As an informed consumer of legal services, you need to be sure that the firm you select is in fact qualified to handle the matter at hand. Over the years, the lawyers at Taliaferro, Shirooni, Carran & Keys have fought hard to protect the rights of individuals, small businesses, and families throughout Kentucky and Ohio, and have developed a well-respected reputation in the following areas of the law:

• Personal Injury / Wrongful Death Litigation
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Products Liability
• Premises Liability / Slip and Falls
• Medical Malpractice
• Workers' Compensation
• Social Security Disability
• Family Law / Divorce
• Business Organizations
• Business and Commercial Litigation
• Real Estate
• Estate Planning
• Probate
• Criminal Law
• DUI-DWI Law
• Insurance Law

• Personal Injury / Wrongful Death Litigation - The lawyers at Taliaferro, Shirooni, Carran & Keys represent individuals and their families who have been seriously injured or killed as a result of the negligence, carelessness, or recklessness of others. We handle a variety of serious and catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases involving:
  • Joint, Spinal Cord, Neck, and Back Injuries
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries
  • Closed Head Injuries
  • Drug Overdose Injuries
  • Seizure Disorders
  • Fractures and Dislocations
  • Brain Damage
  • Severe Burns
  • Amputations
  • Other Severe, Permanent, and Crippling Injuries

  Typical cases involve injuries caused by the negligence, carelessness, and recklessness of others in situations such as:

  • Car Crashes
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Semi-Truck and Tractor Trailer Crashes
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Construction Accidents
  • Workplace Accidents
  • Fires and Explosions
  • Slip and Falls
  • Dangerous and Defective Products
  • Medical Malpractice

  Personal injuries not only cause physical pain, but often emotional and financial hardship through loss of work, medical bills, and stress placed upon families and loved ones. We often take our physical and mental well being for granted-until something goes wrong. At Taliaferro, Shirooni, Carran & Keys, we understand that when an accident happens, lives are forever changed. Simple pleasures become chores. Daily routines are disrupted. Economic losses are often devastating. Whether caused by an automobile accident, defective product, medical malpractice, or other negligent, careless, or reckless conduct - injuries alter lives forever. Our attorneys assume the responsibility for providing effective, aggressive investigation and representation, thereby allowing our injured clients to attend to personal matters in the hopes of moving on.

  
  
• Motor Vehicle Accidents - While motor vehicle accidents comprise a significant portion of personal injury and wrongful death claims, it would be wrong to think that they are always simple to resolve. We understand not just the "rules of the road" and the special duties imposed on commercial and public carriers, but also the complex scientific and engineering principles often necessary to unravel just how an accident occurred on the roadways of Kentucky or Ohio and who, if anyone, was at fault. Taliaferro, Shirooni, Carran & Keys handles accident cases involving:
  • Rear end collisions
  • Intersection accidents
  • Alcohol related crashes
  • Hit and run
  • Passenger injuries
  • Driver injuries
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Semi-truck and tractor trailer crashes
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Bicycle accidents

  Whatever the practical or legal issues that arise out of a motor vehicle accident, we are prepared to address them in order to met and exceed client objectives and goals.

  
  
• Products Liability - Every year, thousands of consumers sustain serious injuries from defective products. Many of these injuries could be avoided if the manufacturers or distributors of these products took additional steps to ensure consumer safety. The main incentive to increase product safety is to avoid potential liability in product liability lawsuits, which provide compensation for the personal injuries sustained from the use of a defective product. If you have suffered injuries due to a defective product you may be able to file a claim against the manufacturer to recover damages. You do not necessarily have to prove that the manufacturer was negligent. Product liability claims, often called strict product liability, can be established if you are able to prove three things:
  • The product was defective
  • The defect existed prior to the manufacturer releasing the product
  • The defect caused your damages

  Manufacturers and their marketers must label the product in such a way as to warn of all dangers associated with its' use. They must specifically state how that product should be used and warn you of the hazards. Our mission in pursuing product liability cases is to obtain just compensation for our injured clients and to create an economic incentive for those in the stream of commerce to produce safe products and provide sufficient warning of the dangers of their products, ultimately resulting in the saving of lives. The damages the consumer is entitled to receive in a dangerous or defective product case include compensation for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of physical capacity
  • Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
  • Punitive damages

  Whether dealing with a manufacturing flaw or defect, a design flaw or defect, or where a product is unreasonably dangerous because of inadequate instructions or warnings, we ensure that injured consumers or the family and heirs of deceased consumers receive fair treatment under the law for injuries caused by dangerous and defective products.

