Areas of Practice

    Personal Injury
    Criminal Defense
    Criminal Law - Federal (White Collar Crime)
    Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff
    Divorce
    Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning
    Business and Commercial Law
    Insurance Bad Faith Litigation
    Wrongful Death
    Family Law
    Auto / Trucking Collisions
    Civil Rights / Police Misconduct
    Appellate Practice
    Construction Site Injury
    DUI/DWI
    Medical Malpractice
    Nursing Home Liability
    Adoption
    Products Liability
    Traffic Violations
    Traumatic Brain Injury

Bar Admissions

    Indiana, 2003
    U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana, 2003
    U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana, 2003
    U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, 2004
    U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 2003
    U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 2005
    U.S. Supreme Court, 2006

Education

    Valparaiso University School of Law, Valparaiso, Indiana, 2002
    J.D.
    Honors: Special Commendation for Pro Bono Externship
    Honors: Honor Papers in Pretrial Skills and Advanced Appellate Advocacy
    Law Review: Valparaiso University Law Review, Associate Editor

    Indiana University - Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, 1998
    B.A.
    Honors: Dean's List (4 Semesters)
    Major: English Literature
    Minor: History

Published Works

    "Failing to Provide Police Protection: Breeding a Viable and Consistent 'State-Created Danger' Analysis for Establishing Constitutional Violations Under Section 1983", 37 Valparaiso University Law Review 1, Fall, 2002
    "Preparing Your Client for Deposition Testimony", American Bar Association - The Young Lawyer, July/August, 2005
    "How to Deal With an Objection of Privilege Based on Indiana's Peer Review Statute During the Course of Pre-Trial Discovery", Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, VERDICT, 2005
    "And Just Where Do You Think You're Going?": Police Detention of Passenger Who Walks Away From Vehicle During Traffic Stop, Res Gestae, March, 2006
    "Indiana's New 'Communication of Sympathy' Statute: Saying 'I'm Sorry' In the Context of Medical Malpractice and Other Personal Injury Accidents", Indiana Lawyer, (Vol. 17, No. 8) June/July, 2006
    "Groundless Cases Still Get Into Court", Indiana Lawyer (Featured Interview), (Vol. 17, No. 10) July/August, 2006
    "A Brief Review of What Types of Claims Fall Within and Outside the Scope of Indiana's Medical Malpractice Act", Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, VERDICT, 2006
    "A Modest Proposal: Submitting a Joint Discovery Plan In Federal Court", American Bar Association - The Young Lawyer, September, 2006
    "Waiver of Right Forms Under Miranda: Not a Ritual of Words to be Recited by Rote According to Didactic Niceties", Open Court, Newsletter of the Criminal Justice Section, Indiana State Bar Association, Vol. XI, No. 1, December, 2006
    "Recovering Damages for Tortious Injury to Historic Buildings and Other 'Special Purpose' Property In Indiana: Drawing the Line Between Fair Market Value and Cost Repair' In Cases of Permanent Damage", Res Gestae, December, 2006
    "A Case of Bad Breath: Does the Odor of an Alcoholic Beverage, By Itself, Establish Probable Cause for a Police Officer to Offer Chemical Test In the Context of DWI Offenses?", Open Court, Newsletter of the Criminal Justice Section, Indiana State Bar Association, Vol. XII, No. 1, May, 2007
    "Supreme Court Clarifies Five Exceptions to Nonliability Involving Personal Injury Claims Asserted by a Contractor's Employee", Indiana Civil Litigation Review (publication of the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana), Vol. 3, No. 2, May, 2007
    "Brendlin v. California: Supreme Court Holds That a Passenger Is "Seized" for Fourth Amendment Purposes and Can Challenge Legality of a Traffic Stop", Open Court, Newsletter of the Criminal Justice Section, Indiana State Bar Association, Vol. XII, No. 2, October, 2007
    "The Attorney Commitment In Traumatic Brain Injury Cases", American Bar Association - The Young Lawyer, November, 2007
    "Federal Preemption of State Law Claims Involving Class III Medical Devices", Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Trial Journal, Vol. 10, No. 1, Winter, 2007
    "Calm the Child Witness", TRIAL, Journal of the American Association for Justice (formerly American Trial Lawyers Association), February, 2008
    "Coughing It Up: Indiana Supreme Court Holds That Police Chokeholds Are Unreasonable Searches and Seizures", Open Court, Newsletter of the Criminal Justice Section, Indiana State Bar Association, Vol. XIII, No. 1, February, 2008
    "Reducing the State's Cut: Amending Indiana's Split-Award Statute In Punitive Damage Cases", The Indiana Litigator, Newsletter of the Litigation Section, Indiana State Bar Association, Summer, 2008
    "Representing Children In Cases Involving Wrongful Death of a Parent", Res Gestae, July/August, 2008
    "Estoppel to Extend Insurance Coverage Based on Bad Faith", Indiana Civil Litigation Review (publication of the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana), Vol 5., No. 2, November, 2008
    "Holding a Surgeon Liable for Medical Negligence of Another Under the 'Captain-of-the Ship' Doctrine", Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, VERDICT, 2010
    "Recovery for Separate Acts of Negligence Under Indiana Medical Malpractice Act", Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, VERDICT, 2011

