Lance W. Turner
Top rated Personal Injury attorney in Monticello, Kentucky
Carroll, Turner and King P.S.C.
Practice areas: Personal Injury
Licensed in Kentucky since: 1996
Education: Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026 Carroll, Turner and King P.S.C.
56 Court StMonticello, KY 42633 Phone: 606-348-9767 Email: Lance W. Turner Visit website
A freshman civics teacher first planted the idea of becoming an attorney in my mind. The class was taught from the constitution almost exclusively. From that moment, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up (and a major league pitcher). When the baseball dream ended, I finished my education graduating from Western Kentucky University Cum Laude with a degree in government. In 1996, I graduated from Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law Cum Laude with a Juris Doctorate. The summer after my first year in Law school I clerked for Thomas E, Carroll. I observed 4 trials that summer. Here, I found that I wanted to represent the little guy against goliath. After that summer, all my elective classes were directed at civil litigation, including a federal trial practice seminar under United States District Judge William Bertlesman. I have worked with Tom Carroll ever since that summer in 1994.
I was admitted to the Commonwealth of Kentucky Bar Association in 1996. I also became licensed to practice in both United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts. Lastly, I was admitted to practice in the 6th Circuit of The United States Court of Appeals in 1997. I became a partner when Carroll & Turner P.S.C. was formed in 2005.
I have litigated cases all across the State of Kentucky in both State and Federal Courts. In 1998, I was co-counsel in my first federal trial against a goliath. I was so nervous, but I loved it. Around the 9th day of trial the defense, who had only offered a nuisance value settlement, asked if we could talk. I was hooked and have never regretted my choice to become an attorney. Better yet, I am proud to represent to my clients. My awards come from the thank you cards, gifts, hugs and tears that my clients share with me.
On one occasion I was fortunate to play a role in creating law in the Kentucky Supreme Court. This case best represents my refusal to give up. I was trying to collect a judgement I obtained for my client. It took ten years from his injury to get him the compensation he deserved. I had to overcome hurdle after hurdle. Gregory v. Hardgrove, 562 S.W.3d 911 (Ky. 2018) was a case of first impression that held a plaintiff was a creditor of the defendant estate and thus entitled to a remedy under the estate settlement statutes.
In 2003, my first trial as the lead attorney, my clients were awarded $1,628,982. In 2005, I was co-counsel in a medical negligence case where the Jury awarded our client $969,777. In 2018, a Louisville Federal Jury awarded our clients $9,450,000. This verdict is in the top 60 largest verdicts ever in Kentucky. Also, I am lucky to be in a pretty limited club of Attorneys which have multiple million-dollar verdicts. I am honored that my law partner and I have been trusted by so my people that have suffered tragic lose to represent them. I am thankful to have been able to obtain many $1,000,000 plus settlements for my clients.
In January 2025 I became the majority shareholder in Carroll, Turner & King PSC.
First Admitted: 1996, Kentucky
Professional Webpage: https://www.carroll-turner.com/attorney/lance-w-turner/
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Olenik v. Ohio Casualty Insurance Co., 114 F.4th 821 (6th Cir. 2024) Donna Vanek and her nephew were killed when a drugged driver rear end them on the interstate. Multiple others were injured. Donna was driving her own car but for a business purpose. A Ford F 250 truck owned by the employer was in the shop. Plaintiff counsel developed proof that this truck would have been used to haul the 20 -25 gallons of paint. Due to this break down Donna was using her car to go pick up the paint. This fact was important because the employer had $1,000,000.00 in UIM coverage. If Donna's car was a temporary replacement for a "covered auto" that was out of service due to breakdown then the UIM coverage was available to the estates. This case is significant because a Kentucky Court of Appeal had held all covered auto"s" had to be unavailable due to break down before the replacement vehicle coverage was applicable. I believed this was bad law and contrary to the insurance contract rules of interpretation established by the Kentucky Supreme Court. In the face of law that was contrary to my clients recovery, I filed suit to change the erroneous case law existing in Kentucky. Co-Counsel and I were successful in getting a unanimous panel of the 6th Circuit to refuse to apply the faulty interpretation of this contract that had existed under the Kentucky Court of appeals decision. , 2024
