We are delighted to share the news that our founding partner McKinnley Morgan has been selected for induction into the Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
The Workers’ Compensation Hall of Fame honors attorneys, doctors, court reporters, administrative law judges, and others who have made significant contributions to Kentucky’s workers’ compensation system during their distinguished careers.
A senior partner at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, McKinnley will be inducted into the Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Hall of Fame during the Hall of Fame Awards Banquet scheduled for April 14 in Lexington.
The banquet will be held in conjunction with the University of Kentucky Continuing Legal Education 24th Annual Workers’ Compensation Institute being hosted at the Campbell House in Lexington.
“It’s quite a humbling experience,” McKinnley says of his selection to the Hall of Fame. “You don’t start your career with something like that in mind. After representing thousands of people over the years, it’s great to know that all the work I did, didn’t go unnoticed.”
Focused on Helping Injured Workers and Their Families
After graduating from the University of Kentucky and the University of Kentucky College of Law, McKinnley started practicing law in 1972 in the area of Eastern Kentucky where he grew up. Among the first injury cases, he handled were workers’ compensation cases involving coal miners who have been injured on the job and needed help obtaining workers’ compensation benefits.
McKinnley found his calling in helping injured people get back on their feet. He quickly realized that when handling workers’ compensation cases, he was representing more than just the injured worker.
“A lot of men in the coal mining industry would get hurt, and the families would lose their primary income earner,” he says. “That could lead to divorce and other issues. I learned long ago, it’s not just about getting a quick buck. You are representing the family unit. You have to figure out how to help the family stay together.”
Knowing that families are receiving the benefits they need and being taken care of is a great feeling, he says.
McKinnley has been handling workers’ compensation cases for 50 years and has focused his law practice primarily on workers’ compensation for 30 years. He says the most important thing he can do is help injured workers when they need help. He considers it an honor to be able to use his legal skills to serve his fellow Kentuckians.
He has shared his extensive knowledge of Kentucky’s workers’ compensation system as a speaker and panelist at numerous legal seminars and conferences focused on issues related to workplace injuries and accidents.
In addition to McKinnley, the other members of the Class of 2022 announced by the Hall of Fame selection committee include R. Scott Borders, William Gary Davis, William Faris, William Hines, Paul E. Jones, Sherri L. Keller, H. Edward O’Daniel, Jr., and Dr. Robert W. Powell.
Congratulations to McKinnley and to all those honored by the Hall of Fame selection committee.
For more information about our attorneys at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, contact our office at (859) 327-3383!
