Chesley disbarment recommendation threatens huge legacy | News

CINCINNATI (FOX19) - A Kentucky trial commissioner's recommendation that attorney Stan Chesley be disbarred in Kentucky is an almost shocking development in light of Chesley's major legal cases, national and international prominence, and his involvement in local community affairs.

Here is an incomplete list of the many public cases and events he has been involved with around the Tri-State:

1977: The Beverly Hills Supper Club fire, Southgate, KY-- Chesley broke new ground in bringing a class action suit against the manufacturer of construction materials that were implicated in spread of the 1977 fire that killed 165 people.

1984: He wins a large settlement for a Cincinnati Zoo worker injured by a polar bear.

1984: He represents people killed or injured when an elevator carrying several elderly holocaust survivors plunges several floors in a Kenwood apartment building.

1984: He becomes a member of the UC board of trustees, later serving as its chairman.

1995: His wife Susan Dlott is recommended and appointed as a U.S. District Court judge.

1996: He represents indendent newspaper carriers whose franchises were dropped by the Cincinnati Enquirer.

1997: He represents victims of a Comair plane crash in Michigan.

1997: He helps negotiate a settlement between 40 states and the major tobacco companies.

1998: He represents prosecutor Joe Deters in a case involved an alleged threat to Deters by activist Nate Livingston.

1998: He hosts Bill Clinton in a fundraiser at his home.

1998: Chesley hosts a second Bill Clinton fundraiser that year, with money going to congressional Democrats.

1999: He hosts a third Bill Clinton fundraiser.

1999: He represents a group of cities, including Cincinnati, that sued unsuccessfully handgun manufacturers.

1999: He sues Microsoft, saying its monopoly raises prices fro computer users.

1999: He and his daughter hold a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton at his daughter's home in Amberley Village.

2000: He and his daughter hold a second fundraiser for Hillary Clinton in Amberley Village.

2000: He holds a fundraiser for Al Gore.

2000: He sues the NCAA when they propose to ban colleges from holding pre-season basketball tournaments.

2000: He represents former TV news anchor Norma Rashid in a lawsuit against her old station.

2000: He sues Firestone over tires on the Ford Explorer.

2000: Chesley offers advice to Al Gore's campaign during the Florida recount.

2000: He is appointed to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council.

2002: He files suit on behalf of the family of a Minnesota Vikings player who died of heatstroke.

2002: He files suit for homeowners hurt by the Erpenbeck homebuilding scandal.

2002: He wins a ruling that makes it easier for people to sue the State of Ohio for negligence by public officials.

2003: He represents victims of sexual abuse in Northern Kentucky, leading to a settlement that forces payments by the Covington Diocese's insurance companies, and forces them to give up their headquarters in Boone County.

2003: He is hired by victims and their families in a Rhode Island nightclub fire that killed about 100 people.

2003: He and Cincinnati basketball great Oscar Robinson receive the "Peace of the City" award.

2003: He negotiates a settlement where the Libyan government pays survivors of victims of a terrorist airliner bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland.

2004: He and his form represent a family for free after they say they were victims of race-based harassment in Brown County.

2004: Chesley sues the Cincinnati Bengals over the Bengals stadium deal approved by previous commissioners, ultimately losing the case.

2004: He buys a 12 million dollar mansion in Indian Hill.

2005: He sues NASCAR on behalf of Kentucky Speedway over the Speedway's being closed out of the top racing series, then known as Nextel Cup.  The suit is unsuccessful.

2005: He wins a multimillion dollar suit by a family whose daughter was injured in a stabbing against the parents of the teenage attacker.  The stabbing happened in Indian Hill.

2005: Mayor Charlie Luken calls in Chesley when a tank car with a potential to explode forces evacuations and blocks traffic in the area north of Lunken airport.

2005: Chesley joins Prosecutor Joe Deters and Sheriff Simon Leis in a Bengals plan to impose pat-down searches for Bengals fans. The plan was dropped.

2006: Chesley, a though a top Democratic contributor works for Representative Jean Schmidt when she challenges Bob McEwen's residency for the Republican primary for the Second Congressional District seat.  He later works for her in other cases.

2006: He represents some victims of a fatal Comair crash in Lexington.

2007: Former Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro goes to work at Chesley's law firm's Columbus office.

2007: He hosts Bill Clinton in a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton at Chesley's Indian Hill home.

2007: He is first accused of help the Kentucky lawyers involved in the Fen-Phen case to take advantage of their clients.

2007: Chesley donates money for the first-ever marker commemorating victims of the Beverly hills fire.

2007: He becomes president of the Jewish National Fund, which raises money to support the nation of Israel.

2007: He and Kroger donate money to extend the operating schedule for Cincinnati City pools.  Chesley is involved in such donations in a number of different years.

2007: He represents families of children hurt in a school bus accidents in Grant County where the driver hit a utility pole while high on drugs. 

2007: He hosts Hillary Clinton in a fundraiser at his home.

2008: He sues Duke Energy after it was revealed the company had given special rates to large corporate and institutional customers in Ohio.

2008: He represents the U.S. At Israel's 60th anniversary.

2008: He donates $50,000 for the inauguration of Barack Obama.

2009: He hires Joe Deters to work for his firm, and the Republican prosecutor becomes a part-time employee of the county, a move he says will help the county's budget.

2009: He donates his papers concerning the Beverly Hills fire to NKU.

2010: Chesley sues Toyota over cases of uncontrollable acceleration.

2010: He sues the makers of cold and flu drug Zicam over on behalf of users that lost their sense of smell.

2010: He is among several dozen senior counsel honored by the Kentucky Bar Association.

2010: He sues a Clermont County commission candidate, later elected, over claims of criminal activity he allegedly made about a couple whose baby died when left unattended in a hot car.


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