Bench & Bar January/February 2026

PMR Life Care Plans, LLC , is proud to announce its continued growth and expansion in Louisville, Ky. Their newly expanded office space now includes two private exam rooms and the capacity to host depositions and pro fessional meetings, enhancing their ability to serve clients and collaborators more effectively. As part of this exciting growth, they are thrilled to welcome Laura Elliott , chief legal officer, and Shelby Pruitt , chief operating officer, to their leadership team. Both bring a wealth of experience and expertise to PMR, strengthen ing their mission-driven approach to damages valuation. Elliott and Pruitt will play key roles in advancing their services and supporting their clients with precision, professionalism, and care. With this expansion, Kathleen Gormley John son assumes the role of chief executive officer, continuing to lead PMR with a commitment to excellence and innovation. PMR Life Care Plans, LLC, now collaborates with an expanded team of over 35 academic and university-affili ated physicians across the country. Johnson is the founder and owner of PMR Life Care Plans, LLC™, with over 30 years of experience as an

The American Bar Association’s Experience Magazine published an interview with Jerry Lawson (U.K College of Law Class of 1979) in its January issue. The interview covers Lawson’s legal career, includ ing an explanation of how a student from an economically backward part of Appalachia came to attend college and law school.

Kentucky Bar Association's Deputy Bar Coun sel Heather Matics was elected secretary of the National Client Protection Organization (NCPO) at their September meeting in Port land, Maine. NCPO is an educational resource serving client protection funds throughout the United States and Canada. The organization's purposes include providing help and support to protection funds and programs protecting legal consumers from dishonest conduct by attorneys.

Tachau Meek PLC is proud to welcome Greg ory George to the firm’s Louisville office as an experienced associate attorney. Gregory earned both his undergraduate degree and law degree from Florida A&M University, and then devel oped broad experience – as a legal & policy analyst with the Department of the Navy; as an assistant state attorney who prosecuted more than 700 felony, misdemeanor, and traffic cases,

attorney, legal educator focusing on litigation and experiential skills, and litigation support specialist. She earned her undergrad uate degree from Georgetown University and her law degree from University of Kentucky, College of Law. Pruitt brings a powerful blend of legal expertise and healthcare insight to PMR Life Care Plans, LLC, drawing from her experience in medical malpractice defense and healthcare law. Her work with national law firms and healthcare professionals has shaped her strategic, multidisciplinary approach to operational leadership. Pruitt earned both her under graduate and law degrees from the University of Kentucky. Elliott guides complex case evaluations and intake protocols with a sharp legal mind and a collaborative spirit. With a background in civil litigation and estate planning, she brings courtroom insight to every consultation, ensuring seamless communication between attor neys and expert physicians. Her fluency in both legal and clinical language helps her earn trust and turn complex cases into clear strategy. Elliott earned her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and her law degree from University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.

conducting jury trials, evidentiary hearings, and plea negotiations; as an in-house insurance defense attorney; and most recently, as an associate attorney for a Ft. Lauderdale civil litigation firm, where he worked for four years as a public sector & finance counsel. He and his family have recently moved to Louisville, and Tachau Meek is excited to have him join the firm’s civil and commercial litigation practice. Effective Nov 14 th , Judge David J. Hale assumed the position of Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, succeeding Judge Greg N. Stivers . Pursuant to 28 U.S. Code § 136, chief district judges serve a term of seven years.

On July 24, 2025, Attorney Langdon Ryan Worley of Lexington, was appointed by Gov ernor Andy Beshear as a special justice to the Supreme Court of Kentucky to hear and decide the case of Eifler v. Greenamyer . Worley was sworn in before the Supreme Court on Octo ber 14, 2025. Worley is a 2007 graduate of Transylvania University and a 2010 graduate of the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg

Tachau Meek PLC is pleased to welcome Zach Dembo as an experienced associate attorney in the firm’s Louisville office. A Kentucky native, Dembo earned his undergraduate degree from Stanford University (2007) and his law degree from University of Michigan Law School (2012), after having worked for two years as a middle school teacher for Teach For America, then

College of Law. She is currently a litigation attorney at Hicks & Funfsinn, PLLC , in Lexington, as well as the treasurer of the Fay ette County Bar Association, a member of the High Street YMCA Advisory Board, a member of the Fayette County Bar Foundation Executive Board, a member of UK Children’s Hospital’s Circle of Blue, past president of the Fayette County Women Lawyers Asso ciation, and a current member of the Kentucky Justice Association Board of Governors.

during summers in law school as a legal intern for the Mississippi Center for Justice and the Southern Poverty Law Center. After law school, he served on active duty as a Judge Advocate ("JAG”) officer

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