  
  
• Premises Liability / Slip and Falls - The term "slip and fall" describes the type of injury that occurs on someone else's property, usually as a result of a defective surface, a slippery substance, or other dangerous conditions. These injuries most commonly occur at restaurants, supermarkets, and shopping malls. The fact that you become injured from a slip, trip, or fall does not necessarily mean that someone else is legally responsible for your injury. The owner or operator of a business has a legal duty to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition, or at least warn the public of a dangerous condition that they caused, were aware of, or should have been aware of. If these tests are not met, and you injure yourself on their property as a result of their failure to meet these conditions, you may have a valid claim against the business owner or operator. Premises liability encompasses a variety of claims, including but not limited to:
  • Injuries sustained in elevators
  • Injuries sustained in stores
  • Injuries sustained in building corridors
  • Injuries sustained outside on private or public land
  
  
• Medical Malpractice - Medical malpractice, simply put, occurs when your medical provider deviates from the normal standard of care. Medical providers are required to exercise reasonable care in accordance with the standards of care for the profession involved. If a doctor, surgeon, hospital, or other medical provider acts, or fails to act, in a manner that deviates from the accepted standard of care, then that provider may be liable for an injured person's damages. Though the majority of health care providers do good work, mistakes are sometimes made which could adversely affect a person, as well as their family and friends, for the rest of their lives. At Taliaferro, Shirooni, Carran & Keys, we represent individuals and their families whose medical provider has breached the standard of care in diagnosing or treating medical conditions. We have extensive experience in cases involving:
  • Birth-related injuries
  • Brain injuries
  • Surgical errors
  • Misdiagnosis or late diagnosis
  • Failure to diagnose cancer
  • Obstetrical and gynecological malpractice
  • Patient neglect
  • Medication errors
  • Emergency room errors
  • Nursing home negligence, abuse, and neglect
  
  
• Worker's Compensation - Workers' Compensation is a benefit that is available to nearly all employees who suffer an injury that arose out of and in the course of their employment. Work related injuries typically covered by workers' compensation include:
  • Neck, back, and knee injuries
  • Carpal tunnel/repetitive trauma injuries
  • Hearing problems
  • Work-related emotional problems
  • Work-induced heart attack or stroke
  • Occupational diseases such as asbestosis and dermatitis; disfigurement and scarring of face, neck or hands
  • Asthma or other work related pulmonary conditions
  • Loss of use of limbs
  • Eye injuries

  When you are hurt while performing your duties as an employee there is a specialized area of legislation that governs from whom and how much you can recover. This differs from other types of injuries. We are devoted to assisting our clients in working through this complicated area of law in order to receive a fair settlement from all possible sources. The issues that arise most often in these matters are:

  • Whether you were an employee at the time of the injury?
  • Was the injury received while you were on the job?
  • Was there an injury?
  • What benefits are you entitled to?
  • Was the injury permanent?
  • Are you entitled to a settlement?
  • Should you accept a settlement?
  
  
• Social Security Disability - Disability can pose an insurmountable obstacle to earning a living. If you or a family member suffer from an injury or disease that prevents you from working, or is expected to prevent you from working for one year or longer, then you may be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is a federal agency that administers retirement and disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines a disability as the inability to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to an impairment or combination of impairments. To be considered disabled, a person must ordinarily establish that he or she cannot perform his or her past work and also must establish an inability to perform other types of employment. The Social Security system provides benefits for the disabled under two separate but related programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (DIB) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

  To get disability benefits from Social Security, you must apply. How much a person receives as a benefit depends on his or her work history, resources, and other available income. We have substantial experience obtaining Social Security benefits on behalf of our disabled clients and their families. Due to our experience, we are able to efficiently guide you through the overwhelming maze of regulation and red tape that characterizes the application process. If you have been denied benefits by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or are simply considering whether you should apply, please contact Taliaferro, Shirooni, Carran & Keys today.

