Armand Leone is an attorney by trade and no stranger to the court room, but when he leased a horse in 2012 that became injured, he was involved in a lengthy and expensive arbitration for which he hired a lawyer. After giving endless “horses 101” lessons to his counsel before any progress could be made on his case, Leone realized there was an opportunity for him to help his fellow horsemen. As a result, Leone Equestrian Law was born in 2014.
Leone operates his business on a simple principle: horses are unique. According to him, the way horses are bought, sold, and leased is a process unlike any other seen in contemporary society. “Paying to educate an attorney about the horse business is not a cost effective way to resolve legal matters, ” he says.
While the scenarios are endless, Leone has encountered common legal matters that affect people within the equine industry. The bad news: problems ranging from unpaid client bills to lease agreements gone wrong are common within professional circles of the horse world. The good news: you don’t have to go it alone; there is help out there.
Questions From A Horse Dealer Answered By An Equine Lawyer
Buyer / Seller Remorse Owning, leasing, and selling competitive sport horses is a risky business. Even after all the ‘T’s have been crossed and ‘I’s have been dotted, things can go wrong for buyer, seller, trainer or all three.
But, even after the most diligent efforts, people may claim after the sale or lease based on alleged non-disclosures related to soundness, suitability, or something else. If it happens to you, an equine lawyer can help.
The Delinquent Boarder As any horse owner knows all too well, maintaining a horse in proper condition, whether riding for pleasure or more competitively, is undeniably costly. In turn, barn owners, trainers, and providers of veterinary services often deal with the daunting unpaid bill. Efforts like a mandatory boarding contract and published price sheet can often ward off a possible non-payment situation. But, if saddled with a client’s debt, barn owners often need help to get paid what is rightfully owed.
One Of The World's Leading Equine Appraisers & Equine Expert Witness
Horseback riding is a contact sport with frequent injuries and rare fatalities. Most states have special legal protections for equestrian businesses that can shield owners and businesses from lawsuits for personal injuries. However, there are exceptions to this protection that may create liability for an equestrian facility owner. Litigation can be costly if there is no insurance to cover the legal costs and loss. Even if there is insurance available, experience in equestrian sport makes a difference in asserting and defending claims. Riders, trainers, and owners can unfortunately all find themselves in court over a tragic situation.When you have a legal matter involving horses, you want the job done well. You want your lawyer to be highly experienced, as passionate as you are about horses, and with unmatched expertise and industry knowledge.
Julie I. Fershtmanhas 36 years of experience in the practice of law.AShareholder with the full-service law firmFoster Swift Collins & Smith, PC, she is widely recognized asone of the nation'sleading Equine Law practitioners.Fordecades, she has successfully tried cases, handled lawsuits, counseled, and drafted contracts for her clients. No other lawyer anywherehas generated more educational material on the law for the equine industry. She has written over 450 articles and 4 books. She is author of the firm's Equine Law Blog (blog.com). She is also the industry's most in-demand speaker, with engagements in 29 states.
The practice. Crossing all horse breeds and disciplines, she serves a national** clientele of stables, trainers, professionals, associations, businesses, show management, insurers, clinicians, instructors, breeders, veterinarians, farm owners, and individual horse owners.
Stephanie Griffey, J.d.
Unmatched Equine Law expertise. She has achieved numerous courtroom victories. One year alone, for example, she wonjury trials in 3 states, 2 state court appeals, and a major Federalinsurance coverage case— all on equine-related matters. She also drafts equine industry contracts with the goal of helping her clients avoid legal disputes.
Types of equine-related matters handled. Some examples include: equine sale disputes and/or sales contract drafting, equine lease disputes and/or lease contract drafting, ownership disputes, stablemen's lien enforcement matters, collection ofpast-due fees, defamation (slander, libel), business and partnership disputes, personal injury liability (typically, defending equine professionals, associations, show management and horse owners when they have been sued or threatened with a lawsuit), real estate disputes, employment matters, insurance disputes (typically representing insurance companies), and many more. Further below are more examples.
National experience .** Litigation experience in more than20 jurisdictions including Florida, Illinois(4 cases), Missouri (2 cases), Ohio (3 cases), Georgia, Arizona, Kentucky (2 cases), Connecticut (2 cases), South Carolina, Pennsylvania (2 cases), Tennessee. Jury trials in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Connecticut. Arbitrations in 2states.
What Services Can A Dutch Equine Lawyer Offer?
