Shayla Reed
Founding Attorney
“I think I’ve done a deeper dive on nursing home abuse and neglect cases than anyone in the state. Handling these cases feels like a true calling for me. I have an opportunity to clean up an entire nursing home. And that matters, not only for the people who are currently in there, but for everyone who comes after. It feels like we have an opportunity to truly make a difference. And I love that.”
Shayla Reed is a dedicated attorney who focuses exclusively on nursing home abuse and neglect cases. Her passion for this field stems from a deeply personal experience. Shayla's family had to place her aunt with dementia into a nursing home for her safety. However, her aunt soon showed signs of neglect, with unexplained bruises and a drastic change in demeanor. The staff dismissed these concerns, attributing them to her age. Tragically, her aunt passed away, leaving Shayla with a profound sense of injustice.
Years later, while practicing at a personal injury firm that primarily handled car accident cases, Shayla encountered a client who desperately needed help with a nursing home abuse case that no one else would take. Shayla had to enlist an out-of-state attorney for assistance since this was a new area of law for her. However, witnessing the severe harm caused by nursing home neglect ignited her passion for this cause. She realized that, unlike handling minor injury cases, she could spotlight a significant issue and seek justice for victims of corporate long-term care facilities that prioritize profits over vulnerable people.
Shayla brings a wealth of experience as a litigator, having represented both plaintiffs and defendants in injury cases. Her ability to uncover critical details and build persuasive arguments has made her a highly effective attorney. But it was in the realm of nursing home abuse and neglect that Shayla found her true calling and fulfillment.
For over 15 years, Shayla has dedicated her practice to representing victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. She has built the only law firm in Nebraska exclusively devoted to this cause. Recognized for her expertise, Shayla authored the chapter on nursing home litigation in the Nebraska Elder Law Book published by Thompson Reuters.
Shayla serves as Co-Chair of the American Association for Justice National College of Advocacy Board of Trustees and is the immediate Past Chair of the American Association for Justice Nursing Home Litigation Group. Her trial advocacy skills are in high demand, and she frequently instructs legal continuing education programs, including The AAJ’s Art of Persuasion held at Harvard Law School.
A graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College, Shayla was commended by the International Academy of Trial Lawyers for distinguished achievement in the art and science of advocacy. She is an active member of the American Association of Justice, the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys, and a Lifetime Fellow of the Nebraska State Bar Foundation.
While Shayla often deals with heartbreaking cases of pain and neglect, her mission to prevent others from suffering the same fate is deeply rewarding. Her commitment to fighting for justice in nursing home abuse and neglect cases has made her a respected and influential figure in this specialized field.
Awards and Recognition
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers as selected by The American Trial Lawyers Association
- Nebraska State Bar Association Fellow
- One of Only 50 Lawyers in the Nation Selected for the 2003 Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College
- American Board of Trial Attorneys Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy
- World Universities Debating Championships, Oxford England, Semi-Finalist, 1993
- World Universities Debating Championships, Melbourne, Australia, Octo-Finalist, 1994
- National Champion Lincoln-Douglas Debate
- National Champion Parliamentary (Impromptu) Debate
- National Champion Best Speaker
- Ranked Second in the Nation – Legal Client Counseling Competition
- First Place, Regional Mock Trial Competition
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Art and Science of
Trial Advocacy - First Place, Regional Client Counseling Competition
- First Place, Allan Moot Court Competition
- First Place, Best Appellate Brief, Allan Moot Court Competition
- United States Debate Team – One of only two debaters selected nationally to represent the United States during a two month tour of England, Scotland and Wales.
- Lifetime Fellow of the Nebraska State Bar Association
- America's Top 100 Attorneys
- The Nebraska State Bar Foundation - Lifetime Fellow awarded in 2017
- The National Pound Civil Justice Institute Fellow - 2017
- America's Top One Hundred Attorneys - Lifetime Achievement Member - 2017
Contact The Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Law Firm, PC, LLO
If you suspect that your loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, don’t wait. Let us help you navigate this challenging time and fight for the justice and compensation your family deserves. Contact us today for a free consultation.
How to reach us
Omaha Office: 3032 South 87th Street, Omaha,
NE 68124
Lincoln Office: P.O. Box 57154, Lincoln, NE 68505
Email: legal2@reedlawomaha.com
Tel: (402) 933-0588
Fax: (402) 263-5077