L.J. Leatherman, Attorney

LJ Leatherman was hired as an associate at Palmer & Lowry in 1992 after his graduation from Washburn University School of Law. As a student he served as associate editor of the Kansas Bar Association Administrative Law Practice Guide and as research assistant for Professor Emeritus David Ryan at Washburn University.

Mr. Leatherman is active in various organizations within the legal professional and community. Soon after beginning the practice of law he became a Junior Board of Governor with the Kansas Trial Lawyers. Since then he has gone on to a full Board of Governor. While not holding any positions, he has been active in multiple committees, including the Workers' Compensation Committee, the Amicus Committee, as an Amicus for the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association and was active in appellate decisions.

He provided the Amicus analysis followed by the Supreme Court in Williams v. Wilson, 933 P.2d 757,261 Kan. 703 (Kan. 1997). The Court accepted the Amicus Committee's analysis for the Kansas Trial Lawyers overturned the 30 year prohibition against per diem arguments. LJ Leatherman is actively involved in the community, serving as President of the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center (TILRC). As President of TILRC he was integral in the grass roots movement to establish rights for individuals with disabilities in the State of Kansas. Under his leadership, TILRC pushed legislative reforms regarding confidential workers' compensation claims. TILRC was active in ensuring that the injuries and medical records which were previously provided to the public were closed. Preventing employers from performing preliminary searches in an attempt to eliminate disabled employees from job opportunities.

LJ Leatherman is also active in other trial and community organizations including the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Kansas Bar Association, and the Topeka Bar Association.

Mr. Leatherman's practice covers general personal injury. It includes premise liability, automobile accidents and malpractice. In addition, he is active in employment and civil rights work. The Americans With Disabilities Act access claims under Title II, access to public buildings, and Section 1983 Civil Rights cases. Representative cases in the Appellate Courts of Kansas and the Tenth Circuit Court are:

1. Long v. Turk, 265 Kan. 855 (1998), a landmark case holding fun owners responsible for negligent entrustment or negligent storage of weapons which were used by minors to commit crimes.
2. Tyler v. The City of Manhattan, 849 F.Supp. 1429 (D. Kan. 1994), 856 F.Supp. 800 (D.Kan.1994). Toby Tyler was a police officer who was disabled in the line of duty. After retiring with full disability he returned to his hometown of Manhattan, Kansas. He had previously been active in the community but was unable to participate due to the inaccessible recreational facilities. Tyler v. City of Manhattanis a landmark decision regarding the rights of individuals with disabilities access to city activities.

Mr. Leatherman has been active in publications and the articles include Discovery and Isurance Adjuster File under K.S.A. 60-226(b)(3), 17 KTLAJ, 18, Sept., 1993. Oter prublications include Venue.