Background. Graduate of Emory College and Emory Law School.Her law practice also includes business litigation, contract disputes, insurance coverage, fraud litigation, liability defense, products liability, and more.
Leadership. Extensive bar association involvement and leadership. Past President (2011-2012) of the 46, 000-member State Bar of Michigan. Past Vice-Chair of ABA-TIPS Section Animal Law Committee. Member of the ABA House of Delegates.
National legal consultingfor those who already have lawyers. Most lawyers lack experience in horse-related mattersand do not understand the industry. Ms. Fershtman's services include legal consulting through which she is hired to work with lawyers. She can draft contracts for final approval from lawyers in the client's state and/or assist as counsel or legal consultant on cases around the country **
An Equine Lawyer's Tips For Horse Trailer Ride Shares
NEW DEVELOPMENTS: Julie Fershtman was just named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Michigan and one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Michigan by Michigan Super Lawyers.® She was also listed for the 11th consecutive year in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law.
Equine Law and Horse Sense (ABA Publishing, 2019). This book has received 4 national book awards. More information and order informationcan be found further below.
Ms. Fershtman is busy but welcomes new clients. If you would like tohire her, please note that we strictlyfollow ethical regulations.** Please donot e-mail, fax, mail, overnight, or deliverdetails of your legal matter.(She might already represent the other side.)Instead, pleasecallMs. Fershtman [Direct line :(248) 785-4731; main office: (248) 539-9900]. She or her assistantwill check for conflicts anddetermineifshe can help you.
Lexington Ky Equine Law Attorney
Regulations and ethical restrictions prevent lawyers from working all alone in states where they are not licensed .Ms. Fershtman's license is in Michigan. She has worked on matters around the country, but clients willlikely need to hire a local lawyer to work in some capacity with her. For contracts, she will send adraft to your local lawyer for final review.
2021 Speaking Engagements. National Conference on Equine Law (April 28, 2021 - virtual ); American Youth Horse Council (March 2021 - virtual); Horses in the Morning/Horse Radio Network; Cornell Cooperative Extension (March 25, 2021 - virtual); Agricultural Claims Conference (April 20-21, 2021 - virtual); United Professional Horsemens Association webinar (April 6, 2021 - virtual); Agri Con - IRMI Agribusiness Conference (May 2021 - virtual); Ag Law Today podcast (May 2021); Georgia Bar Assoc. Equine Law Section (May 2021 - virtual).
2022 Speaking Engagements. National Conference on Equine Law (Lexington, Kentucky - in person); Agri Con - IRMI Agribusiness Conference (Sacramento, California - 2 in-person presentations); New York State Bar Association (virtual); Equestrian Professional national webinar (virtual); Tennessee Master Horse Program (virtual); American Horse Council Conference (Washington, DC- in person); American Horse Council webinar (virtual); Otterbein University, Equine class (virtual).
Indiana Equine Lawyer Archives
2023 Speaking Engagements. National Conference on Equine Law (Lexington, Kentucky - in person); AgriCon - IRMI Agribusiness Conference (Sacramento, California - 2 in-person presentations).
This book was written for non-lawyers and lawyers. It helps individuals, businesses, and organizations in the horse industry understand common legal disputes and learn howtoavoid them.
A372-page paperback, this book covers numerous topics, including contracts, liabilities, equine activity liability acts, loose horse liabilities, zoning and land use laws, business structures, risk management, debt collection and state lien laws, sales disputes, insurance and how to avoid disputes with insurance companies, association liabilities, veterinary malpractice, andnumerous others.As a breeder, competitor and lawyer, Rebecca Pennington understands the wide range of issues that confront the participants in the equine industry. She is licensed to practice law in Texas and has has received formal training as a mediator by the American Arbitration Association. In addition to her law practice of 30 years, for 12 years Ms. Pennington taught law courses at the University of Houston Law Center and was Director of the Law Center's Trial Advocacy Institute for three years. She is a moderator for the Houston Bar Association's Moderated Settlement Conference program and also handles matters for the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Association.
Equine Legal Solutions
Equine Litigation (federal & state court) Auction Fraud; Contract Claims/Fraud; Fertility Insurance Disputes; Intentional Torts; Medication Rules Disputes; Mortality Insurance Disputes; Negligence Claims; Sales Disputes; Veterinary Malpractice; and Other Equine Litigation Issues. Administrative Hearings Before Equine Associations
I have discovered that most calls I get require only a short consultation to give the client the important information they need to proceed. Many hesitate to contact me for this information for fear of getting a huge legal bill. WAIT NO MORE!
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