Donald S. Smith
Attorney

Assistant: Ruth Lotshaw – rlotshaw@rbelaw.com
317-955-7146
- Biography
- Community Activity
- Representative Matters
- Publications & Presentations
- Beyond the Office
- Awards & Recognition
- Videos
Biography
Donald Smith limits his practice to representing employers and executives in labor and employment matters. He defends employers in cases pending before state and federal courts, the National Labor Relations Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Indiana Civil Rights Commission, U. S. Dept. of Labor, OSHA, IOSHA, Indiana Dept. of Workforce Development, and Indiana Worker’s Compensation Board. Don advises employers concerning various employment issues such as employee handbooks, employment agreements, severance agreements, covenants not to compete, restrictive covenants, wrongful termination, collective bargaining, labor arbitration, unions, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour matters, unemployment compensation and worker’s compensation.
Community Activity
- Board of Directors of the International School of Indiana, Board Member (2016 – 2019)
- The International School of Indiana is a private school (pre-K through high school) offering language immersion in Spanish, French, and Mandarin.
- Legal Lines (IndyBar’s Ask-A-Lawyer Program), Volunteer Attorney
- Don answers calls from the general public through the Indianapolis Bar Associations Ask-A-Lawyer program that gives callers the opportunity to obtain legal advice free of charge.
- North Central Football Fanatics, President (2002-2004)
- Don renamed the North Central High School football boosters the “Football Fanatics,” led a resurgence of spirit among parents and fans, and organized events for players and their families.
- North Central High School football, Public Address announcer (2002-2011)
- Tapping into his penchant for sportscasting, Don was “the Voice of the Panthers” at home football games for 10 years and would surprise the crowd by using creative words to describe the action on the field.
- Washington Township Baseball, Inc., Secretary (1999-2005); Vice President (2009-2010); President (2010-2011)
- Don was not just a “fan in the stands.” He was actively involved in the leadership of the governing board of the high school’s baseball program.
- Westminster Legal Ministry Chairman, (1988-2011)
- Through its affiliation with Don’s home church, Second Presbyterian, Don headed a group of volunteer attorneys who provided legal guidance to needy families on Indy’s near Eastside.
Representative Matters
Since he started practicing law over 35 years ago, Don has limited his practice to labor and employment law. Don has extensive experience representing clients in the following industries: Credit unions, construction, insurance, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, printing, temporary labor, restaurant, and housing.
- Prosecuted and defended numerous requests for temporary and permanent injunctions in non-compete cases on behalf of employers.
- Defended an insurance company in employment discrimination case that set the standard for determining whether an insurance agent is an independent contractor: Knight v. United Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., Inc., 950 F.2d 377 (7th Cir. 1991).
- Defended county employer at trial and on appeal against wrongful discharge claim: Moulton v. Vigo Co., 150 F.3d 801 (7th Cir. 1998).
- Represented employer in a religious discrimination case, in which employee unsuccessfully sought court intervention permitting employee to use the phrase “Have a blessed day” in the workplace: Anderson v. U.S.F. Logistics, 274 F.3d. 470 (7th Cir. 2001).
- Represented employer in a wage case, in which the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s award of vacation pay to the employee, and enforced the employer’s written policy that vacation pay was not earned until the employee’s anniversary date: Damon Corp. v. Estes, 750 N.E.2d 891 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001).
- Represented employer hospital in a worker’s compensation case, in which the Indiana Supreme Court ruled that the Worker’s Compensation Board lacked the statutory authority to award interest on worker’s compensation benefits, including overdue medical bills: Christopher R. Brown, DDS, Inc. v. Decatur Co. Memorial Hospital, Inc., 892 N.E.2d 642 (Ind. 2008).
- Defended employer in a class action in a wage and hour case: Artis v. First Revenue Assurance, LLC, (1:09-cv-01555, S. D. Ind. 2009).
Publications
Employee Handbooks: One Size Does Not Fit All
Unlike the hat the coach gave you when you played Little League baseball, when it comes to employee handbooks or...
U.S. Supreme Court Decisions on COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued monumental decisions regarding the federal agencies’ powers to enforce COVID-19...
Update: Fifth Circuit’s Stay on OSHA’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Regulations
As a result of the Fifth Circuit’s stay on OSHA’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing regulations (ETS), OSHA announced...
Temporary Block on OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (sitting in New Orleans) has put a temporary block on OSHA’s Emergency Temporary...
Protecting Your Business: Does Your Non-Compete Agreement Stand the Test of Time?
Non-compete agreements in the employment setting are constantly under attack. Is the agreement your business has been...
