WKU News & Events

April 11, 2002

KY. Supreme Court To Hear
Arguments At WKU April 17-18

Bowling Green, Ky. - The Supreme Court of Kentucky will hear oral arguments in five cases at Western Kentucky University on April 17 and 18.

The justices are scheduled to hear two cases on April 17 and three on April 18 in the Ballroom of the Garrett Conference Center. Following the cases, justices are expected to take questions from an audience comprised mainly of students.

This will be the high court's third session at Western, hearing arguments in 1994 and 1997.

The cases set for April 17 are:

*9 a.m.—Ostendorf, Et. Al. vs. Clark Equipment Co., Et. Al. This is a product liability claims case that deals with the duty to retrofit a forklift with operator restraints. It is from Kenton Circuit Court.

*10 a.m.—Lanier, Et. Al. vs. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. This is a slip and fall case that deals with the customer's burden to prove the proprietor knew, or, by the exercise of ordinary care, should have known a spill was on the floor. It is from Christian Circuit Court.

The cases set for April 18 are:

*9 a.m.—Wood vs. Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Et. Al. This is a class action for damages from consumption of Fen-Phen in a claim for recovery of medical monitoring damages. It is from Jefferson Circuit Court.

*10 a.m.—Mathias, Et. Al. vs. Martin. This is a trusts and estates case that deals with whether the transfer of a family farm to a trust immediately prior to marriage is a fraud on the inheritance rights of the wife-to-be. It is from Fayette Circuit Court.

*11 a.m.—Kentucky Unemployment Insurance Commission, Et. Al. vs. Landmark Community Newspapers of Kentucky, Inc., Et. Al. This case deals with whether newspaper carriers are employees or independent contractors for purposes of unemployment insurance. It is from Franklin Circuit Court.

The hearings are open to the public; however, access to the ballroom will be limited to the time between cases.

Note to media: Parking for media will be available. To arrange parking and to receive additional information about covering the Supreme Court, contact Bob Skipper at (270) 745-4295 or bob.skipper@wku.edu by April 16. Live audio and video feeds from the proceedings will be available in the ballroom and in a media room nearby. Additional information about the Kentucky Supreme Court is available at www.kycourts.net.

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