Indiana Civil Practice, Procedure, and Forms

Agenda / Content Covered

1. A Judge's Perspective: The Unwritten Rules of Civil Court
   9:00 — 9:45, John Potter
   1. Judges' Biggest Pet Peeves
   2. Rules of Civil Procedure: Top Attorney Oversights
   3. Motion Practice: What to Do, What Not to Do
   4. Courtroom Conduct
   5. Calling, Emailing, Messaging Judge and Staff: Do's and Don'ts
   6. Bringing Improper Behavior to the Judge's Attention: When and How
   7. When Are Sanctions Warranted?
2. Perfecting Those Critical First Steps
   9:45 — 10:30, Justin Sorrell
   1. Parties, Venue and Jurisdiction
   2. Complaint and Responsive Pleadings
   3. Preserving Defenses
   4. Counterclaims, Cross-Claims and Third Party Complaints
   5. Scheduling Conference
3. The Art of Depositions and Discovery
   10:45 — 11:30, Ami Anderson
   1. Disclosure Issues and Attorney-Client Privilege Developments
   2. Creative Tips for Interrogatories, Requests for Production, Requests for Admission
   3. Insights for Taking Depositions
   4. Effectively Defending Depositions and Using Objections
   5. Dealing With Obstructionist Discovery Tactics
   6. The Art of the Subpoena
   7. Sample Discovery Requests
4. Motions and Briefs: Timing Strategy, Drafting, and Hearing Insights
   11:30 — 12:30, Justin Sorrell
   1. Applying the Relevant Rules of Procedure
   2. Motion and Brief Writing Tips: Organization, Persuasiveness, Citations, Common Mistakes
   3. Motions to Dismiss
   4. Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings
   5. Summary Judgment Motions
   6. Discovery Motions
   7. Motions in Limine (With Sample)
   8. Limiting or Excluding Expert Witness Testimony
   9. Interlocutory Appeals
5. Applying the Rules of Evidence in Civil Cases
   1:30 — 2:15, Ami Anderson
6. Jury Selection and Civil Trial Guide
   2:30 — 3:30, David Kolbe
   1. Trial Preparation and Coordination With the Court
   2. Voir Dire Question Construction
   3. How Much Case Information Can You Introduce During Voir Dire?
   4. Challenges for Cause and Peremptory Challenges
   5. Opening Statements
   6. How to Preserve Evidentiary Error for Appellate Review
   7. Direct and Cross-Examination
   8. Closing Arguments and Jury Instructions
   9. After the Trial is Over
7. Legal Ethics for Civil Litigators
   3:30 — 4:30, Cari Sheehan
   1. Duties to the Client
   2. Duties to the Court
   3. Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel
   4. Ethical Responsibilities to Third Parties

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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 State Bar of Indiana 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.

David C Kolbe has practiced law in Warsaw, Indiana for over 40 years. He also previously served as Prosecuting Attorney for Kosciusko County, Indiana. Mr. Kolbe is licensed in the state of Indiana, United States District Courts in the Northern District of Indiana and Western District of Michigan, and the state of Colorado. His practice currently is centered around criminal law and defense, personal injury, and worker's compensation. Mr. Kolbe has taught continuing legal education for a number of years and is a former adjunct instructor in political science for Indiana University/Purdue University Fort Wayne. In 2007, he became a senior visiting professor for the Center for International Legal Studies based in Salzburg, Austria. Since 2008, Mr. Kolbe has taught American Criminal Law and American Criminal Jury Trials for a number of law faculties in multiple countries in Europe and has also taught at the Center in Salzburg, Austria. He earned a B.A. degree in modern European history from Indiana University South Bend and his J.D. degree from Valparaiso University School of Law.

 

John D. Potter is a Circuit Court Judge in the Jasper County Circuit Court.

 

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. Ms. Sheehan also is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern districts of Indiana, U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern districts of Illinois, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana and Northern District of Illinois, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She 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.

 

Justin O. Sorrell is a partner at the law firm of Riley Bennett Egloff LLP. Mr. Sorrell is an experienced litigator who represents and advises business clients in many types of disputes in federal and state courts across Indiana. He represents businesses and employers in lawsuits including wage and retaliation claims, trade secret and confidentiality claims, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants, breach of contract claims, collections, and appeals. Additionally, Mr. Sorrell has experience in defending claims involving construction-related commercial property damage, products liability, and insurance coverage; and he has served as local counsel in federal and state courts across Indiana. He defends employers before the Indiana Workers' Compensation Board, and has experience in other business-related areas, including serving as outside corporate counsel, and handling bank loan transactions, loan work-outs, and bankruptcy matters. He also has significant experience in discovery of electronically-stored information ("ESI"), and advises clients on how to maximize value and minimize expense. Mr. Sorrell earned his B.M. degree and M.M. degree from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and his J.D. degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Mr. Sorrell served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable L. Mark Bailey at the Court of Appeals of Indiana before entering the private practice of law.