Smith: Your old noncompete form agreement may miss the mark
RBE Attorney Donald Smit wrote an article for the Indiana Lawyer title "Smith: Your old noncompete form agreement may...
Indiana Court of Appeals Upholds Employer’s Noncompete
The Indiana Court of Appeals recently published a decision that is instructive about noncompete agreements. In...
The Department of Labor Issues Regulations Implementing New Leave of Absence Law
This is the fifth in a series of articles in response to the COVID-19 federal legislation and benefit programs. This...
COVID-19 Business Resource Developments
This is the second in a series of articles coordinated by RBE’s attorneys to assist our business clients in this...
Indiana Supreme Court Issues Decision Impacting Employment Agreements
The Indiana Supreme Court recently published a decision that may prompt employers to review their employment...
You’re Ready to Settle that Worker’s Comp Case, So Now What?
RBE partner Donald Smith discusses the 3 types of settlement agreements with worker's compensation cases in...
Overtime Update – U.S. Department Of Labor’s New Mandatory Overtime Pay Rule Effective Jan. 1
This is a reminder to our employment law clients that the U.S. Department of Labor implemented a new mandatory...
Presentations
- Indiana’s Medical Malpractice Act and Other ReasonsWhy Doctors Should Like Lawyers - (January 26, 2022)
- "Navigating Uncharted Waters: Helping Employers Understand the Rules of the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act" (April 14, 2020) WATCH RECORDING
- "Collective Bargaining,” DePauw University (January 16, 2012)
- “Physicians’ Employment Agreements: What You Don’t Know Could Hurt You!”, Indiana University School of Medicine (April 12, 2012)
- “Ethical Dilemmas in Worker’s Compensation,” ICLEF (November 5, 2014)
- “The Birds and the Bees of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace,” presentations to trade groups as well as individual corporations (2016 - )
- “Supervising in a World of Protected Categories,” presentation to ERMCO Institute (2019)
Beyond the Office
Don and his wife, Debbie, are the proud parents of three sons and the very proud grandparents of two grandsons. All three of their sons are medical doctors after attending medical school at Indiana University. Don remains a huge sports fanatic, with special interests in his Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Indians, and Chicago Cubs (with whom he has played in two fantasy camps). During the college football season, Don particularly roots for DePauw, Miami (FL), and Alabama, teams he “adopted” as a result of where his sons attended school. Don recently has been struck by the “golf bug” and has been taking lessons to cure a seemingly incurable slice off the tee, but it is that “one shot” each round that keeps him coming back for more.
Awards & Recognition
Best Lawyers in America – (2022)
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- Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Recognition in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by clients and legal professionals as a significant honor conferred on a lawyer by their peers.
First Baptist Athletics Hall of Fame inductee (2006)
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- Don was inducted into the First Baptist Athletics Hall of Fame after coaching basketball there for years. He continues to referee youth basketball. First Baptist Athletics’ motto is “The Place for Good Sports.”
Indiana Super Lawyers (2004-2006 and 2009-Present)
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- Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.
Video
Protecting Your Business: Does Your Non-Compete Agreement Stand the Test of Time?
Non-compete agreements in the employment setting are constantly under attack. Is the agreement your business has been...
You’re Ready to Settle that Worker’s Comp Case, So Now What?
RBE partner Donald Smith discusses the 3 types of settlement agreements with worker's compensation cases in...
Industries Served
Construction
Finance
Food & Beverage Service
Health Care
Insurance
Manufacturing
Non-profit Organizations
Transportation
Practice Areas
Labor & Employment Law
Labor Law
Employment Law
Non-competition Agreements
Worker’s Compensation Defense
Associations
Indianapolis Bar Association
- Chair, Labor and Employment Law Section (1993)
- Member, Labor and Employment Law Section (1981 – Present)
Indiana State Bar Association
- Chair, Labor, Employment and Benefits Law Section (2018)
- Council Member, Labor, Employment and Benefits Law Section (2012 – Present)
- Member, Labor, Employment and Benefits Law Section (1981 – Present)
American Bar Association
- Member, Labor and Employment Law Section (1981 – Present)
Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana
- President (Current)
- Board of Directors (2013 – Present)
- Chair, Worker’s Compensation Committee (2012)
Defense Research Institute
- Member (2013 – Present)
Bar Admission
Indiana (1981)
U. S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana (1981)
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana (1981)
U. S. Circuit Court, Seventh Circuit (1983)
U. S. Circuit Court, Sixth Circuit (1983)
Education
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, J.D., cum laude (1981)
DePauw University, B.A. Communications, cum laude (1978)