Kathryn E. Barnett

Partner

Nashville

Practice Areas Include: Consumer Protection, Personal Injury & Torts, Defective Products

Bar Information

Admitted to practice in Tennessee, 1992; U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee; U.S. 6th Circuit, 2000; U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee, 2001; U.S. 11th Circuit, 2003.

Education

Vanderbilt University School of Law (J.D., 1992); American Jurisprudence Awards: Torts I and Jurisprudence; Davidson College (B.A., with Honors in Philosophy, 1989), Dean Rusk Grant for International Studies.

Awards & Honors

"Best of the Bar," Nashville Business Journal (2003, 2005-2007); "150 Best Lawyers in Tennessee," Business Tennessee (January 2006, January 2007); Mid-South Super Lawyer, Law & Politics, 2006-2008.

Litigation Experience

Ms. Barnett has tried over 15 civil and criminal trials, including complex and class action cases, as well as catastrophic personal injury cases. In 2000, Ms. Barnett obtained a verdict of nearly $6 million on behalf of parents whose unborn fetus died tragically due to medical malpractice. In March, 2004, Ms. Barnett served as co-lead trial counsel in the class action lawsuit of In re Tri-State Crematory Litigation, Multi-District Litigation Docket No. 1467. The case was settled during the second week of trial. The settlements in the Tri-State litigation exceed $40 million.

Prior Employment

Judicial Intern to Judge John T. Nixon, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee, Fall 1990; Assistant Public Defender, Davidson County, Tennessee, Sept. 1991-Dec. 1995.

Publications & Presentations

“Civil Procedure and Evidence Update,” Tennessee Trial Lawyers (Oct. and Nov. 2006); “Pre-Trial Skills: Thinking on Your Feet,” National Business Institute (Nov. 2006), “Trial Practice Institute,” Nashville Bar Association (Sept. 2005); “State Law Class Actions,” American Bar Association, Business Law Section (April 2005); "Power Windows Can Kill," Trial (April 2005); “Auto Defect Cases,” Tennessee Trial Lawyers (Feb. 2005); "Knocking Out Opposing Experts," Tennessee Trial Lawyers (October and November, 2004), Nashville Bar Association (July, 2004); "Trial Practice Tips: Powerful Trial Strategies for the Absolute Litigator," Nashville Bar Association (April, 2004); "Limiting the Harmful Testimony of Experts on the Law," Trial (Jan. 2001); "Letting Focus Groups Work for You," Trial (April 1999); "Damages," Tennessee Trial Lawyers (Oct. and Nov. 2003); "Trying the Wrongful Death Case in Tennessee," National Business Institute (Aug. 2003); "Advanced Personal Injury," National Business Institute (July 2003); "Mass Torts," Tennessee Bar Association (July 2002); "Superior Depositions Strategies in Civil Trial Practice," National Business Institute (Jan. 2002, Dec. 1999); "Lawsuits Against the Nursing Home Industry," Tennessee Trial Lawyers (Feb. 2000); "How to Prepare for Mediation and other Practice Tips," Nashville Bar Association (Oct. 2000); "Tennessee Expert Witness," Lorman Education Services (July 2000); "Using Focus Groups to Get the Settlement or Verdict Your Client Deserves," Tennessee Trial Lawyers (Feb. 1999).

Member

Tennessee Association for Justice (Executive Committee, 2008-2009, Secretary, 2007-2009, Chair, Continuing Education Committee, 2004-2006, Board of Governors, 2002-2008); Nashville Bar Association (Board, 2005-2008); Nashville Bar Foundation (Fellow); Tennessee Justice Center, Inc. (Board of Directors, 2002-05, Secretary-Treasurer, 2003-04); Nashville Lawyer's Association for Women (President, 2004-2005; President-elect, 2003-2004; Director, 2002-03; Treasurer, 2000-02; Board, 1998-present); Harry Phillips American Inn of Courts, Executive Committee, 2004-05, Member, 2004-2008, 1997-99; Davidson County, Tennessee Metropolitan Board of Equalization, 2000-04; Tennessee Bar Association; American Association of Trial Lawyers.