Ellie Houston

Partner

Ellie is a section leader in DBL Law’s Medical Liability group and serves on the firm’s Executive Committee. She specializes in the areas of medical negligence defense and healthcare. Ellie’s practice includes defense of hospitals, medical practice groups, and healthcare providers of all specialties. She has tried numerous cases to defense verdict and has achieved favorable results in mediation. Ellie also has extensive experience in litigation of certificate of need and licensure matters.

Ellie received her law degree from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law where she was appointed to the Order of the Curia. While at Chase, Ellie was a member of the Northern Kentucky Law Review, where she served as editor of the Kentucky Survey Edition. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration from the University of Kentucky in 1998 and participated in an externship with Hospice of the Bluegrass in Lexington, Kentucky.  She is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, State of Ohio, and U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  She is a member of the Kentucky and Ohio State Bar Associations, the Northern Kentucky Bar Association, the Kentucky Hospital Association, DRI and the Kentucky Defense Counsel.

Ellie has served on several boards and committees, including the University of Kentucky College of Medicine-Northern Kentucky Admissions Advisory Committee and the St. Elizabeth Foundation Gift of Health Advisory Committee.  She is also a member of the Leadership Northern Kentucky (LNK) class of 2009, a past member of the LNK Steering Committee, and current member of the LNK Economic Development Planning Committee. Ellie has been recognized and included in Best Lawyers in American for Personal Injury Medical Malpractice Defense.

Honors & Distinctions
  • Best Lawyers in America, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Crestview Hills (2018-2021)
  • Kentucky Rising Star, Super Lawyers Magazine (2013 – 2015)
Professional Affiliations
  • Kentucky Bar Association
  • Northern Kentucky Bar Association
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Kentucky Academy of Hospital Attorneys
  • Kentucky Defense Council
  • DRI
Notable Decisions
  • St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Inc. v. Cabinet for Health and Family Services, 2017 WL 1203402 (Ky. App.).
  • Hitch v. St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Inc., 2016 WL 1557734 (Ky. App.).
  • Baptist Convalescent Center, Inc. v. Boonespring Transitional Care Center, LLC, 405 S.W.3d 498 (Ky. App. 2012).
  • Handi-Van, Inc. v. Mundy, 2009 WL 1160594 (Ky. App.).
  • Gilbert v. Com., Cabinet for Health & Family Services, 291 S.W.3d 712 (Ky. App. 2008).
  • Clifton v. Kentucky Speedway, LLC, 2005 WL 2807047 (Ky. App. 2005).
  • Cavana v. Love, 2005 WL 1415361 (Ky. App).
  • Compton v. St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Inc., 2005 WL 327116 (Ky. App. 2005).
  • Straub v. Kilgore, 100 Fed.Appx. 379 (6th Cir. 2004).
  • Johnson v. St. Claire Medical Center, Inc., 2003 WL 22149306 (Ky. App.).
Community Involvement
  • University of Kentucky College of Medicine-Northern Kentucky Admissions Advisory Committee
  • St. Elizabeth Foundation Gift of Health Advisory Committee
  • Leadership Northern Kentucky Economic Development Day Planning Committee
  • DCCH Center for Children and Development Committee Board Member
  • DCCH Center for Children and Families Board Member
  • DCCH Center for Children and Families Marketing Committee
  • Care Net Pregnancy Services of Northern Kentucky, past Board Chair
  • Covington Partners Board Member and Gala Planning Committee
Presentations
  • “Medical Documentation 101” – St. Elizabeth Physicians All Provider Meeting, March 2018.
  • “Medical Review Panel: Procedures, Practical Considerations and Hot Topics 2017”
  • “Law and the Legal System, Catholic Health Initiatives”
  • “Mock Trial, Labor and Employment Issues” – HR 100 Group, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Admissions
  • Commonwealth of Kentucky
  • State of Ohio
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky
11DBL Attorney Ellie Houston
Contact
ehouston@dbllaw.com
(859) 426-2179

Education

J.D., Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, magna cum laude, 2001
B.H.S., University of Kentucky, magna cum laude, 1998

Practice Areas

Health Care
Medical Liability

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