Stites & Harbison PLLC

98 Best Lawyers awards

Stites & Harbison PLLC logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Litigation - Construction Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Louisville.

Biography

Carol Browning is an accomplished trial attorney who has tried more than 35 cases to jury verdict in multiple jurisdictions. She is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Her practice includes drug and medical device litigation, products liability and medical malpractice defense. She also serves as counsel to physicians and hospitals.

Ms. Browning serves as national or state counsel for multiple drug, medical device and product manufacturers and is involved in multi-district litigation pending in various federal district courts and in coordinated litigation pending in state courts throughout Kentucky. She has tried cases to verdict for pharmaceutical, medical device and product manufacturers in both federal and state court. In addition, she regularly defends companies in pharmaceutical pricing and other civil actions brought by states Attorneys General.

As a Member of the firm based in its Louisville office, she serves on the firm's management committee and has served as practice group leader for the Torts & Insurance Practice Service Group.

Reported Decisions

  • Adams v. Am. Optical Corp., 382 F. Supp. 3d 519 (W.D. Va., 2019)
  • Estate of Demoss v. Eli Lilly & Co., 234 F. Supp. 3d 873 (W.D. Ky 2017)
  • Shumate v. Medtronic, Inc., 41 F. Supp. 3d 665 (W.D. Ky. 2014)
  • Shelton v. Medtronic, Inc., 41 F. Supp. 3d 622 (W.D. Ky. 2014)
  • Schilmiller v. Medtronic, Inc., 41 F. Supp. 3d 721 (W.D. Ky. 2014)
  • Roden v. Medtronic, Inc., 41 F. Supp. 3d 593 (W.D. Ky. 2014)
  • Miller v. Medtronic, Inc., 41 F. Supp. 3d 644 (W.D. Ky. 2014)
  • Hardy v. Medtronic, 41 F. Supp. 3d 571 (W.D., Ky. 2014)
  • Padgett v. Medtronic, 41 F. Supp. 3d 582 (W.D., Ky. 2014)
  • Mauk v. Medtronic, Inc., 41 F. Supp. 3d 654 (W.D. Ky. 2014)
  • Hubbard v. Medtronic, Inc., 41 F. Supp. 3d 614 (W.D. Ky. 2014)
  • Goffner v. Medtronic, Inc., 41 F. Supp. 3d 604 (W.D. Ky. 2014)
  • Beavers v. Medtronic, Inc., 41 F. Supp. 3d 633 (W.D. Ky. 2014)
  • Ellington v. Fed. Home Loan Mortg. Corp., 13 F. Supp. 3d 723 (W.D. Ky. 2014)
  • Dillon v. Medtronic, 922 F. Supp. 2d 751 (E.D. Ky. 2014)
  • Younger v. Evergreen Group, Ky. 363 S.W.3d 337 (2014)
  • Esposito v. Lilly (In re Darvocet), 856 F. Supp. 2d 904 (E.D. Ky., 2012)
  • Mahaney v. Novartis, 835 F. Supp. 2d 299 (W.D. Ky. 2011)
  • Univ. Med. Ctr., Inc. v. Beglin, 375 S.W.3d 783 (2011)
  • 3M Co. v. Engle, Ky. 328 S.W.3d (2010)
  • Static Control Components, Inc. v. Lexmark Int'l, Inc., 749 F. Supp. 2d 542 (E.D. Ky. 2010)
  • Morris Aviation, LLC v. Diamond Aircraft Indus., 730 F. Supp. 2d 683 (W.D. Ky. 2010)
  • Static Control Components, Inc. v. Lexmark Int'l, Inc., 615 F. Supp. 2d 575 (E.D. Ky. 2009)
  • Vandevelde v. Poppens, 552 F. Supp. 2d 662 (W.D. KY 2008)
  • White v. Howmedica, Inc., 490 F.3d 1014 (8th Cir. 2007)
  • Static Control Components, Inc. v. Lexmark Int'l, Inc., 487 F. Supp. 2d 891 (E.D. Ky. 2007)
  • Ferguson v. Aventis Pasteur, Inc., 444 F. Supp. 2d 755 (E.D. Ky. 2006)
  • Scheck Mech. Corp. v. Borden, Inc., 186 F. Supp. 2d 724 (W.D. Ky. 2001)
  • Clark v. Danek Med., Inc., 64 F. Supp. 2d 652 (W.D. Ky. 1999)
  • Tate v. Boeing Helicopters, 140 F.3d 654 (6th Cir. 1998)
  • Niehoff v. Surgidev Corp., 950 S.W.2d 816 (1997)
  • Tate v. Boeing Helicopters, 921 F. Supp. 1562 (W.D. Ky. 1996)
  • Tate v. Boeing Helicopters, 55 F.3d 1150 (6th Cir. 1995)
  • First Ky. Trust v. Christian, Ky. 849 S.W.2d 534 (1993)
  • Mitchell v. Hadl, Ky. 816 S.W.2d 183 (1991)
  • Blue v. Pursell, Ky. App. 793 S.W.2d 823 (1989)

Recent News, Articles & Speaking Engagements

  • AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers, McKesson Snag Early Win In MDL, By Hailey Konnath, Law360, August 2, 2022
  • 4th Circ. Says 'Unfair' Va. Law Forces It To Nix Black Lung Suit, with Bethany A. Breetz and Whitney Frazier Watt, By Sarah Jarvis, Law360, November 9, 2020

Community Involvement

  • Louisville Ballet, Board of Directors
  • Kentucky State Police Personnel Board (2020-23)

More Than Stites & Harbison

Ms. Browning began her professional career as a civil engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers based in Louisville, Kentucky. She is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American College of Trial Lawyers, the Defense Research Institute, the International Association of Defense Counsel and Product Liability Advisory Council. She is active on committees within these organizations. She is also active in local charitable organizations. Ms. Browning and her husband, Winston, stay busy raising their four children. She is an aspiring equestrian and competes on her Morgan gelding, Flynn.

Stites & Harbison PLLC

98 Best Lawyers awards

Stites & Harbison PLLC logo

Overview

  • English

  • University of Kentucky, BSCE, graduated 1982
  • University of Louisville, J.D., graduated 1987

  • Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association

  • American College of Trial Lawyers - Member
  • Product Liability Advisory Council - Member
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Kentucky Bar Association - Member
  • Louisville Bar Association - Member
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI) - Member
  • International Association of Defense Counsel - Member

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • Admitted Pro Ac Vice in Several Jurisdictions
  • English
  • Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association
  • American College of Trial Lawyers - Member
  • Product Liability Advisory Council - Member
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Kentucky Bar Association - Member
  • Louisville Bar Association - Member
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI) - Member
  • International Association of Defense Counsel - Member
  • University of Kentucky, BSCE, graduated 1982
  • University of Louisville, J.D., graduated 1987
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • Admitted Pro Ac Vice in Several Jurisdictions

Client Testimonials

Our Healthcare Claims Office uses Carol for a variety of needs related to defending healthcare entities in Kentucky. On defense of primary insureds, she is a skilled trial attorney as she has the ability to relate to a venue specific jury, even on complex cases. Our insureds rely on her for her accessibility and knowledge base. We also use Carol for monitoring cases in which an insured has a high self-insured retention and choice of counsel. Carol is well known in the legal community and is able to work well with various plaintiff and defense attorneys.

Jennifer Schmidt (AIG DBG Healthcare)

Chicago, IL

Carol is extremely professional and knowledgeable. She has very strong analytical skills, which enable her to quickly understand and articulate complex medical issues. We always look forward to working with Carol on all of our legal matters.

Sally Long (University of Louisville Hospital)

Louisville, KY

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - Construction Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2022 - Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Litigation - Construction Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Litigation - Construction Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Louisville (2026)
  • Litigation - Construction, Louisville (2025)
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Louisville (2024)
  • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Louisville (2023)
  • Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Louisville (2022)
  • Litigation - Construction, Louisville (2020)
  • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Louisville (2019)
  • Litigation - Construction, Louisville (2017)
  • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Louisville (2015)
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Louisville (2014)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Litigation - Construction
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
  • Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
  • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Litigation - Environmental
  • Mass Tort Litigation
  • Medical Malpractice Law
  • Personal Injury Litigation
  • Product Liability Litigation
Special Focus:
  • Birth Trauma
  • Hospital Malpractice
  • Medical Devices
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Product Liability
  • Toxic Tort
  • Wrongful Death
Awards:
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV-Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Kentucky Super Lawyers (2007-present)
  • Kentucky Super Lawyers, Top 25 Women Lawyers in Kentucky (2007-19)
  • Kentucky Super Lawyers, Top 50 Attorneys in Kentucky (2013-15)
  • Benchmark Litigation magazine, Litigation Star (2008, 2009, 2013-present)
  • Benchmark Litigation magazine, Top 250 Women in Litigation (2012)
  • Louisville Magazine Top Lawyers (2014, 2016)

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