Community Activity

• Downey Avenue Christian Church, Vice Moderator 2002-2003
• Downey Avenue Christian Church, Moderator, 2004
• Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Board of Directors 2008 to present
• North Central High School Band Parent Organization, Vice President 2008-2009
• North Central High School Band Parent Organization, President 2009-2010
• Downey Avenue Christian Church, Trustee 2010

Representative Matters

• Represented an insurance company in a bad faith action before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the client, on the basis that the insurer did not breach its contract or act in fad faith when it filed an interpleader against the insured and numerous claimants, and tendered its policy limits into court, and held that its duty to defend ended upon the deposit of the limits into court: Abstract & Title Guaranty Co., Inc. v. Chicago Ins. Co., 489 F.3d 808 (7th Cir. 2007).
• Obtained summary judgment for insured declaring that he was entitled to underinsured motorist coverage under his employer’s primary and excess auto policies with multi-million limits for severe injuries suffered when he was hit by an uninsured motorist while assisting injured motorists: Spencer v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 381 F.Supp. 2d 811 (S.D. Ind. 2005).
• Represented insurer in an action in which the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded there was no insurance coverage under a homeowner’s policy for injuries suffered by the insured’s minor guest when she was riding the insured’s ATV off of the insured’s property: Illinois Farmers Ins. Co. v. Wiegand, 808 N.E.2d 180 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004).
• Counseled and represented insurers and insureds with regard to disputes or litigation concerning liability coverage, indemnity rights, and/or the priority of coverage for construction accidents and environmental contamination.

Represented clients in the following reported cases:

• Midtown Chiropractic v. Illinois Farmers Ins. Co., 847 N.E.2d 942 (Ind. 2006)
• Auto Owners Ins. Co. v. United Farm Bureau Ins. Co., 560 N.E.2d 549 (Ind. Ct. App. 1990)
• Knight v. United Farm Bureau Ins. Co., 950 F.2d 377 (7th Cir. 1991)
• Hartford Fire Insurance Co. v. Pure Air, 154 F.R.D. 202 (N.D. Ind. 1993)
• Illinois Farmers Ins. Co. v. Adams, 144 F.3d 1129 (7th Cir. 1998)
• Darst v. Illinois Farmers Ins. Co., 716 N.E.2d 579 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999)
• Baxter v. ISTA Ins. Trust, 749 N.E.2d 47 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001)
• Jackson v. Jones, 804 N.E.2d 155 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004)
• Federated Rural Elec. Ins. Exchange v. National Farmers Union Prop. & Cas. Co., 816 N.E.2d 805 N.E.2d 456 transfer granted 816 N.E.2d 1157 (Ind. 2004)
• Northern Assurance Co. of America v. Thomson, Inc., 996 N.E.2d 785 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013)

Awards & Recognition

 Best Lawyers in America – (2022)

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.

American Jurisprudence Awards in Civil Procedure and Family Law

The American Jurisprudence Award Is a prestigious award present to a law student who demonstrates outstanding scholastic achievement.

Indiana Super Lawyers (2004, 2010, and 2012 – 2021)

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