- $9,450,000 Verdict. Carroll & Turner, PSC, has obtained a multimillion-dollar verdict against a Louisville cable company, following a trial that concluded on Friday, April 27th, 2018. Thomas Carroll and Lance Turner, from Monticello, represented, seven former employees of Charter Communications in a defamation suit. The seven employees were fired for a violation of company policy in October 2013. The Plaintiffs had been given and each took home a Hewlett-Packard printer that another administrative assistant, who was in charge of purchasing supplies, had given them, according to testimony presented during the trial. The printers were obtained with rewards points, but could not be used because Charter had an exclusive contract with Xerox. Testimony indicated that the administrative assistant was told to get rid of the printers. 26 were given away to the plaintiffs and others for personal use. After taking the printers home, they were fired for violation of company policy. Even though the Human Resources investigation recognized that one or more reasonably believed the administrative assistant had the authority to give them the printer. Not all were recommended for termination. However, the corporate office instructed for all to be fired. The plaintiffs alleged that at a conference of Charter employees, held about a month later, a speaker referred to the incident, calling the plaintiffs “people we know and love who made bad choices” and called it “printergate.” It was discussed in connection with Operation Greenlight (embezzlement) and Operation Buzzkill (drug trafficking and use). Another speaker referenced OJ Simpson and Pete Rose as people we know who made bad choices. An anonymous employee present at the conference filed an ethics complaint that the presentation violated company policy. However, Corporate headquarters did nothing about the complaint. The plaintiffs then filed suit against Charter, alleging that the comments accused them of being thieves. They sought damages for embarrassment, humiliation and mental anguish, as well as punitive damages. The plaintiffs presented evidence of how after this presentation that their contact with former colleagues practically dried up. The trial was presided over by David J. Hale, with the U.S. District Court in Louisville, and lasted five days. The jury deliberated approximately three hours before returning with a total verdict of $9.45 million. Each plaintiff was awarded $350,000 for embarrassment, humiliation and mental anguish and $1 million in punitive damages., 2018
- $1,628,982 Wayne Circuit Court Verdict in a malicious prosecution claim for an elderly grocery store owner and his son. At the closing of the sale of the grocery business a reduced payoff was negotiated with on of the supplier in a face to face meeting. The memo line read "full and final release" The supplier took the check back to its office and surreptitiously altered the checks memo line to read full and final release "of security". Notes were ultimately discovered that the employee had been instructed to alter the check with the same type of typewriter to make it look like it had originally said "of security". , 2003
- Gregory v. Hardgrove, 562 S.W.3d 911 (Ky. 2018) Kentucky Supreme Court victory on a matter of first Impression. The Plaintiff's attempt to collect a personal injury judgement against the estate of the defendant which had passed away during the litigation was dismissed by the trial court and affirmed by the Court of Appeals. The Kentucky Supreme Court held that as a matter of first impression the plaintiff was a creditor of the estate and thus was entitled to remedy under the estate settlement statutes. , 2018
Representative Clients
- Olenik v. Ohio Casualty Ins. Co., 114 F. 4th 821 (6th Cir. 2024) , 2024
- Gregory v. Hardgrove, 562 S.W.3d 911 (Ky. 2018) Established Kentucky law on a matter of first impression. , 2018
- Phelps v. State Farm, 736 F.3d 463 (6th Cir. 2012) Summary judgement reversed holding evidence of low ball offers and delay was enough evidence to get to a jury on the issue of bad faith., 2012
- Elam v. Menzies, 594 F.3d 463 (6th Cir. 2009) Summary Judgement reversed holding that when a medical negligence victim knew or should have know he had been injured as a result of negligence was a question of fact for the jury., 2009
- Manuel v. Traditional Sporting Goods, 509 -CV-406 (E.D. Ky. 2009); 22 No. 12 Westlaw Journal Product Liability, (Jan. 2012) Summary Judgement denied allowing product defect claim alleging that a muzzle loading rifle was defective, when after being drop, it fired killing a 20 year old husband and expecting father. Summary Judgement was denied on the punitive damage claim relating to the company intentionally omitting a safety contained on other similar rifles. The case was settled after the Court's ruling. , 2009
Educational Background
- Cum Laude, 1993-1996
Office location for Lance W. Turner
56 Court St
Monticello, KY 42633
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026