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Austin Mehr

Item: Mehr Fairbanks Trial Lawyers
Rating: 5
Author: S. A.

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amehr@austinmehr.com
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Toll Free: (800) 249-3731
Fax: (859) 225-3830

201 W Short St #800
Lexington, Kentucky 40507

Austin Mehr wrote a book about insurance bad faith in the early 90’s before other lawyers were aware that such cases existed. He has been asked to lecture to other lawyers about insurance dozens of times. He has tried more insurance bad faith cases to judgment than any other attorney in Kentucky. In addition to settling hundreds of cases, he has presented 13 insurance bad faith cases to juries over the last 20 years. No other lawyer in the state has done more than two such jury trials.

Austin represents people in bad faith insurance and ERISA claims, who have been treated unfairly and who don't get their claims paid fairly or promptly by insurance companies. It happens all too often.

Austin lives downtown Lexington with his wife, Jill Hall, who is also an attorney. They enjoy outdoor activities including skiing, boating, and cycling, and visiting their three children who live in Nashville, Colorado Springs, and Chicago.

Austin is a volunteer board member of the Fayette County Bar Association Foundation, a nonprofit that manages and donates money to various community legal nonprofit organizations to help people in the central Kentucky community. He is on the Board of the Carnegie Learning Center, a Lexington based non-profit that helps people, primarily children, to read and write. He volunteers his legal expertise to help people with limited resources on pro bono cases. Austin also devotes time to volunteer at the Fayette County Legal Help Center.

His published book “Bad Faith Insurance Law in Kentucky,” a book focusing on insurance law and the way insurance companies treated people, has been read by other lawyers and judges to understand how insurance companies sometimes treat people unfairly and in violation of our laws.

Austin has developed a law practice of 39 years, concentrating on representing individuals who have received unfair treatment on insurance claims.

J.D., University of Kentucky College of Law, 1983

B.S., Murray State University, 1979
Cum Laude

Kentucky, 1983
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky

Mr. Mehr is frequently asked to lecture on the topic of insurance bad faith in Kentucky. In addition to in-state lectures, he also lectures in other states around the country and out-of-country locations such as Ontario, Canada. Some of Mr. Mehr’s speaking engagements include:

Northern Kentucky Bar Association, Zooming Thru Continuing Education, Guest Speaker (July 17, 2020)
Perry County Bar Association Guest Speaker (March 4, 2020)
Kentucky Law Update, Lexington, Kentucky (December 6, 2019)
Kentucky Law Update, Ashland, Kentucky (November 22, 2019)
Kentucky Law Update, London, Kentucky (November 1, 2019)
Kentucky Law Update, Louisville, Kentucky (October 18, 2019)
Kentucky Law Update, Paducah, Kentucky (October 3, 2019)
Kentucky Law Update, Bowling Green, Kentucky (September 27, 2019)
Kentucky Law Update, Covington, Kentucky (September 13, 2019)
Kentucky Law Update, Owensboro, Kentucky (August 30, 2019)
Laurel County Bar Association, Guest Speaker (August 15, 2019)
National Business Institute, Advanced Insurance Bad Faith Speaker, Louisville, Kentucky (May 23, 2019)
National Business Institute, Advanced Insurance Bad Faith Speaker, Lexington, Kentucky (May 21, 2019)
McCracken County Bar Association, Guest Speaker (May 20, 2019)
Daviess County Bar Association, Guest Speaker (April 18, 2019)
Perry County Bar Association, Guest Speaker (April 17, 2019)
Jessamine County Bar Association, Guest Speaker (March 12, 2019)
University of Kentucky Trial Advocacy Board Awards Banquet (April 16, 2013)
Bad Faith Seminar in South Dakota (April 14-15, 2013)
2012 Bad Faith Lectures to Bar Associations in Bell County, Boyd County, Laurel County, and Jefferson County (2012)
ERISA Long Term Disability Claims: Administrative Appeals through Litigation, Kentucky Justice Association (June 2008)
Insurance Issues in Consumer Law , University of Kentucky CLE (September 2004)
National Business Institute (February 2003)
State Farm v. Campbell, “It’s not as bad as it sounds” (June 2003)
Punitive damages after State Farm v. Campbell ( October 2003)
Punitive damages after State Farm v. Campbell (December 2003)
Punitive damages after State Farm v. Campbell, KATA New Orleans seminar (2003)
Insurance Bad Faith Claims in Kentucky , Lorman Education Services (January 2002)
Evidence of Other Bad Acts To Support Punitive Damages After BMW v. Gore. How To Handle The Cries Of “Prejudice” Before The Trial And The Cries Of “Unsupported By The Evidence” After The Verdict, Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys (June 2002)
Proving Damages, Fayette County CLE , Lexington, Kentucky, (June 2002)
Bad Faith Law – Avoiding the Pitfalls and Preparing for Litigation, Louisville Bar Association (May 2001)
Chaired KATA’s Professional Negligence seminar (June 5, 1998)
Tips on the Trial of Bad Faith Cases, ATLA annual convention, Washington, DC (July 1998)
Chaired Insurance Law/Bad Faith Seminar (June 13, 1997)
Patient Abuse in Psychiatric Hospitals, ATLA’s Litigation at Sunrise (July 21, 1997)
Chaired Insurance Law Dinner Meeting and Seminar (August 9, 1996)
Chaired Personal Injury Seminar (July 1995)
Litigating the Legal Malpractice Case, Fayette County Bar Association (December 1993)

Books

Bad Faith Insurance Law in Kentucky (2001)

Articles

"Was Removal Proper Under ERISA? Why a Motion to Remand May Be Appropriate," The Kentucky Justice Association, The Advocate (March/April 2008)
"Bad Faith Verdicts and Appeals – What Are Your Chances?," The Advocate (2009)
"Defeating Summary Judgment Motions in Bad Faith Cases – the Power of Inference," The Kentucky Justice Association, The Advocate (November/December 2007)
"Admissibility of Litigation Conduct in a Bad Faith Trial," The Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, The Advocate (March/April 2007)
"ERISA Preemption? Maybe, Maybe Not! Analysis of the Safe Harbor Provisions," The Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, The Advocate (March/April 2006)
"Grange Mutual Ins. Co. v. Trude, A Change in the Landscape of Discovery for Bad Faith Cases," The Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, The Advocate (March/April 2005)
“The Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act Gives Workers’ Compensation a Warm Hug – Welcome to the Real World” (1999)
"How to Practice a Third Party Bad Faith Case," Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys (May 1999)
"Bad Faith Litigation in Kentucky (Co-Author)," National Business Institute (1997)

★★★★★

“Bartley is working on my case every one I have talked to is extremely nice he sends emails or mails something keeping me up dated when you talk to him he explains it to where you can understand I'm very satisfied with what he has done and what he is doing for me would advise anyone to contact him for your needs” S. A.

"With everything to lose I laid my vulnerability in the hands of Bartley Hagerman. I cannot put into words the hard work, dedication, and compassion that I was shown. Bartley was able to help me when the odds were stacked against me. I am beyond grateful!" C. W.

"When my long term disability case got canceled, I didn’t know what to do or who to turn to. Luckily someone I knew recommended Mehr Fairbanks Trial Lawyers. I met up with Mr. Bartley Hagerman and not only did he take my case, he got my long term disability reinstated. He keeps you updated and works hard for you! Highly recommend Mr. Bartley Hagerman at Mehr Fairbanks Trial Lawyers!" D. C.

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