Experience J. Tanner Watkins

Experience

Interim General Counsel for State Fair Board

Tanner was appointed interim general counsel for the Kentucky State Fair Board and its associated Kentucky Venues in 2019. His duties included overseeing all legal operations for the Kentucky venues properties, and handling all connected legal issues.

Successfully Defended Bank against Claims of Breach of Fiduciary Duty

Client: Large Regional Bank

We represented our client, a large regional bank, following a claim of breach of fiduciary duty in connection with a large family trust. We successfully had those claims dismissed through a dispositive motion, a decision which was unanimously upheld on appeal.

Terminated a Trust and Removed all Restrictions Tied to a Historic Building

We represented the Kentucky Mansion Preservation Foundation, which was seeking to terminate the trust and end the restrictions tied to Helm Place. A designated landmark, Helm Place was once the home of Emilie Todd Helm, half-sister to first lady Mary Todd Lincoln, and the home had been left to the foundation in a trust. Originally the foundation had hoped to turn the structure into a museum, but that was no longer economically realistic. Our attorneys successfully obtained a termination of the trust, clearing the way for the potential sale of the property.

Negligent Investment Claims

Plaintiffs are two purported beneficiaries of an $80 Million Trust. They assert claims of breach of fiduciary duty against the Trustee, an investment management firm, based on allegedly improper investment management by the Trust's investment manager. The Trustee filed a third-party complaint seeking indemnity and apportionment from our client. Dinsmore has defended the client against the third-party complaint and has asserted all available defenses against the Plaintiffs as well. Dinsmore has taken the lead in deposing the Plaintiffs, one of whom is himself a senior partner in a well established Kentucky law firm. The case has involved substantial expert discovery from leading regional experts in investment management, on issues such as portfolio diversification, concentration, and capital gains taxes.

Breach of Fiduciary Duties Relating to Large Revocable Trust

We defended a national financial services firm against allegations of breach of fiduciary duty relating to a large revocable trust that became irrevocable at the grantor’s death. Our client served as the corporate trustee for the trust. The co-defendant was an individual co-trustee who had power of attorney for the disabled grantor during her lifetime and was her nephew. The suit was brought by the deceased grantor’s daughter and granddaughter, alleging breach of fiduciary duty relating to the grantor’s disability and competency to make testamentary dispositions – which were in favor of the nephew and other members of his family. We have taken or attended more than 20 depositions, filed motions to disqualify the plaintiff’s experts, and worked with our experts on the grantor’s disability and the fiduciary duties of the corporate co-trustee.