  
  
• Family Law / Divorce - Clients involved in family law disputes need both personal and professional support through times that are highly emotional, but require calm and reasoned decision-making. The family law lawyers at Taliaferro, Shirooni, Carran & Keys have the ability and experience to handle all of your family law needs, from the detailed management of a complex marital property dispute to the sensitive advocacy needed in an emotionally charged child custody proceeding. We stress both litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods such as mediation in our family law practice, and represent clients in a full range of family law matters, including:
  • Alimony, maintenance, or spousal support
  • Annulments
  • Child custody
  • Child support
  • Contempt and enforcement proceedings
  • Divorce
  • Domestic abuse
  • Guardianships
  • Legal separation
  • Marital property division
  • Mediation
  • Paternity
  • Post-judgment modification
  • Postnuptial agreements
  • Premarital and prenuptial agreements
  • Restraining orders
  • Temporary hearings
  • Termination of parental rights
  • Visitation and placement
  
  
• Business Organizations - With very few exceptions, every business begins as a small business. Some stay small; others experience positive and sustained growth. Good business planning is focused on a vision of the future while recognizing available resources and financial realities. At Taliaferro, Shirooni, Carran & Keys, we help get businesses off to a good start. Oftentimes, individuals rush through the initial formation process without much thought, thereby setting themselves up for failure either financially or through a lawsuit. The form of entity selected for the conduct of a business greatly impacts the daily operations of the business and the income tax consequences to both the business and its owners. We assist clients with this step of business formation by reviewing the goals and individual facts present in each situation to recommend the best entity and the different elections or options available under each. We advise our clients about:
  • Formation
  • Dissolution
  • Joint ventures, partnerships, and incorporations
  • Directors' and officers' liability
  • Franchising
  • Reorganization
  • Divestitures
  • Business succession planning
  • Shareholders' rights
  
  
• Business and Commercial Litigation - Whether building or acquiring facilities or equipment, contemplating business mergers or acquisitions, contracting for the purchase or sale of goods and services, developing policies, procedures, plans and agreements concerning employees and independent contractors, or simply attempting to comply with the constantly-growing array of rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, statutes and laws affecting businesses, we deliver solutions for our business and corporate clients. Taliaferro, Shirooni, Carran & Keys has litigated, arbitrated, and mediated a wide range of corporate, commercial, and other business disputes, including:
  • Breach of Contract
  • Construction Law
  • Mechanic's Liens
  • Copyright and Trademark Infringement
  • Breach of Fiduciary Duty
  • Fraud and Conversion
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Covenants Not To Compete
  • Trade Secrets
  • Mediation and Arbitration
  
  
• Real Estate - Real estate developers, investors, buyers, and sellers in Kentucky and Ohio come to Taliaferro, Shirooni, Carran & Keys for our business approach to real estate transactions and understanding of their needs. They stay with us because of the personal care and attention to detail that we apply to every case. We represent clients in all types of commercial and residential real estate projects. Clients include both sophisticated real estate players and relative newcomers, and we tailor our services to buyers and sellers accordingly. Our services encompass:
  • Acquisition and Disposition
  • Commercial and Retail Leasing
  • Contract Negotiation and Drafting
  • Conveyances
  • Financial Workouts
  • Land Use and Development
  • Leasing
  • Mortgages
  • Zoning
  
  
• Estate Planning - Estate Planning is generally considered the process by which people develop a plan that ensures that the assets they have worked so hard accumulating during their lifetime are protected and distributed to those they love. Without proper estate planning, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may inherit a large portion of your assets. We can help you implement a variety of advanced tax strategies to keep your assets out of the hands of the IRS. Our expertise extends to:
  • Wills
  • Trusts
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Living Wills
  • Living Trusts
  • Guardianships and Conservatorships
  • Family Limited Partnerships
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Life Insurance
  • Charitable Giving
  • Retirement Benefits
  • Educational Trusts
  • Business Succession Planning
  
