Scarlette Burton Kelty – Trial Attorney

Background

Scarlette Burton Kelty was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky where she attended Male High School. In high school, Scarlette wanted to be a Latin teacher, competing and medaling in the language in the Regional Foreign Language Festival. It is still something she enjoys practicing in her spare time.

Scarlette went on the attend the University of Louisville where she majored in Political Science, graduating magna cum laude in 2008. She accomplished her goal of becoming a first-generation college graduate. Through participation in the Harlan Scholar program, Scarlette received guaranteed admission to the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville.

Scarlette graduated cum laude from the Brandeis School of Law in 2011 in the top ten percent of her class, with an invitation to join the prestigious Brandeis Honor Society.

In her spare time Scarlette enjoys spending time with her husband, Samuel, their young daughter, and three cats. She enjoys serving in the Parent Teacher Fellowship at Little Flock Christian Academy and as a member of Okolona Christian Church.

Personal Injury Litigation and Trial Work

Scarlette is a Kentucky trial attorney focused on seeking justice for her clients. She successfully fights for her clients in the multiple areas of personal injury law.

Catastrophic Injury Cases

Scarlette’s personal injury practice focuses on helping severely injured people. She is an experienced personal injury lawyer who has fought for clients have who suffered catastrophic personal injuries resulting from in car accidents, semi truck wrecks, motorcycle crashes, slip and fall accidents, and medical malpractice.

She expertly guides her clients through the insurance claims process, litigation process, and ultimately trial when necessary. Scarlette secures justice for her clients helping them collect the full and fair compensation for their losses.

Wrongful Death Lawsuits

She has experience representing families who lost a loved one with wrongful death cases. She fights to hold people and businesses accountable for deaths they cause resulting from their negligent, reckless, or wrongful acts.

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Claims

Scarlette has over a decade of experience representing some of the most vulnerable among us in nursing home abuse and neglect cases. She has successfully recovered compensation for her clients related to pressure sore and bedsore cases, nursing home falls, and malnutrition cases as well as a wide manner of other nursing home abuse and neglect claims.

Truck Wreck Litigation

She holds large trucking companies responsible for the harm they cause after a big truck wreck. Scarlette understands the duties trucking companies and their drivers owe the other motorists on the road as well as the regulatory requirements they must meet to keep the road safe. When a trucking company or its driver cuts corners, she will seek justice for the individuals injured.

Slip and Fall Cases

Scarlette’s successes include slip and fall settlements for those injured when business fail to maintain their property in reasonably safe manner and free of dangerous conditions. These slip and fall cases often include broken bones, surgery, and loss of body function.

Medical Malpractice Cases

Medical malpractice cases are difficult cases to pursue because many hospitals and doctors have significant resources at their fingertips. Scarlette levels the playing field for victims of medical negligence by diligently investigating the matters and pursuing the bad actors. Her results speak for themselves as she has secured over $20,000,000.00 for victims of medical malpractice.

Scarlette Burton Kelty – Legal Licenses

Scarlette is currently licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky. She has practiced and tried cases in southern Indiana pro hac vice.

Boards and Professional Activities

Member, Jefferson County Women’s Lawyer Association 2016-Present
Member, Kentucky Justice Association
Member, Kentucky Bar Association 2011-Present
Officer, Kentucky Justice Association, 2020-2025
Publications Committee Co-Chair, Kentucky Justice Association, 2019-2020
2nd District Vice President, Kentucky Justice Association, 2019-2020
Barrister, Louis D. Brandeis Inn of Court, 2018-2020
Co-Editor, The Advocate, Kentucky Justice Association, 2017-2020
Women’s Law Caucus Chair, Kentucky Justice Association, 2017-2018

Notable Cases

Catholic Health Initiatives, Inc. v. Kevin Ray Wells, Sr., No. 2016-CA-001919-MR, Kentucky Court of Appeals, Aug. 10, 2018, to be published.
- Appealed from Kevin Ray Wells, Sr. v. Catholic Health Initiatives, et. al., 12-CI-00090, Laurel Circuit Court, Hon. Gregory A. Lay, $21,274,786 jury verdict August 2016.
Estate of Lula Mae White v. Cumberland Gastroenterology, PSC, 17-CI-00598, Pulaski Circuit Court, $1,655,291.03 jury verdict November 29, 2018.
Stewart v. Kentuckiana Medical Center, LLC, No. 2017-CA-001960-MR, Kentucky Court of Appeals, June 7, 2019.
- Trial in Floyd County Superior Court, Indiana, August 2024.

Notable Settlements

Laurel County Kentucky unnecessary cardiac procedure litigation 2011-2017, representing over 500 patients of Saint Joseph Hospital London and culminating in a $21.2 million verdict and confidential global settlement.
Boyd County Kentucky unnecessary cardiac procedure litigation 2013-2017, representing over 200 patients of King’s Daughters’ Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky, culminating in a confidential global settlement.
Truck wreck death – $1 million settlement.
Insurance bad faith – $900,000 settlement.
Nursing home neglect – $900,000 settlement.

Scarlette Burton Kelty Presentations

“HIPAA & HITECH,” Louisiana Association for Justice, 2019 Evidence and Procedure Seminar with Louisiana Judicial College, March 15, 2019.
“Combatting Unconscious Gender Bias in the Practice of Law” Second Annual Kentucky Justice Association Women’s Retreat, June 29, 2018.
“30(b)(6) Corporate Representative Depositions in Auto and Trucking Cases,” Takeaway Practice Tips for Your Auto Case, June 8, 2018.
“Technology in Discovery & HITECH Act,” PI Case form Start to Finish, June 2018.
“Social Media Discovery,” Technology & Social Media, May 23, 2017.
“Ethics in Mediation & Settlement,” Successful Strategies in Mediation & Arbitration, April 28, 2017.
“Medical Malpractice: Informed Consent through Jury Trial,” December 9, 2016.

Honors and Awards:

Super Lawyer Rising Star 2018-2025
Leadership Academy Graduate, Kentucky Justice Association 2019
Finis Price Outstanding Board Member of the Year, Kentucky Justice Association 2017
Continuing Legal Education Award, Louisville Bar Association 2017
Brandeis Honor Society, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law 2011
Guaranteed Admission to Louis D. Brandeis School of Law 2008