Ashley W. Winsky
(804) 864-4806
(804) 421-6251 (fax)
awinsky@moranreevesconn.com
Ashley Winsky is a litigator, described by her clients as a fierce and tireless advocate. Businesses often turn to her when cases are not going as planned. She parachutes into matters to bring fresh perspectives and creative solutions. Ashley is licensed in Virginia and West Virginia and consults in high-stakes litigation around the country, working closely with local counsel.
Ashley is best known for her work in the transportation industry, where she defends motor carriers and freight brokers against personal injury claims resulting from roadway accidents. Her experience includes catastrophic injury, brain injury, spine injury, and wrongful death cases that often come with a nuclear verdict potential. Ashley responds to accident scenes and works with experts in the fields of human factors, biodynamics, and accident reconstruction. Her trucking clients range from family-owned operations to some of the nation’s largest for-hire motor carriers.
In addition, Ashley serves as lead counsel for an amusement park and water park, coordinating and defending third-party injury claims. She also assists a wide variety of businesses in cases involving premises liability, product liability, breach of contract, defamation, intentional torts, and other business disputes. Confident and comfortable in the courtroom, Ashley has tried numerous cases to defense verdict before both judge and jury in state and federal courts. She is equally effective in mediating disputes to save clients the expense and exposure that comes with protracted litigation. Utilizing empathy and common sense, Ashley has mediated hundreds of matters to resolution—many of them before a lawsuit is filed.
Ashley is frequently called upon to present to transportation industry associations. She is an active member of the American Trucking Association (ATA), the Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA), the Trucking Defense Advocacy Council (TDAC), and the Immediate Past Chair of the Virginia Bar Association’s Transportation Section. She has been consistently recognized in the transportation arena by Chambers USA and was named an “Up and Coming” lawyer in Nationwide Transportation: Road (Carriage/Logistics). She was also selected as a “Rising Star” in Transportation by Legal 500. For the past twelve years, Ashley has been consistently recognized by Super Lawyers. She maintains an AV Preeminent peer rating with Martindale-Hubbell.
Ashley recharges in nature. She enjoys hiking in National Parks, snow skiing out West, boating on Lake Gaston, rafting on the James River, and simply walking her Dalmatian in Richmond.
Education
J.D., Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University
B.A., summa cum laude, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Representative Experience
First-chaired six-day federal court jury trial involving allegations of negligence, punitive damages, and a request that the jury award $10 million, where plaintiff suffered an undisputed moderate traumatic brain injury and spinal fractures, and obtained a complete defense verdict for motor carrier and its driver
Second-chaired three-week federal court trial involving allegations of fraud against a former executive of an aviation software company and a demand in excess of $20 million and obtained a favorable defense verdict while also securing a counterclaim verdict for the client
First-chaired state court jury trial to defense verdict for a waterpark in a premises liability action involving the operation of an amusement device and allegations of lifeguard negligence
First-chaired federal court jury trial to defense verdict for a waterpark in a premises liability action involving allegations of insufficient warnings and lifeguard negligence
In an admitted liability case, obtained jury verdict for tractor-trailer company within $5,000 of requested verdict
Obtained multiple defense verdicts in jury trials for tractor-trailer and tanker companies and drivers involved in accidents
Tried numerous personal injury cases to defense verdict for public transit authority
Obtained defense verdict at trial for a theme park in a case involving allegations of assault and battery to a minor Obtained defense verdict at trial for a theme park in a premises liability action involving an injury to a minor
Obtained dismissal with prejudice of a personal injury action, filed against a tractor-trailer company and its driver, arising out of a roadway accident in the months before trial was scheduled to commence
Obtained dismissal of negligent hiring and retention claims for multiple motor carriers in various actions via motions to dismiss or summary judgment
Obtained dismissal with prejudice of a negligence and assault and battery action, filed against a tractor-trailer company and its driver, on a motion to dismiss
Obtained dismissal with prejudice of a wrongful death action for marine terminal on personal jurisdiction grounds
Obtained dismissal with prejudice of wrongful death and personal injury actions for logistics broker and shipper on personal jurisdiction grounds
Obtained favorable resolution for a tractor-trailer company whose driver was driving under the influence of alcohol and in possession of marijuana in a negligence action
