Daniel E. Danford
As part of the Business Litigation Service Group and Torts & Insurance Practice Service Group, Dan has over 25 years of experience in defending corporate and individual clients against an array of complex business and tort claims in state and federal courts. Dan has defended complex business claims in a variety of litigation contexts, including multi-plaintiff and class action lawsuits. This includes the defense of a number of corporate entities, including major health care clients, against claims for breach of contract, financial services disputes, credentialing and termination of physicians, etc. Likewise, Dan’s defense of tort claims has involved a number of individual and class action cases in the product liability arena, including the defense of claims against consumer products and pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and defense of mass tort litigation arising from chemical releases, gas explosions, etc.
In the administrative law context, Dan acts as counsel to the Hearing Committee of the United States Equestrian Federation. In that role, Dan has presided over hundreds of administrative hearings involving drug and medication violations, licensing disputes, abuse allegations, and other violations of Federation rules.
Dan has briefed and argued numerous cases before various appellate courts including the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and in 1999 argued and won a landmark case before the Kentucky Supreme Court extending the standard for expert admissibility to all expert witnesses.
When Rule 12 Meets Brumleve, and What That Means for Waiver Jurisprudence
Bench & Bar Magazine, Kentucky Bar Association, March/April 2024
Engaged by a major health care client to reverse damaging rulings by the trial court in a negligent hiring and credentialing case. Strategic appellate moves resulted in the disqualification of the judge by the Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court and protection of the client’s peer review privilege.
Defended and favorably resolved multi-party claims for personal injury and property damage against a national environmental services entity arising from a natural gas explosion.
Granted summary judgment in declaratory judgment action by a physician challenging the loss of Hospital privileges.
Favorable settlement of federal court action involving contract, warranty, fraud, consumer protection, and punitive claims against supplier of medical billing software.
Successfully resolved payment dispute for national consulting services vendor over provision of data analysis and recommendations for public safety departments to a city in Kentucky.
Achieved dismissal for major chemical corporation in wrongful death action involving chemical exposure.
Defended class action claims and an Attorney General action in Kentucky involving OxyContin.
Defense of product liability suits involving Depo-Medrol, Paxil, vaginal mesh products, EpiPen, knee implants, recreational vehicle, and respirators.
Lexington Office Business Litigation Service Group, Leader
Office of General Counsel, Member
Management Committee, Former Member
Recruiting Committee, Lexington Office, Former Member
Lexington Rotary Club, Member
First Alliance Church, Member and former Board of Directors
Six Treasures, Board of Directors and Volunteer
God's Pantry Food Bank, Volunteer and former Board of Directors
Vanderbilt University Law School
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National Moot Court Team; Moot Court Board
University of Wisconsin
University of Denver
Dan is a member of the Lexington Rotary Club, serves in various teaching and leadership roles at First Alliance Church, and volunteers and serves on the board of Six Treasures, a ministry focused on woodworking events to engage in the lives of homeless men. Dan recently concluded his term on the board at God’s Pantry Food Bank. He remains actively involved with God’s Pantry and organizes the firm team for the Thanksgiving Basket Brigade, which packs thousands of Thanksgiving meals for distribution throughout its region.
An active husband and father, Dan is getting used to the idea of cheering for The Ohio State University now that his eldest daughter is attending graduate school there. He still looks forward to the day when his daughters can accompany him on a second trek along the Appalachian Trail.
Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2013-25)
Kentucky Super Lawyers (2011-16)
Benchmark Litigation magazine, Litigation Star (2015-25)
Benchmark Litigation 2025 Honors 14 Stites & Harbison Attorneys
The 2025 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 11 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky. The guide honors the firms and attorneys who have demonstrated the ability to consistently handle complex, high-stakes cases in multiple jurisdictions.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2025 Best Lawyers® Publications
Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 97 of its lawyers are included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence according to the publication. Additionally, 12 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 30 attorneys are recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
Benchmark Litigation 2024 Honors 14 Stites & Harbison Attorneys
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2024 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 11 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2024 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 101 of its lawyers are included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.
Down the Rabbit Hole: Assessing the Reach of Amended Rule 7.1
Rule 7.1 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure has long required each “nongovernmental corporate party” to file a disclosure statement when that party takes its first action in a federal court lawsuit. Effective, December 1, 2022, however, the rule was amended to require that when a case that is in federal court because of diversity jurisdiction is filed or removed, each “party or intervenor” must file a disclosure statement that provides the “name—and identif[ies] the citizenship of—every individual or entity whose citizenship is attributed to that party or intervenor.”
Benchmark Litigation 2023 Honors 15 Stites & Harbison Attorneys
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2023 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 12 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky. The guide honors the firms and attorneys who have demonstrated the ability to consistently handle complex, high-stakes cases in multiple jurisdictions.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 98 of its lawyers are included in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Additionally, 11 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 19 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
Benchmark Litigation 2022 Honors 15 Stites & Harbison Attorneys
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2022 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 12 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky.