Family Law

• Guardianship
  Equally important in my opinion, is a Power of Attorney. A Power of Attorney grants authority to another individual to sign your name in the event you become incapacitated. Think of the consequences of being unable to execute pay checks, tax documents, deeds, and other papers in the event you become incapacitated. If you fail to prepare a Power of Attorney prior to your incapacity, then a much more extensive guardianship proceeding must be conducted.

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  No. Any prosecutor would love to have you represent yourself. This is because you are not in a position to know if the charges are valid. Frequently, individuals are over charged. Many times criminal offenses are subject to dismissal due to evidentiary deficiencies. Further, you may have factual, or legal defenses that you are totally unaware of. Frequently, evidence is seized illegally and may be the subject of a motion to suppress. Our firm has been able to obtain dismissal of criminal charges for hundreds of reasons. If you represent yourself, you give up these potential defenses, and convict yourself automatically. Criminal law recognizes waiver. If you don't raise a defense, you forfeit the right to raise it at a later date.
• DUI/DWI
  Operating While Intoxicated cases are the most complex criminal cases in Indiana. An extensive morass of legislation, which changes frequently, has been promulgated in response to increased pressure from the federal government, and special interest groups, to increase the penalties for operating while intoxicated.
• Wrongful Death
  Wrongful death cases pose particularly tragic situations for family’s dealing with a death of a loved one. In Indiana, only the personal representative of the estate may bring a wrongful death action. Anyone can apply to be a personal representative and consequently, it is important to diligently pursue the opening of an estate to pursue a wrongful death claim.
• Sex Crimes
  Felony cases, other than drug cases and operating while intoxicated cases, include offenses such as theft, forgery, battery, robbery, rape, and a multitude of other miscellaneous felony offenses. Before you consider representing yourself on a felony, consider that a single felony conviction in Indiana renders a subsequent sentence on a felony conviction non-suspendable.
• Robbery
  Felony cases, other than drug cases and operating while intoxicated cases, include offenses such as theft, forgery, battery, robbery, rape, and a multitude of other miscellaneous felony offenses. Before you consider representing yourself on a felony, consider that a single felony conviction in Indiana renders a subsequent sentence on a felony conviction non-suspendable. Mandatory prison terms may apply. Further, the general habitual offender statute in Indiana can add an additional thirty years in prison for a third unrelated criminal offense.
• Theft
• Misdemeanors
  Misdemeanors in Indiana can span a wide array of criminal offenses. Certain misdemeanor criminal offenses can result in more serious penalties being imposed for subsequent offenses. For instance, a second domestic battery may be charged as a felony.
• Drug Crimes
  The Indiana Legislature has imposed extremely strict penalties for commission of certain drug offenses. Cases involving dealing of controlled substances including: cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and other classes of controlled substances can carry prison terms has high as fifty years. These are extremely serious cases and require careful evaluation.
• Forgery

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation
  The Workers Compensation Act was passed years ago to provide a uniform system of compensation for individuals injured during the course of their employment. Employees may not directly sue their employer for injuries resulting from the employers negligence or fault. There are many third party actions which can result in direct liability.

Property Law

• Property Damage
  Frequently you will be dealing with damage to your vehicle. Negotiating an adequate settlement on the property damage claim can be a difficult process. If the cost of repairing your vehicle exceeds the cost of repairs, your vehicle will be totaled. Then the evaluation turns to deciding what the fair market value of the vehicle was immediately before the crash.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Products liability involves injuries resulting from unreasonable dangerous or defective products. Often referred to as strict liability, it is a frequently debated area of personal injury. Basically, if a manufacturer places into the stream of commerce, a product which is unreasonably dangerous, the manufacturer may be responsible for injuries resulting from the product - irrespective of provable fault.
• Medical Malpractice
  Years ago, the State of Indiana imposed a statutory scheme which must be followed in pursuing medical negligence claims. Doctors, and other healthcare providers are protected by Indiana’s Medical Malpractice Act.
• Auto Accidents
• Slip and Fall Injury
  A personal injury refers to bodily injuries caused by the fault of another individual. These type of injuries can occur from multiple fault situations, such as: accidents and injuries, auto accidents, medical negligence, motorcycle injuries, products liability, slip and fall injuries, trucking accidents, worker's compensation, and wrongful death

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Each and every person should consider disposition of their property upon their death. A simple Will can control the disposition of houses, personal property, cars, stocks and bonds, and other items upon your death. Failure to do so can result in unpredictable results. The State of Indiana prepares a Will for you in the event you have not completed one of your own. Indiana’s Intestate Succession Statute provides a Will in the event a Will cannot be located. The Intestate Succession can result in bizarre distributions and should be avoided.
• Wills
• Power of Attorney