Obtained favorable resolution for a tractor-trailer company whose driver ran a red light in a personal injury action Obtained favorable resolution for a tank truck carrier involved in a multiple vehicle collision where a plaintiff rendering assistance suffered permanent injuries
Obtained favorable resolution for a tank truck carrier in a chemical exposure case
Obtained favorable resolution for a tractor-trailer company and its driver in collision involving a cyclist
Obtained favorable resolution for a tractor-trailer company and its driver in a collision involving a pregnant motorist Obtained favorable resolution for fitness facility in action alleging wrongful death by drowning
Obtained dismissal with prejudice of a slip-and-fall action for a theme park Obtained dismissal with prejudice of an assault action for a theme park Obtained favorable resolution in a defamation case
Successfully defended entertainment venue against copyright infringement claims
Successfully tried a breach of contract claim to bench verdict for a manufacturer of pool products
Served as local counsel for a component part manufacturer in a product liability action involving pourable gel fuel and obtained nonsuit
Defended railroad in an action alleging take-home asbestos exposure to an independent contractor’s family member and obtained nonsuit
Represented railroad in casualty, FRSA, and FELA litigation
Obtained 6.5 million dollar settlement for plaintiff in a premises liability case, which was reported in Virginia Lawyers Weekly as the second largest settlement in 2018
Obtained 1.9 million dollar settlement for plaintiff in a wrongful death case, which was believed to be a record-setting settlement in the rural county where the case was filed
Bar Admissions
Virginia
West Virginia
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
Professional Affiliations
Member, Trucking Defense Advocates Council (TDAC)
Executive Board, Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA)
Member, American Trucking Association (ATA)
Immediate Past Chair of the Virginia Bar Association’s Transportation Section (2023)
Chair of the Virginia Bar Association’s Transportation Section (2022)
Vice Chair of the Virginia Bar Association’s Transportation Section (2020-2021)
Honors and Awards
Influential Women of Law Award, Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly (2022)
Named a “Rising Star” in the practice of Transportation: Rail and Road – Litigation by Legal 500 US (2019)
Named an “Up and Coming” attorney in Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Transportation: Road (Carriage/Logistics) (2019-2020); and an “Associate to Watch” in Transportation: Road (Carriage/Commercial) (2016-2018)
Named to Super Lawyers “Virginia Rising Stars” for Civil Litigation (2013-2020, 2022), and for Personal Injury General: Defense (2021-2024)
Presentations
“No Nukes! Trial Strategies for the Win,” American Trucking Association Law Review Webinar, Richmond, VA, January 28, 2025
“Successful Trial Strategies After Mediation Fails,” Trucking Defense Advocacy Council (“TDAC”) Conference, Fayetteville, AR, September 19, 2024
“Keep Calm and Stay Cool – Broom Hilda’s Guide to “Civil” Litigation,” Gentry Locke Seminar, Roanoke, VA, September 6th, 2024
“Navigating the Legal Landscape in the Entertainment Industry,” Webinar, Richmond, VA, August 13th, 2024
“Accident Reconstruction and the Impact of New and Improved Technology,” Transportation Lawyers Association Regional Seminar and Bootcamp, Chicago, IL, January 19, 2024
“Sit Down and Shut Up: The Art of Self-Awareness and Editing in Jury Trials,” Gentry Locke Seminar, Richmond, VA, October 12, 2023
“Where Worlds Collide: Legal Issues at the Interstices Between Brokers and Motor Carriers,” Transportation Lawyers Association Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, April 29, 2023
“You Start Walking My Way: Keys to a Successful Mediation,” Gentry Locke Seminar, Richmond, VA, September 28, 2022
“The Thrill of Victory or Agony of Defeat, Which Will It Be?,” Transportation Lawyers Association Annual Conference, Olympic Valley, CA, June 24, 2021
“Transportation Update: Navigating the Insurance Market, Banking Environment, and Legal Landscape,” McGriff Webinar, Virtual, November 10, 2020
“Secrets to Conducting a Flawless Rapid Response,” Arkansas Trucking Seminar, Virtual, September 17, 2020
“Essentials of Trucking Accidents in Virginia,” Virginia Continuing Legal Education (VACLE), Virtual, August 13, 2020
“Ethics for Motor Carrier In-house Counsel,” American Trucking Association’s Forum for Motor Carrier General Counsel, Santa Ana Pueblo, NM, July 15, 2018
“I am not a Professional: Rejecting the Heightened Standard of Care for Truck Drivers,” Transportation Lawyers Association Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, May 3, 2018
“Ethical Quandaries in Light of the Cloud, Social Media and Data Breaches,” American Trucking Association’s Forum for Motor Carrier General Counsel, Beaver Creek, CO, July 16, 2017
Publications
How Plaintiffs Use Commercial Vehicle Regulations to Turn Simple Negligence Into Driver Malpractice, Corporate Counsel Business Journal, September 2018
