DTCI: Close the email: Focus on deep work
Rings, pings and vibrations draw our attention to communications and away from the task we are working on or the conversation we are holding.
Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana
Articles
Assise: Avoiding mistakes as a new attorney
Even the smallest issue when practicing law can lead to disaster for both attorneys and their clients.
DTCI: Legislature updates Indiana Worker’s Compensation Act
During the last legislative session, the Indiana Worker’s Compensation Act received several updates, most of which have taken effect. This article highlights the changes made to the act and the date the amendments are effective.
Earnhart & Komrabai-Kanu: Laws give pregnant, breastfeeding workers more protections
President Joe Biden ended 2022 with a bang by signing two new pieces of legislation into law that will impact many employers and their pregnant and breastfeeding workers.
DTCI: Meet the 2023 DTCI Board of Directors
Meet the 2023 Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana Board of Directors.
DTCI: Where have all the jury trials gone, and what will happen next?
The possible causes of the decline in civil jury trials is a discussion for another day. Let’s look at the statistics and the effects.
2023 DTCI officers, directors named at annual conference
The Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana named its 2023 officers and directors this month at its 29th Annual Conference and Annual Meeting. The officers and directors assume office Jan. 1.
Dollens: 2022 DTCI amicus activity in Indiana appellate courts
This year, the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana participated as amicus in a variety of issues of significant interest to the defense bar.
DTCI gives ‘outstanding’ lawyer awards for 2022
Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana recently honored the Defense Lawyer of the Year, Diplomat of the Indiana Defense Trial Counsel and Outstanding Young Lawyer.
DTCI: Lawyers League softball: Fun, exercise and camaraderie
Once I entered law school, I began playing slow-pitch softball in the Indianapolis Lawyers League. Over the 30-plus years of involvement, it has been fun and has allowed this old man to keep active, stay young and enjoy fellowship.
DTCI: Challenges are opportunities to become better lawyers
The practice of law and the zealous representation of clients demand that we, at times, take unpopular positions and make difficult decisions. This can cause considerable angst and sleepless nights.
DTCI: 29th Annual Conference and Meeting of the Membership Nov. 17-18
A five-star lineup of speakers for this year’s Annual Conference has been assembled. We hope to see you there on Nov. 17 and 18.
DTCI: Philadelphia and lawyers representing business
Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn and served as the capital of Pennsylvania during the British colonial era. It went on to play a historic and vital role in the 18th century as the central meeting place for our nation’s Founding Fathers. This fall, it will also serve as the location for DRI’s annual meeting.
Brinkerhoff: Poetic advice: Be kind while there is still time
One of my favorite podcasts, “Men in Blazers,” is led in part by a beautiful soul named Roger Bennett, whose recall of works of literature (among his other gifts) is stunning even to this trivia nerd. When discussion on the podcast turns from soccer to things way more important than soccer, Bennett often recites the poignant closing lines of Philip Larkin’s “The Mower” from “Collected Poems,” which inspired me in writing this column and which advice I hope we can all remember: “… we should be careful/Of each other, we should be kind/While there is still time.”
DTCI: Eliminating hurry from your practice
What can eliminating hurry mean for your practice? Here is what eliminating hurry does not mean: providing terrible customer service; never having fun; working all the time; becoming a monk. But what it can mean is: making sure that you are committed to doing the task before you well; responding in a timely manner (but not in an immediate manner); fostering more substantive relationships with your colleagues; and having a better understanding of who you are and what you are capable of.
DTCI: The importance of client service and relationships
Keith Mundrick, a DTCI director, say calls the practice of law “perhaps the pinnacle of the service industry.”
DTCI: Learning to be less of a professional when necessary
Being a good lawyer is not always synonymous with being the most professionally detached lawyer; empathy and motivation also matter.
DTCI: Inter vivos transfers and ad mortem transfers
Transferring realty out of an estate assists the common goal of avoiding probate by eliminating the real estate from the threshold value calculation. Inter vivos and ad mortem transfers are the two means of avoiding such inclusion.
DTCI: Admitting past medical expense evidence when plaintiff’s counsel does not: An update
In August 2019, this writer co-authored in these pages a discussion of admitting past medical expense evidence when plaintiff’s counsel elects not to do so. Two years later, the Indiana Court of Appeals has spoken on the issue.
DTCI: IPLA’s domestic distributor rule: What is a principal distributor?
In a case involving an allegedly defective product manufactured outside the United States, the manufacturer may quickly file a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. Alternatively, it may be impossible to secure service upon an overseas manufacturer of a product. In either situation, an attorney who happens to represent a U.S. distributor of the product may be wondering if the U.S. client will be left holding the bag for a manufacturing defect (i.e., strict liability) if the manufacturer is dismissed.