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Jean M. Terry

With close to 20 years of legal experience, Jean M. Terry focuses primarily on complex construction litigation, offering clients a rare combination of veteran courtroom advocacy and deep operational insight. As a seasoned trial attorney, Ms. Terry serves as lead counsel in high-stakes disputes, having successfully first-chaired numerous trials and arbitrations to verdict.

Phone

(502) 244-4944 ext 108

Biography

Jean M. Terry is a Partner at Manion Stigger, LLP. Jean began working in the construction industry over twenty years ago, serving as an intern for a crane manufacturer in her native South Carolina. After earning her engineering degree, Jean worked as a civil engineer on numerous projects throughout the public and private sectors for a multinational engineering and construction firm. She contributed to the Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control chapter of the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Drainage Manual, and is certified in the Fundamentals of Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

Jean’s extensive work as a civil engineer combined with her experience in construction law and civil litigation has made her invaluable in the management and design aspects of large-scale construction, including the legal issues that affect these projects. Jean draws upon this experience and her passion for the industry to represent contractors, suppliers, and other building professionals in all phases of project construction, from contract formation through arbitration and litigation. Jean was chosen for the Kentucky Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for her work in Construction Litigation from 2020-2021 as well as Louisville Business First’s 20 People to Know in Law in 2019.

Education

The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, J.D., cum laude

Vanderbilt University, B.E., Civil Engineering

Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Indiana
  • Supreme Court of Kentucky
  • Supreme Court of Michigan
  • Supreme Court of Virginia
  • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Indiana
  • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana
  • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
  • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Kentucky
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky

Professional Involvement

American Bar Association

  • Forum on Construction Law, Division IX: Subcontractors & Suppliers, Steering Committee
  • Forum on Construction Law, 2019 Diversity Fellow

American Society of Civil Engineers

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Indiana/Kentucky

  • Board of Directors

Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)

  • Environmental Steering Committee

Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers

Giles S. Rich American Inn of Court

Under Construction

  • Associate Editor

Awards

Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA)

  • Fellow

Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Rising Star 2020-2021

  • Construction Litigation: Business

Louisville Business First 20 People to Know in Law 2019

Representative Experience

  • Represented industrial contractor in multimillion-dollar claim against general contractor for changed work and delays.
  • Defended contractor in lien collection suit against payment bond surety before the Kentucky Court of Appeals, obtaining principal amount owed, as well as interest on outstanding sums at contractual rate.
  • Represented general contractors and subcontractors in various collection disputes, including arbitrations and traditional litigation.
  • Represented multiple contractors in arbitrations against owners and prime contractors regarding claims of delay.
  • Represented material supplier in collection dispute against developer where developer had misappropriated construction loan proceeds in violation of state statutes.
  • Represented subcontractor against large regional utility in differing site conditions claim.
  • Prosecuted general contractor’s collection claim in arbitration, achieving award of principal damages and full denial of owner’s consequential damages claims based on contractual waiver and the economic loss doctrine.
  • Represented structural steel fabricators in arbitrations throughout the United States to collect unpaid base contract sums and outstanding change order claims, including claims for increased complexity, design changes, and inadequate site conditions.