Representative Cases

    Richard v. State, 820 N.E.2d 749 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005)
    Masick v. McColly Realtors, Inc. and Saxon Drywall, 858 N.E.2d 682 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006)
    Cincinnati Insurance Co. v. Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc., et al., 2006 WL 299064 (N.D. Ind. 2006)
    Ryan-Louie v. DeFazio, 2007 WL 433067 (N.D. Ind. 2007)
    Wheeler v. Lawson, 2007 WL 844870 (N.D. Ind. 2007)
    Walker v. Martin, et al., 862 N.E.2d 330 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007)
    Beatty v. Martin, et al., 868 N.E.2d 73 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007)
    Bob Anderson Pontiac d/b/a Mike Anderson Chevrolet of Merrillville, Inc. v. Indiana Department of Workforce Development, 867 N.E.2d 282 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007)
    Cincinnati Insurance Co. v. Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc., et al., 2007 WL 2609829 (N.D. Ind. 2007)
    Putman v. Lima Auto Mall, Inc., 2008 WL 2444677 (N.D. Ind. 2008)
    Wheeler v. Lawson, 539 F.3d 629 (7th Cir. 2008)
    Hunt v. State, 902 N.E.2d 911 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009)
    Hartoin v. State, 908 N.E.2d 711 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009)
    Robinson v. State, 910 N.E.2d 270 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009)
    Miller v. State, 916 N.E.2d 193 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009)
    Bell v. State, 915 N.E.2d 1048 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009)
    Holmes v. State, 923 N.E.2d 479 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010)
    Van Orden v. State, 924 N.E.2d 226 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010)
    Miller v. State, 924 N.E.2d 680 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010)
    Patterson v. State, 926 N.E.2d 90 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010)
    Skinner v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company d/b/a Metlife, 2010 WL 2175834 (N.D. Ind. 2010)
    State ex rel. Berkshire v. City of Logansport, 928 N.E.2d 587 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010)
    Snowberger v. State, 938 N.E.2d 294 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010)
    Fording v. State, 941 N.E.2d 565 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011)
    Rush v. State, 941 N.E.2d 569 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011)
    Ogle v. State, 943 N.E.2d 445 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011)
    Vazquez v. State, 944 N.E.2d 10 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011)
    Miller v. State, 944 N.E.2d 578 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011)
    Crowder v. State, 945 N.E.2d 829 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011)
    Justice v. State, 946 N.E.2d 93 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011)
    Downs v. State, 950 N.E.2d 376 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011)
    Patton v. State, , 972 N.E.2d 418 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012)
    Barrett v. City of Logansport, et al., 961 N.E.2d 70 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012)

Classes/Seminars Taught

    Featured Speaker, "Civil Rights and DWI", Crown Point, Indiana, 2004
    Lecturer, Topics In Medical Malpractice Law, Health Careers Exploration Class, Century Career Center, Logansport High School, 2006

Honors and Awards

    Honors Paper in Pretrial Skills, Criminal Pleadings and Advanced Appellate Advocacy
    Ranked upper 1/3 in Legal Writing and Research
    Special Commendation for 41 hours of Pro Bono Externship
    Harrison Legal Writing Award (First-Place Recipient), 2006
    Harrison Legal Writing Award (Second-Place Recipient), 2008

Professional Associations and Memberships

    Cass County Bar Association
    Member

    Indiana State Bar Association
    Member

    Indiana Trial Lawyers Association
    Member

    American Association of Justice
    Member

    The National Trial Lawyers
    Member

    Brain Injury Association of Indiana
    Member

    Civil Justice Foundation
    Member

    Open Court, Newsletter of the Criminal Justice Section - Indiana State Bar Association, 2007 - 2008
    Editor

    Logansport-Cass County Chamber of Commerce
    Member

    Million Dollar Advocates Forum
    Life Member

    Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
    Life Member

    Cass Circuit Court, 2009
    Judge, pro tempore

Pro Bono Activities

    Participant, Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee, Literacy Volunteers of Cass County, 2005
    Judge, Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee, Literacy Volunteers of Cass County, 2006
    Chief Organizer and Tour Guide, Law Day at Cass County Courthouse, 2006
    Member, Cass County Community Foundation Scholarship Committee, 2008
    Volunteer, Muscular Dystrophy Fundraiser, 2008
    Tour Guide, Law Day at Cass County Courthouse, 2008
    Board of Directors, Cass County Historical Society, 2010 - 2011
    Founder, Indiana State Trooper Daniel R. Barrett Memorial Scholarship
    Donation to David Downs Cancer Fundraiser, 2009
    Donation to Breast Cancer Walk (Porter County), 2009 - 2010
    Donation to Emmaus Mission Center, 2010
    Donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cass County Bowl for Kids' Sake, 2010
    Donation to United Way of Cass County, 2010
    Donation to Cass County Historical Society, 2009 - 2011
    Donation to Cass County 4-H Program, 2010
    Donation to Cass County Dentzel Carousel, 2010
    Donation to Logansport Music Boosters, 2010
    Donation to The Salvation Army, 2010
    Donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 2010
    Donation to William K. Vernon Scholarship Fund, 2010
    Donation to Special Olympics of Cass County, 2010
    Donation to Morningstar Girls Home, 2010
    Donation to Riley Hospital Children's Foundation, 2010
    Donation to Indiana Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), 2010
    Donation to Peak Community Services, 2010
    Donation to Logansport High School Academic Competition (Hoosier Spell Bowl/Hoosier Super Bowl), 2010
    Donation to Indiana State Trooper Daniel R. Barrett Memorial Scholarship, 2010
    Donation to Muscular Dystrophy Fundraiser, 2011
    Donation to Fraternal Order of Police, Logansport Lodge #71, for ?Shop With a Cop? Fundraiser, 2011