Stites & Harbison, PLLC

         
Joe Hardesty handles complex commercial litigation for clients throughout the country. He has represented construction clients in litigation involving major national construction projects. He has also represented clients on public and private projects in contract negotiations, payment disputes and project dispute resolution.

Joe has served as general counsel to AM-AR International Inc. and was Senior Attorney to BellSouth Corp. He is listed in Kentucky Super Lawyers 2007-10 magazine and in The Best Lawyers in America^® (2009 and 2010).

Recent Assignments

• Represent Construction Manager on construction of Museum Plaza and the Louisville Arena
• Successfully defended payment bond surety in insurance bad faith suit
• Represented general contractor in claim against subcontractor for delays and defective work arising from major Federal government project at Fort Campbell, Kentucky
• Defended subcontractor in claim for defective materials arising from work on Federal prison project in New York
• Represented subcontractor in claim for additional compensation arising from work on major project in Toronto, Canada
• Represented major telecommunication company in directory advertising contract dispute

Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications

• "Legal Issues for Kentucky Design Professionals," Half Moon Seminars, Louisville, Ky., March 12, 2008
• "What to do When a Construction Project Goes Bad," Lorman Education Services, Louisville, Ky., February 26, 2008
• "Construction Management/Design-Build in Kentucky," Lorman Education Services, August 26, 2005
• "Using a Mechanics' Lien to Get Your Money in Kentucky," National Business Institute, July 21, 2005
• "Change Orders in Kentucky," Lorman Education Services, Louisville, Ky., March 30, 2005
• "Brown v. Board of Education -- 50 Years Later in Jefferson County," Louisville Downtown Rotary Club, July 22, 2004
• "Construction Issues for the Public Owner," Kentucky County Attorney Association Annual Meeting, February 19, 2003

Before Stites & Harbison

Mr. Hardesty was Senior Attorney to BellSouth Corporation where he handled litigation and regulatory matters. Prior to law school, Mr. Hardesty was a field artillery officer in the U.S. Army, where he served in the Eighth Infantry Division in Germany and First Army Headquarters in Maryland. After leaving the active Army to attend law school, Mr. Hardesty continued to serve in the Army Reserves until 1999.

More Than Stites & Harbison

Mr. Hardesty has been a member of the Jefferson County Board of Education since 1990 and has served as Chair of the Board in 1997, 1998 and 2004-2008. In 2008, he was named the Outstanding School Board Member for Kentucky by the Kentucky School Board Association. He has served on the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, Lincoln Heritage Council, and has served as a United States Military Academy and Admissions Representative to assist local youth in applying to the Military Academy.

Besides Stites & Harbison

During his free time, Joe enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. He enjoys water sports, golf and outdoor activities.