Louisville, Kentucky partners Edward O’Brien and James Burd prevailed in a bench trial in the United States District Court, Western District of Kentucky, for Wilson Elser’s client, an investor who was a victim of fraud. Eddie and Jim served as local counsel in this complex case arising from the fraudulent schemes to evade creditors perpetrated by a convicted con man and those working alongside him. These individuals were involved in a natural gas drilling operation in West Virginia. Our client fell victim to the fraud scheme, investing most of his life's savings in oil and gas wells owned by the defendants and receiving returns representing a fraction of his original investment. Following a bench trial, the court awarded the client $1.65 million in compensatory damages and $1.65 million in punitive damages, with post-judgment interest of 5.35 percent. On appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the judgment was affirmed in all respects, and efforts to collect on the judgment are underway.