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Celebrating for the first time since 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana honored attorneys who have participated in the court’s Pro Bono Program by accepting an appointment in 2023.
Attorneys and judges ate breakfast together before heading into Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson’s courtroom in the Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Indianapolis.
Judge James Patrick Hanlon began the remarks with some key numbers. According to Hanlon, the court has appointed more than 400 attorneys to more than 450 civil cases since the last time they were able to hold the breakfast.
In 2023 alone, 140 attorneys were appointed to cases in the federal court.
“It takes a lot of coordination and a lot of diligence in managing a lot of these cases,” Hanlon said.
The judge then called the names of the attorneys who had volunteered for more than five cases. Several stood up and received a round of applause.
Next came remarks from Magistrate Judge Tim Baker, read on his behalf by Senior Judge Richard Young. Baker specifically spotlighted work done by lawyers with Krieg DeVault LLP.
“Years ago, when many of us dreamed of going to law school, those dreams were filled with the hope of helping the disadvantaged and underprivileged. The aforementioned Krieg DeVault lawyers made those dreams a reality,” Young said on Baker’s behalf. “The court is grateful to counsel for their outstanding efforts on the behalf of these plaintiffs and the ends of justice.”
The case Baker referenced involved two plaintiffs, Derek Hazzard and Chantal Brand.
Hazzard suffered burns on over half his body from a fire that occurred when he attempted to start a gas-powered generator. Due to an alleged defect in the generator’s design, the fire not only injured Hazzard but also damaged Brand’s house and garage.
Hazzard’s medical expenses totaled more than $2.8 million, and while Brand received some insurance, the couple essentially became homeless. When their money ran out, they lived in a trailer, a tent and a vehicle next to the destroyed home.
Hazzard and Brand filed a pro se products liability lawsuit against the manufacturer and distributor of the generator. The case was headed toward dismissal until they requested court-appointed counsel.
Krieg DeVault lawyers Marc Quigley, Hilary Leighty, Elizabeth Roberson and Matthew Carter Branic represented Hazzard and Brand.
The defendants withdrew their summary judgment motion after the attorneys appeared.
Baker presided over the settlement conference.
“While negotiations and specific outcomes of that settlement conference are confidential, the parties reached a settlement that simply would not have been achievable without the creative and determined efforts of plaintiffs court-appointed counsel,” Young said on Baker’s behalf. “Plaintiffs were overjoyed and emotionally overwhelmed with the outcome achieved by their lawyers.”
Speaking about the case, Leighty said it was a great experience that exposed her to some things she hadn’t experienced previously.
“I got a lot of experience as a new associate on the case research,” she said.
The attorneys received a small coin token in recognition of their work.
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