‘A huge loss.’ Kentucky lawyer killed in crash had built strong relationships in community
The Kentucky attorney who was killed in a utility terrain vehicle crash last week was an avid outdoorsman who friends say was a valued member of the Campbellsville community.
Joey Bott, 42, died Sept. 4 in a UTV wreck on Hatcher Road in Taylor County. KSP said Bott was driving the Honda Pioneer UTV when he misjudged a curve, causing the UTV to leave the road and flip.
Bott died at Taylor Regional Hospital, according to KSP. Another Campbellsville attorney, 42-year-old Jeremy Wood, was a passenger on the UTV. He suffered injuries in the incident and was flown to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital.
Bott was a partner with Bertram, Cox & Miller, a private law firm in Campbellsville. He began working at the firm as an associate in 2007 and has been a partner for roughly the last decade.
“He has just been an instrumental part of our lives, our firm since 2007 really,” said John Miller, one of the other partners at the firm.
Miller said Bott was the first person they hired when his firm merged with Bertram & Cox. He added it’s uncommon for private firms in small towns to hire non-family members, but Bott made a notable early impression.
“He immediately took to the community and has tons and tons of friends. Kind of hard to believe that a guy that’s not from here has the types of relationships that he has here in town having just been here a short 16 years,” Miller said.
Bott earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky and a law degree at Salmon P. Chase College of Law, according to his profile on Bertram, Cox & Miller’s website. He was a part of the Taylor County, Kentucky and American Bar associations and was also a part of the National Association of Subrogation Professionals.
Bott also served as an assistant commonwealth attorney with the 11th Judicial Circuit.
“You lose a dear friend, and then he played a big role in our firm in terms of doing work,” Miller said. “It’s going to be a huge loss that we’re going to have to fill.”
Bott’s obituary described him as an outdoorsman who enjoyed spending time outside and with his family.
“He just saw himself being in a more rural area so he could do what he really enjoys, which is hunting and fishing,” Miller said.
Wood suffered a few broken ribs in the wreck and is expected to make a full recovery, Miller said. He previously worked with Bertram, Cox & Miller but later decided to open up his own private practice, Wood Law Firm.
Wood has defended clients in a wide variety of civil and criminal cases, according to his profile. He also has experience as a plaintiff’s attorney, an insurance defense and subrogation attorney and a criminal prosecutor.
Wood also serves as an assistant commonwealth attorney with the 11th Judicial Circuit.
