Sheila Hiestand

As a college basketball player who started in two final four appearances, Sheila knows the importance of hard work, drive and heart. Sheila—aka “The Lady Litigator” for her tenacity in court—is dedicated to helping women and their families through the very difficult process of personal injury claims. She has served as the president of the Kentucky trial lawyers with the Kentucky Justice Association and has worked tirelessly to fight for injured people for more than 20 years.

After graduating from Centre College, Sheila received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky School of Law. Soon after she was recognized as the Fayette County Bar Association Outstanding Young Lawyer and was rated an “AV Lawyer” by Martindale-Hubbell®. She has also been recognized among the American Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Kentucky; as Top Lawyer by Louisville Magazine, and has received a long list of awards.

When not practicing law, Sheila enjoys spending time with her three children and husband and loves to compete in triathlons and Ironman competitions. She plays viola, violin, cello and piano and is a past member of the Lexington Singers. Sheila is also fluent in Spanish and has volunteered at the Federal Correctional Institute to assist Spanish-speaking inmates with legal matters pro bono.

Commonwealth of Kentucky
State of Indiana
State of Tennessee
US District Courts for Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Kentucky
US District Court for Southern District of Indiana
US District Court for Northern District of Illinois
United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
Supreme Court of the United States of America

Graduated from Centre College with a double major in English and Spanish
Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky, College of Law

Tried numerous personal injury and medical negligence cases in Kentucky and Tennessee

Actively practice in Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee

$1.3 Million Med Mal Failure to Diagnose Breast Cancer Verdict in Clark County, Kentucky

$743,000 pedestrian v. auto Verdict in Nashville, Tennessee

$189,000 Plastic Surgery Med Mal Verdict in Hopkinsville Kentucky

$183,855 slip and fall Verdict in Lexington, Kentucky

$750,000 FTCA Settlement against USA for VA medical negligence in Eastern District of Kentucky

Numerous multi-million dollar settlements in medical negligence, FTCA and personal injury cases

Fayette County Bar Association Outstanding Young Lawyer, 1998
AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
The American Trial Lawyers Association, Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Kentucky, 2008-1015
Selected for inclusion in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Kentucky Super Lawyers®
Named 2011 Top Attorney in Kentucky
Selected for inclusion in the 2011-2012 edition of Who’s Who in American Law
AVVO Perfect 10 Rating – Top Personal Injury Attorney, 2013
Top 25 Women Lawyers in Kentucky
Outstanding Attorney by the Greater Lexington Paralegal Association
2013 – present National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys

Kentucky Association for Justice, Board of Governors, Past President
Kentucky Bar Association, Past Board of Governors
Kentucky Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, Past President
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
The American Society of Legal Advocates
American Association for Justice

President of Fayette County Young Lawyers, Past President

Injury Board 2013-present

$1.3 Million Med Mal Failure to Diagnose Breast Cancer Verdict in Clark County, Kentucky

$743,000 pedestrian v. auto Verdict in Nashville, Tennessee

$189,000 Plastic Surgery Med Mal Verdict in Hopkinsville Kentucky

$183,855 slip and fall Verdict in Lexington, Kentucky

$750,000 FTCA Settlement against USA for VA medical negligence in Eastern District of Kentucky

Numerous multi-million dollar settlements in medical negligence, FTCA and personal injury cases

$1.3 Million Med Mal Failure to Diagnose Breast Cancer Verdict in Clark County, Kentucky

$743,000 pedestrian v. auto Verdict in Nashville, Tennessee

$189,000 Plastic Surgery Med Mal Verdict in Hopkinsville Kentucky

$183,855 slip and fall Verdict in Lexington, Kentucky

$750,000 FTCA Settlement against USA for VA medical negligence in Eastern District of Kentucky

Numerous Presentations for NBI on Insurance Law, Automobile Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice

Numerous State and National Presentations to KATA and KJA on Personal Injury Law, Medical Negligence and Federal Torts Claims Act

Memory Walk for the Alzheimer’s Association, Committee Chair
Volunteer Center of Central Kentucky Annual Fundraiser, Committee Chair
Lexington Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Sixty Five Roses Ball, Co-Chair

Coach 3rd – 8th grade girls basketball at Our Lady of Lourdes Grade School