James Ryan Turner
Experienced Injury Lawyer in Florence, KY
A native of the coalfields of southeastern Kentucky, Ryan believes that to whom much is given, much is required. Ryan was taught by his father, a prosecutor and Baptist preacher, to practice humility, protect the vulnerable, and to have passion for justice. Ryan joins his father and also his brother, who has served as Floyd County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney since 2000, in believing that juries are the most powerful safeguard against greed, danger, and evil. Ryan chose to focus his legal practice in the civil, rather than the criminal, justice system as a means of making communities safe. When you work with Ryan, you work with an idealist – someone who believes in his cause. It is this conviction that gives him the energy and raw sincerity necessary to fight the good fight, especially if that means taking your case to a jury
In an effort to seek excellence, Ryan has always dedicated his law practice 100% to victims of negligence. Moreover, having trained in some of Kentucky’s preeminent personal injury law firms, Ryan has a deep understanding of what it takes to successfully represent the vulnerable against increasingly callous and hostile corporations. For that reason, he is able to bring a deep and sophisticated level of insight to modern personal litigation and trial practice. Personal injury litigation is an ever-evolving field, as attitudes, perceptions, and insurance tactics constantly change. By limiting his practice to personal injury claims only, Ryan is able to stay ahead of defense strategies that seek to obscure the truth.
Ryan’s practice focuses on personal injury and wrongful death litigation and trial practice, including: motor vehicle wrecks; tractor trailer wrecks; motorcycle wrecks; pedestrian injuries; defective vehicles, including sudden acceleration and airbag defects; defective medical devices; premises liability; general negligence; uninsured and underinsured motorist claims; and, bad faith claims. Ryan handles cases as many in Ohio as he does in Kentucky and is able to balance his practice in multiple jurisdictions by following closely the constant changes in the law and pending legislation in the state capitals.
Having tried multiple cases to verdict, Ryan is able to bring years of trial experience into his evaluation of every case that comes into the office. Having clerked for the Supreme Court of Kentucky, Ryan is able to construct a trial strategy that will withstand the appeals process. With a reputation as a attorney who can and will try your case, Ryan is often able to reach successful settlements of his client's case without the necessity of a jury trial. Over the years, he has handled relatively small cases in addition to multi-million dollar cases involving catastrophic injury. Above all, Ryan enjoys working with families who genuinely need help. In Kentucky, he was able to obtain one of the largest jury verdicts of its kind on record. In Ohio, he has one of the the largest settlements of its kind on record. Ryan prides himself on constant client communication and the close relationships he forms in the litigation process.
Bar Admissions
- Commonwealth of Kentucky
- State of Ohio
Court Admissions
Eastern District of Kentucky
Western District of Kentucky
Southern District of Ohio
Education
NKU Chase College of Law
Juris Doctor
2008
Transylvania University
Magna Cum Laude
B.A. English
2005
Honors & Awards
Super Lawyers - Rising Star
2015-Present
Top 40 under 40 - The National Trial Lawyers - 2012-2015
Holleian Society - Transylvania University - 2005
Past Employment
Taliaferro, Carran, & Keys, PLLC
Associate Attorney
Covington, KY
2013-2015
Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C.
Associate Attorney
Pikeville, KY
2010-2013
Supreme Court of Kentucky
Law Clerk to Deputy Chief Justice Will T. Scott
Frankfort, KY
2009-2010
Commonwealth Attorney’s Office
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney
Prestonsburg, KY
2008-2009
Professional Association & Memberships
Kentucky Bar Association
Northern Kentucky Bar Association
American Association of Justice
Kentucky Justice Association
Ohio Association of JusticeMotor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability Section, American Association of Justice
Salmon P. Chase Inn of Court
TBI Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
Trucking Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys
Community Service
Master Provisions, Chairman of the Board
Kentucky Justice Association, Board of Governors
Speaking Engagements
University of Ottawa: Validity Scales in Civil Litigation (2014)
NKU Chase College of Law: Marketing for Lawyers (2017)