Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC | Advertising Material

Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC | Advertising Material


Matthew R. Parsons

Member, Lexington

Matt is a Member in Stoll Keenon Ogden's Lexington office. He practices exclusively civil litigation as a member of firm’s Tort, Trial and Insurance Services and Business Litigation practice groups. Matt actively practices in all state and federal courts in Kentucky, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and other jurisdictions around the country as the needs of each client and case dictate.

Matt is the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Young Lawyer Award from the Fayette County Bar Association and has been honored as a Kentucky Super Lawyer Rising Star.

Matt is past President of the Fayette County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section and previously served on the boards of directors of the FBCA and the Fayette County Bar Foundation.

Matt’s litigation experience is broad and spans a number of practice areas and industries, including:

Trucking Litigation: Matt represents commercial trucking operators and lessors against claims of personal injury arising from highway and non-highway collisions. Matt has significant experience defending clients against alleged Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR) violations, driver negligence, and negligent hiring and training.

Products Liability: On behalf of product manufacturers and distributors, Matt defends against allegations of design and manufacturing defects. As part of his products liability practice, he has defended numerous toxic tort cases, including alleged exposure to asbestos in an occupational and “take home” setting.

Warranty and Business Litigation: Matt represents a wide variety of product manufacturers, including OEMs of industrial components, automotive manufacturers, recreational vehicle (RV) assemblers, and heavy equipment and farm machinery manufacturers, against allegations of breach of warranty and violations of the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act (“MMWA”), as well as in general business and contract disputes.

Electric and Gas Utility: Matt defends electric and gas utilities against claims of personal injury, death and property damage resulting from electrical contact, premises liability, and gas fires and explosions. He also represents utilities in regulatory proceedings before the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

ERISA Litigation: Working with plan administrators, insurers, and 3rd-party medical reviewers, Matt defends against claims relating to breach of fiduciary duty, denial of benefits and plan eligibility determinations for ERISA-governed employee benefit plans.

Education
University of Kentucky College of Law
2008, J.D.
Indiana University
2002, B.S., Computer Information Systems, with Distinction
Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky
Kentucky

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law — Individuals, Employment Law — Management, 2021 - present
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, Labor Law - Union, Litigation - Real Estate, 2023 - present
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, 2024
  • FCBA Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year Award, 2017
  • Kentucky Rising Stars® Honoree, 2016 - 2018
  • Order of the Coif
  • Moot Court National Team
  • Kentucky Law Journal
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Affiliations

  • Fayette County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, Past President
  • Fayette County Bar Association, Board of Directors
  • Lexington Children's Theatre, Board of Directors
  • Leadership Lexington Youth Program, Steering Committee, 2018-2021
  • Leadership Lexington, class of 2015-2016
  • Central Kentucky American Inn of Court, Barrister
  • Junior Achievement, Volunteer Instructor
  • Habitat for Humanity, Volunteer
  • God's Pantry Food Bank, Volunteer Fundraiser
  • Fayette County Public Schools, Volunteer
  • Kentucky Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Executive Committee
  • American Bar Association
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Work Highlights

Successful Defense of Veil-Piercing Claim

Spradlin v. Beads and Steeds Inn, LLC (In re Howland), Case No. 16-5499 (Jan., 2017) (unpublished)

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court rulings SKO obtained in a matter involving novel Kentucky corporate law claims centered on reverse veil piercing and substantive consolidation claims under bankruptcy law. SKO successfully defended the client against efforts by a Chapter 7 trustee to avoid the transfer of a parcel of real property. In this case, the client purchased a farm from an LLC, which leased it back to continue operating its business at the location. When the individual members of the LLC later sought bankruptcy relief, the trustee filed a complaint, alleging the client was the recipient of a fraudulent transfer. SKO proved the property transfer was made to our client by the LLC, not the individual debtors. Efforts by the trustee to amend and consolidate the complaint on appeal, as well as invoke reverse veil-piercing, were unsuccessful in federal Bankruptcy Court, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Commercial Trucking Accident

Collins v. Westfreight  Systems, Inc., No. 08-227, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 33141 (E.D. Ky. Apr. 17, 2009)

Successfully defended commercial trucking client against negligence claims arising out of a highway accident.  Case resulted in dismissal of lawsuit for improper service of process on foreign entity.

Warranty and Products Liability

John F. Ruggles, Jr., Inc. v. Ventex Tech., Inc., No. 09-141, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79816 (E.D. Ky. Jul. 21, 2011)

Obtained complete defense summary judgment for client in case involving breach of warranty claims against manufacturer of electronic transformers used in commercial signage.

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