Litigating Civil Cases in Indiana From Start to Finish

Agenda / Content Covered

All times are shown in Eastern time.

1. Top Civil Litigation Do's and Don'ts
   9:00 - 9:50, Chester L. Cameron Jr.
   1. Court Procedure
   2. Motions
   3. Discovery
   4. Voir Dire and Jury Selection
   5. Trial Practice and Presentation
2. Motion Practice and Pleadings: Getting What You Want
   9:50 - 10:40, Timothy L. Karns
   1. Applying the Rules of Civil Procedure
   2. Pleadings Standards and Sufficiency
   3. Motion to Dismiss
   4. Summary Judgment Motions
   5. Motions in Limine
   6. Tips for Effective Brief Writing
3. Discovery, Depositions, and Evidence Rules: Real-World Applications
   10:55 - 11:45, Ami T. Anderson
   1. Effective Use of Discovery Tools (Interrogatories; Requests for Production; Requests for Admissions; Subpoenas)
   2. Obtaining Evidence From Electronic Devices
   3. Taking Depositions
   4. Defending Depositions (and Properly Using Objections)
   5. Evaluating Admissibility
   6. Laying a Foundation to Get Your Evidence Introduced
   7. Witness Testimony and Reports
   8. Applying the Hearsay Rule and Exceptions
   9. Keeping Evidence Out
4. How to Authenticate Social Media, Email, and Text Evidence
   12:45 - 1:35, Andrea L. Ciobanu
   1. Proactively Ensuring Authenticity
   2. Proving Electronic Documents Have Not Been Modified
   3. Identifying Who Made the Post and Linking to the Purported Author
   4. Authenticating Through Witness Testimony
   5. Authenticating via Distinctive Characteristics and Circumstantial Evidence
   6. Self-Authentication Methods
5. Conducting Voir Dire and Jury Selection
   1:35 - 2:25, W. Brent Gill
   1. Preparing for Voir Dire
   2. Investigating Jurors
   3. Reading Personality Types and Non-Verbals
   4. Building Rapport
   5. Introducing Case Information
   6. Asking the Right Questions
   7. Eliciting Bias and Obtaining Cause Challenges
   8. Getting Quiet Jurors Talking
   9. Effective Use of Peremptory Challenges
6. Building Your Civil Trial Skills
   2:40 - 3:30, David Crell
   1. Opening Statements: Telling a Persuasive Story
   2. Conducting Direct Examination
   3. Cross-Examining and Impeaching Witnesses
   4. Using Objections
   5. Arguing Damages at Trial
   6. Delivering Summations and Jury Instructions
7. Legal Ethics: Avoiding Key Dangers
   3:30 - 4:30, Cari L. Sheehan
   1. Handling Prejudicial Evidence
   2. Social Media and Legal Ethics
   3. Communicating with Jurors
   4. Preparing vs. Coaching Witnesses
   5. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest

Accreditation Details:

AMI T. ANDERSON is a partner in the Northwest Indiana office of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, and a member of the general liability practice. Ms. Anderson has an extensive and diverse litigation practice and she frequently appears before both Indiana state and federal courts, as well as the Indiana Workers' Compensation Board. Ms. Anderson represents defendants in a variety of matters including general liability, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, professional liability, products liability and workers' compensation matters. She has tried numerous cases to verdict before both juries and the bench. Ms. Anderson has also successfully handled multiple appeals before both the Indiana Court of Appeals and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association and the National Association of Women Lawyers. Ms. Anderson earned her B.A. degree from St. Mary’s College and her J.D. degree from Chicago - Kent College of Law.

CHESTER L. CAMERON JR. of Taxman Pollock Murray & Bekkerman LLC, is a trial lawyer who represents victims and their families in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases in Illinois and Indiana. Since becoming a licensed attorney in 2013, he has dedicated his practice exclusively to representing injury victims and their families, and has gained a reputation as a talented and aggressive advocate for his clients. Since 2018, Mr. Cameron has been selected as a rising star by Indiana Super Lawyers, and featured in Indianapolis Monthly for this distinction, which is limited to fewer than 2.5% of Indiana-licensed attorneys under 40 years old and/or in practice for 10 years or less. Additionally, he has written several continuing legal education white papers and has presented at several continuing legal education conferences on topics relating to personal injury and wrongful death. Mr. Cameron received his B.A. degree, cum laude, in history, from Valparaiso University where he also was a Kemper Scholar and associate of Christ College (Valparaiso University's Interdisciplinary Honors College). He received his J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville, Arkansas where he was a member of the Dean's List. During law school, Mr. Cameron served as a legal extern to U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul R. Cherry (Ret.) of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. He is currently admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Illinois, Supreme Court of Indiana, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