  
• Probate - Logically following estate planning is probate and estate administration-putting the plan into operation. Probate is the legal process that takes place after someone dies. It often involves:
  • Proving in court that a deceased person's will is valid
  • Identifying and inventorying the deceased person's property
  • Having the property appraised
  • Paying debts and taxes
  • Distributing the remaining property as the will directs

  Taliaferro, Shirooni, Carran & Keys represents beneficiaries and fiduciaries, including executors, trustees, conservators, and guardians, in the following areas:

  • Accounting Actions
  • Claims Against Fiduciaries
  • Trust Contests and Reformation
  • Will Contests
  • Will and Trust Construction and Litigation

  Experience enables us to counsel surviving spouses and children during this transition and help them make sound legal decisions for their future.

  
  
• Criminal Law - If you have been arrested or accused of a crime in Kentucky or Ohio, you are probably frightened, confused, and concerned about your future and that of your family. At Taliaferro, Shirooni, Carran & Keys, we take our responsibility as criminal defense attorneys seriously, and are available to help clients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We represent individuals in felony and misdemeanor cases throughout Kentucky and Ohio state and federal courts in the areas of:
  • Assault and Battery
  • Bail and Bond Proceedings
  • Constitutional Law / Criminal Procedure
  • Domestic Violence
  • Drug and Narcotic Offenses
  • DUI-DWI Offenses
  • Juvenile Offenses / Delinquency
  • Probation / Parole
  • Sex Offenses
  • Theft, Grand Larceny, and Burglary
  • Traffic Violations
  • Violent Offenses
  • White Collar Crimes
  
  
• DUI-DWI Law - A cultural stigma has become associated with drunk driving that was not present in our society even a decade ago. Public perception categorizes people charged with drunk driving as criminals, even before they have been convicted of any crime. Being arrested for drunk driving, driving under the influence (DUI), or driving while intoxicated (DWI) can be an unsettling proposition, to say the least. A DUI - DWI conviction in Kentucky or Ohio carries with it heavy penalties, including:
  • A permanent criminal record
  • Suspension or loss of license
  • Increased insurance rates
  • Community service
  • Possible jail or prison time
  • Alcohol assessment and treatment
  • Probation
  • Vehicle immobilization or forfeiture
  • Serious fines
  • Possible job loss

  If you have been arrested or accused of drunk driving, DUI, DWI, vehicular homicide, or any other alcohol-related criminal offense, you are probably frightened, confused, and concerned about your future and that of your family. The selection of an experienced attorney is the first step towards regaining control of your life.

  
  
• Insurance Law - Personal injury and wrongful death cases invariably involve insurance companies. In the claims process, insurance companies have always held a big advantage. Armed with a battery of legal and forensic experts and extensive resources used to investigate and handle claims, insurance companies have often projected a "David and Goliath" image when dealing with an insured challenging the settlement of his or her claim. Typically, injured clients and families as well as people against whom claims are brought, do not have the experience necessary to handle a claim for coverage under an insurance policy. Without foreknowledge of the policy, coverage, exclusions, and interpretations, the insured feels helpless when presented with the insurance carrier's interpretation of the policy terms and settlement offer. Oftentimes, injured individuals and families recover less than what the policy provides and sometimes, nothing at all. At Taliaferro, Shirooni, Carran & Keys, we know the insurance business, and are well versed in the interpretation of insurance policy language as well as the litigation of insurance claims. We understand insurance practices and procedures and are well suited to guide clients through the frustrating process of a personal injury case. Our attorneys handle insurance issues involving:
  • Bad faith claims
  • Insurance coverage disputes
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Nursing home claims
  • Product and retailer liability
  • Property and casualty claims
  • Underinsured motorist (UIM) claims
  • Uninsured motorist (UM) claims

  We offer clients outstanding service, representation, and results in all aspects of insurance law, including litigation, mediation, and arbitration.