Biography
Craig Johnson is an experienced trial attorney who focuses his practice on medical malpractice defense, nursing home/long-term care defense, professional licensure matters, general civil litigation and employment-related matters. Craig maintains an active trial and appellate practice in both state and federal courts. Between 2000 and 2024, Craig was lead counsel on 25 + jury trials across Kentucky and Indiana, defending healthcare clients in lawsuits involving emergency medicine, general surgery, obstetrics, skilled nursing, oncology, and many other medical specialties. Craig has a tremendous success rate at trial which also proves beneficial in resolving cases pre-trial.
Craig is admitted to practice in Kentucky and before the United States District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Kentucky, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Craig graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in Business Management and a minor in Economics in 1991 and received his J.D. from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville in 1994. After obtaining his law degree, Craig was an associate attorney with Williams & Wagoner for four years practicing in civil rights litigation and workers compensation. Prior to joining Steptoe & Johnson, Craig was a partner and co-founder with Whonsetler & Johnson where he represented healthcare providers throughout Kentucky and Indiana.
Representative Experience
- Successfully represented OB/GYN at a jury trial in a failure to diagnose case involving maternal fatality, avoiding significant financial implications. The case was tried twice, with same outcome, due to a Supreme Court reversal based on a jury selection issue.
- Obtained a defense verdict (jury trial) for a radiologist in a case involving allegations of failure to diagnose a pulmonary lesion resulting in advanced lung cancer
- Received summary judgment on behalf of clients in a retained foreign body case
- Secured a voluntary dismissal with prejudice in a birth injury case following the deposition of Plaintiff’s liability expert
- Successfully enforced arbitration agreements for multiple long term care clients
- Defended long term care facility in a matter involving multiple patient falls, resulting in settlement significantly less than initial demand, following a mistrial due to a hung jury
Education
- J.D. University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law
- B.S. University of Kentucky
Achievements
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business – Litigation: Torts and Insurance Defense (2024)
- Best Lawyers in Louisville, Louisville Magazine
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation – Health Care (2021-Present), Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (2011-Present), Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2022-Present), Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants (2021-Present)
- Super Lawyers®, Medical Malpractice Law, Employment Litigation Law, Civil Litigation Law, Louisville, KY (2012-Present)
- Martindale Hubbell AV Rated
- Kentucky Trial Court Review-2017 Most Prolific Trial Lawyer
Speaking Engagements
- Provided lectures and presentations to the American Society of General Surgeons, the University of Louisville Grand Rounds, and the Kentucky Dental Association
Publications
- Published Cases:
- Hawkins v. Rosenbloom, Ky. App., 17 S.W.3d 116 (2000)
- Harrison v. Valentini, Ky., 184 S.W.3d 521 (2005)
- Tuttle v. Perry, Ky., 82 S.W.3d 920 (2002)
- Hall v. Wilkerson, Ky., 255 S.W.3d 923 (2008)
- Aull v. Houston, Ky. App. 345 S.W.3d 232 (2011)
- Dennis v. Fulkerson, Ky. App. 343 S.W.3d 633 (2011)
- Robertson v. Burdette, Ky., 397 SW3d 886 (2013)
- Grubb v. Norton Hospital, Inc., KY., 401 SW3d 483 (2013)
Press Release