ANDREA L. CIOBANU is the managing attorney at Ciobanu Law, P.C., in Indianapolis, Indiana. She represents clients throughout Indiana in civil litigation matters, including commercial and business, defamation, family and domestic relations, protective orders, civil rights and ADA compliance, as well as appellate matters. A seasoned litigator, Ms. Ciobanu has argued before the Southern and Northern district of Indiana Federal Courts, the Indiana Court of Appeals, the Indiana Supreme Court, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a trained registered civil, domestic, and elder mediator; guardian ad litem; and parenting coordinator. Ms. Ciobanu is also a trained collaborative law professional. She teaches introductory law classes and legal ethics courses for undergraduates at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Ms. Ciobanu earned her B.A. and her M.P.A. degrees, both summa cum laude, from Indiana University, followed by earning her J.D. degree from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

DAVID CRELL is managing partner with Andrews & Crell in Blufton, practicing in the areas of family law, business law, real estate law and personal injury. He is a member of the Wells County Bar Association (president) and the Wells County Domestic Violence Taskforce. Mr. Crell received his B.A. degree from Indiana University and earned his J.D. degree from Michigan State University College of Law.

W. BRENT GILL is of counsel and a mediator with Smith Law Services, P.C., in Seymour. Mr. Gill's trial experience includes cases involving fire and gas explosions, construction site injuries, premises liability, insurance company bad faith, governmental liability and highway design, pharmaceutical, medical devices, toxic torts, products liability, trucking, motorcycle and automotive catastrophic personal injury, burn injury, brain and spinal cord injury and wrongful death, as well as professional malpractice and nursing homes. He is a graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and is board certified as a civil trial advocate of the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Mr. Gill's professional association memberships include the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, fellow of the Roscoe Pound Foundation, fellow of the Indiana College of Trial Lawyers, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the National Trial Lawyers, the National Native American Bar Association, the American Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, Jackson County Bar Association and Lawrence County Bar Association. He earned his B.S. degree from Indiana University and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Indiana University School of Law. Mr. Gill is admitted to practice in Indiana and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

TIMOTHY L. KARNS is a partner with Wagner Reese, LLP. Before joining Wagner Reese, LLP, Mr. Karns spent eight years as a trial attorney with Frost Brown Todd LLC, one of the largest law firms in the United States, where he defended several of the world’s largest and wealthiest corporations in product liability cases, toxic tort matters, wrongful death lawsuits, trucking accidents, and other litigation involving catastrophic personal injuries. Due to the nature of his practice, he has extensive knowledge of the Indiana Products Liability Act and the case law governing it. Upon joining friends and respected colleagues Stephen Wagner, Jason Reese, and Stephanie Cassman in 2019, Mr. Karns now devotes his practice solely to representing injured clients and their families. He now uses the knowledge and experience he gained representing manufacturers, sellers, and distributors of consumer and industrial products to aid individuals that have been harmed by defective and unreasonably dangerous products. Mr. Karns is an experienced, aggressive, and tactical trial lawyer with a passion for helping personal injury victims and their families. Since being admitted to the Indiana Bar more than a decade ago, his practice has been devoted to helping those harmed by others. Mr. Karns has significant experience in every facet of the litigation process and has spent numerous hours honing his trial skills before a variety of state and federal tribunals. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in bench and jury trials throughout Indiana. Additionally, through strategic and zealous advocacy, Mr. Karns routinely resolves many cases before trial by utilizing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as mediation. He is an active member of the Indiana State Bar Association and Indianapolis Bar Association. He is the former chair of the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana’s Product Liability Section. Mr. Karns is also a graduate of the Indianapolis Bar Association’s Bar Leader Series-Class XI and the International Association of Defense Counsel’s Trial Academy Class of 2016. He has been recognized as a Rising Star® by Indiana Super Lawyers® in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

CARI L. SHEEHAN is of counsel in Barnes & Thornburg LLP's Indianapolis office and is a member of the litigation department. Ms. Sheehan serves as professional responsibility counsel to the firm and focuses on various legal ethics and professional responsibility matters. She has represented clients in state and federal courts in Indiana and Illinois. Ms. Sheehan is admitted to practice in Indiana and Illinois. She also is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern districts of Indiana, U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern districts of Illinois, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern District of Indiana and Northern District of Illinois, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Ms. Sheehan is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, Indianapolis Bar Association, and the Saint Thomas More Legal Society. She earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from the University of Southern Indiana; and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.