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: Kentucky Law Blog

In Memoriam: Louisville Attorney William O. Guethlein Passes away Feb. 4

By Michael Stevens

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I received the following email today on the death of William O. Geuthlein. Obituary follows.

We are very sad to report that Bill Guethlein passed away peacefully this afternoon at Jewish Hospital. This is certainly a great loss to all of those who knew him well.

Professionally, Bill was one of the greats. As an individual, he was warm, funny and fully human, truly one of a kind. We will miss him greatly.

Visitation at Ratterman Funeral Home on Lexington Road in St. Mathews will be Thursday, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Friday, 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. There will be a short Memorial Remembrance there at 6:30 pm on Friday.

GUETHLEIN, WILLIAM O., 81, of Louisville, passed away Wednesday, February 4, 2009, at Jewish Hospital. Bill Guethlein was born on May 4, 1927 in Cincinnati, OH. As a youth, he moved to Louisville where he graduated from high school. Bill was a veteran of World War II and attended the University of Louisville thereafter, receiving his LL.B degree in 1950. Before completing his legal education, Bill had worked as a lifeguard, a bartender, a bouncer, a floor-walker in a lady's store and an apprentice glass blower. After graduating from law school, Bill took a job with the Louisville firm of Boehl, Stopher, Graves & Deindoerfer, where he practiced for 49 years, retiring from the partnership in the spring of 1999. From 1999 until his death, he was Of Counsel to Phillips Parker Orberson & Moore, PLC. For many decades, Bill Guethlein was acknowledged as one of Louisville's preeminent trial attorneys. Bill defended all manner of civil cases, starting with low-exposure automobile accident cases but quickly progressing to multi-million dollar product liability and professional liability cases. He was almost universally successful in trial against not only prominent local attorneys but nationally-renowned plaintiff's attorneys such as Stanley Prizer and Phil Corboy who traveled to Louisville to try cases against him. Bill was best known for defending medical malpractice cases, and he successfully defended hospitals in Louisville and throughout the state as well as physicians and surgeons of all specialties. It could be argued that no attorney in Louisville has ever had a civil trial practice for a longer period of time, at a higher level, with more success, than Bill Guethlein. In 1979, Bill was named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was also repeatedly recognized in Best Lawyers in America and was a member of numerous local, state and national bar associations. In spite of his reputation as a fierce legal adversary, Bill was a warm, funny and kind man. He was a mentor, teacher and inspiration to scores of young lawyers who had the great privilege to practice with him or, in some cases, against him. Bill was fond of travel, tennis, skiing, fine food and good companionship over a glass, or two, of wine. He will be sorely missed. Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Mary E. Hutchison. He is survived by his daughter, Julie Guethlein Cotton of Englewood, FL; son, Robert Morri of Louisville; and granddaughter, Elizabeth Nicole Saltsman of Pell City, AL. A memorial service of remembrance will held 6:30 p.m. Friday, Ratterman's, 3711 Lexington Road. There will be a visitation prior to the service 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Louisville Bar Foundation, 600 West Main Street, Suite 110, Louisville, KY, 40202.