Scarlette Burton Kelty

Scarlette is a Senior Trial Attorney at the Poppe Law Firm®. She was born and raised here in Louisville, graduating from Male High School in 2004.  She then attended the University of Louisville where she majored in Political Science.  Upon admission, Scarlette was accepted to the Harlan Scholar Program, an undergraduate honor society, and enrichment program for students interested in a career in law.  She was an active member of the program serving as Community Service Director, Vice President and, in her senior year, President.  In addition, she was an active member and leader of several other groups and honor societies on the University’s campus.

Scarlette excelled in her studies and made the Dean’s list eight consecutive semesters. On top of her course schedule and extracurricular involvement, Scarlette was working her way through school.  She started college working part-time at a retail store where she was quickly promoted to supervisor.  She later left the store and worked at two local law firms.  She had already thought about going to law school after college, but it was this experience that solidified her goal.   Scarlette graduated from the University of Louisville with honors in 2008. 

Immediately after college, Scarlette attended law school at the Brandeis School of Law, also at the University of Louisville.  There, she quickly adjusted to the fast-paced environment and heavy workload and was able to make the Dean’s list again, every semester.  Scarlette also worked most of her way through law school, returning to her position as supervisor, and then coming to work at our firm in August 2010.

While in law school Scarlette joined the Women’s Law Caucus, serving as the public relations chair, and participating in various community activities with the Jefferson County Women Lawyer’s Association. Through those experiences, she met an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney who became her mentor.That relationship led her to an externship at the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office during her last year of law school. 

During that time, Scarlette was also working part-time at our firm and in May 2011 graduated from law school in the top 10% of her class.  Because of her academic achievements she was invited to join the prestigious Brandeis Honor Society upon graduation.  After graduation, Scarlette continued working as a law clerk in our office while studying for the Kentucky bar.  After passing the bar in October 2011, she was invited to join our firm as an associate.  

Scarlette is an active member of the Kentucky Justice Association, having served on the Board of Governors for several years and being elected as an officer in 2021.  In 2017 Scarlette received Kentucky Justice Association’s Outstanding Board Member Award, the Kentucky Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Award, and has been named a Super Lawyer Rising Star each year since 2018. 

Scarlette is married to Samuel Kelty and the two welcomed a baby girl in 2019. They are members of Okolona Christian Church. 

Notable Cases:

• Wells v. Catholic Health Initiatives, verdict $21,274,785.94, Kentucky Court of Appeals 2016-CA-001919-MR, 2017-CA-000081-MR
• Estate of Lula Mae White v. Cumberland Gastroenterology, PSC, verdict $1,655,291.03

Education:

• University of Louisville, Bachelor of Science in Political Science 2008, Magna Cum Laude
  • Concentration: Law and Public Policy
• J.D. University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law 2011, Cum Laude

Professional Activities:

• Officer, Kentucky Justice Association 2021 – present
• Co-Chair, Publications Committee, Kentucky Justice Association 2020
• District Vice President, Fourth District, Kentucky Justice Association 2019-2021
• Leadership Academy Graduate, Kentucky Justice Association, 2019
• Barrister, Louis D. Brandeis Inn Of Court, American Inns Of Court. 2018-2021
• American Association for Justice, Student Trial Advocacy Competition, Coach 2018
• Co-Editor, The Advocate 2017-2021
• Chair, Kentucky Justice Association Women’s Caucus 2017-2018
• Board of Governors, Kentucky Justice Association 2016-present

Awards:

• Best Lawyers in America – Ones to Watch, 29th Edition, 2023
• Super Lawyers Rising Star 2018 – present
• AVVO rating 10.0 “Top Attorney”
• The Finis Price Outstanding Board Member Award 2017, Kentucky Justice Association
• Continuing Legal Education Award 2017, Kentucky Bar Association
• Brandeis Honor Society 2011, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law
• Guaranteed Admission to Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, 2008 

Publications:

• Using Video Depos at Trial, TRIAL Vol. 58, No. 3 March 2022
• Getting Sanctions for Spoliated Evidence, The Advocate Vol. 49, No. 2 March/April 2021
• Getting Sanctions for Spoliated Evidence, American Association for Justice Journal of Trucking Litigation, Summer/Fall 2020 
• When your Civil Defendant is a Criminal Defendant, The Advocate Vol. 45, No. 5 September/October 2017
• Don’t Let Defendants Destroy Your Sound Bites: The Use of Videotaped Depositions at Trial, The Advocate Vol. 44, No. 4 July/August 2016
• Qui Tam: Funny Name, Serious Cause of Action, The Advocate Vol. 42, No. 2 March/April 2014

 Presentations:

• “Statutes of Limitation in Kentucky 2023,” Pitfalls Series, Kentucky Justice Association, June 2023
• “Getting Sanctions for Spoliated Evidence,” Webinar 2021; Louisana Association for Justice, Dec. 10, 2021
• “HIPAA & HITECH,” Louisiana Association for Justice, 2019 Evidence and Procedure Seminar with Louisiana Judicial College, March 15, 2019
• “Combatting Unconscious Gender Bias in the Practice of Law,” Second Annual Kentucky Justice Association Women’s Retreat, June 29, 2018
• “30(b)(6) Corporate Representative Depositions in Auto and Trucking Cases,” Takeaway Practice Tips for Your Auto Case, June 8, 2018. 
• “Technology in Discovery & HITECH Act,” PI Case from Start to Finish, June 2018
• “Social Media Discovery,” Technology & Social Media, May 23, 2017
• “Ethics in Mediation & Settlement,” Successful Strategies in Mediation & Arbitration, April 28, 2017
• “Medical Malpractice: Informed Consent through Jury Trial,” December 9, 2016

Professional Memberships:

• Kentucky Justice Association 
• American Association for Justice 
• Jefferson County Women’s Lawyers Association
• Kentucky Bar Association 
• Louisville Bar Association 

Bar Admissions:

• Kentucky 2011

Court Admissions:

• All Kentucky State Courts
• United States District Court, Western District of Kentucky
• United States District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky