David J. Leibson
Bernard Flexner Professor of Law
- davidjay@louisville.edu
- Phone: 502-852-6378
- Office: 165
Professor Leibson teaches and writes in the areas of torts and the Uniform Commercial Code. He co-authored The Uniform Commercial Code of Kentucky with his colleague, Professor Richard Nowka. This book was originally published in 1983, and supplemented in 1987 and 1991. In 1992, a second edition was published, and a third edition was completed in 2003. The book has been cited in many Kentucky Court of Appeals and Supreme Court opinions. Professor Leibson is also the co-author of The Perfect Repossession Checklist and the author of Kentucky Tort Law, which is a part of West Publishing Company's Kentucky Practice series.
Professor Leibson has written several articles which have been cited in appellate court opinions and course textbooks. He has been honored with outstanding teaching awards including the 1988-89 Law Alumni Foundation Teaching Excellence Award, and as a Distinguished Alumnus of the law school.
Professor Leibson has been a visiting Professor of Law at McGeorge School of Law and the University of Leeds, England, and the University of Western Sydney, Australia.
Courses Taught
Agency
Business Torts
Civil Procedure
Commercial Paper under the Uniform Commercial Code
Consumer Transactions (developed and introduced this course into the curriculum)
Domestic Relations
Law and Literature (developed and introduced this course into the curriculum)
Sales and Leases under the Uniform Commercial Code and the Convention on the International Sale of Goods
Secured Transactions under the Uniform Commercial Code
Seminar on the Legal Profession
Torts
Publications
BOOKS
Kentucky Tort Law, West Publishing Co., (1995), yearly supplements 1996-2008. A Second Edition of this book will be published in late 2008 or early 2009
The Uniform Commercial Code of Kentucky, 3d Edition (with Nowka)(2003)
The Perfect Repossession Checklist (with Mapother), Creditors Law Center, (1990).
ARTICLES
"Debtor's Rights in the Collateral--Dangerous Territory for 'Owners' and Secured Parties," UCC Bulletin, July, 1992.
"Handling Re-Presented Checks--Risky Business for Collecting and Payor Banks," 78 Kentucky Law Journal 549 (1984).
"Recovery of Damages for Emotional Distress Caused by Physical Injury to Another," 15 Journal of Family Law 163 (1976-77).
"Wrongful Dishonor Under the UCC--A Trip Through the Maze of 4‑402," 8 Akron L.Rev. 317 (1976).
"Anticipatory Repudiation and Buyer's Damages--A Look into How the UCC Has Changed the Common Law," 7 UCC L.J. 272 (Winter, 1975).
Presentations
University and Community Service
SCHOOL OF LAW
Admissions Committee
Alumni Relations Committee
Committee to draft Procedures and Guidelines for Promotion and Tenure
Curriculum Committee (chair, 1977-78, 1989-90)
Dean's Search Committee (1989-90, 1999)
Decanal Review Committee
Diversity Issues Committee (co-chair 1994-95; chair 1995-97)
Economic Welfare Committee (chair, 1983-84)
Committee on Professionalism and Public Service
Various search committees for assistant deans and librarians
Awards Committee (chair for a number of years)
Numerous ad hoc committees
UNIVERSITY
Senate Committee on Professionalism
Committee on Allocation of Resources
Advisory Committee on Research
Final Committee to Select Grawemeyer Award in Religion, 1997, 1998
Mortar Board Fellowship Selection Committee
Committee to Select Distinguished University Teaching Award
Facilitator in the great Studies Program which involves local community leaders in seminars. The purpose is to discuss great literature and its impact on the profession of the participants.
SELECTED COMMUNITY SERVICE
Volunteer, Reach Out and Roar, community project to tutor disadvantaged students in reading, 1998-1999
Member, Board of Directors, Jewish Community Federation, 1998-2003.
Member, Public Radio Partnership Board, 2003--2005
Co-Chair, Long Range Planning Committee for Fundraising, Jewish Community Federation, 1998-2001.
Member, Emotionally Stable Families Community Investment Team, Metro United Way, 1997-2003.
President, Jewish Community Center, a Metro United Way Agency, May 1988‑‑May 1990.
Member, Board of Directors and Executive Board of the Jewish Community Center for many years.
Chairman and Member, Development Committee of the Jewish Community Center, 1994‑present.
Member, Board of Directors, Jewish Hospital Heart-Lung Institute, 1990-1997.
Member, Resettlement Committee of the Jewish Community Federation, 1994-present.
Member, Board of Directors, The Temple, June 1995- 1997.
Volunteer, Kentucky Harvest.
Interviewer, Survivors of the Shoa, Visual History Project. This is Steven Spielberg's project to interview all living survivors of the Holocaust and make the interviews available for historical research and education.
Member, Executive Committee of the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Community Federation, 2004-present
Member, Community Relations Council of the Jewish Community Federation, 2000-present
SERVICE TO THE BAR
Advisor, Special Legislative Committee considering amendments to the Uniform Commercial Code of Kentucky.
Participant, Continuing Legal Education Seminars (see presentations)
Member, Board of Directors of the Louisville Bar Foundation, 1996-97 (Dean's Designate)
OTHER HONORS
Phi Kappa Psi Honorary Fraternity
Brandeis Honor Society, 1983 inductee as a first in class graduate in 1969
Brandeis Honor Society recognition for outstanding legal scholarship--1996-97
Recipient of the Red Apple Award given by the University of Louisville for outstanding teaching and service. This is an award given pursuant to nomination by former students.