Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana

DTCI: Independent contractors under the Worker’s Compensation Act

July 15, 2014

Independent contractors are usually excluded from coverage under the Indiana Worker’s Compensation Act. Accordingly, an individual’s status as an independent contractor may serve as a defense to an otherwise compensable claim. While this general principle – that independent contractors are not covered by the Act – seems simple enough, the provisions of the Act addressing independent contractors can give rise to some complex legal and factual issues.

DTCI: Would you choose to be a lawyer if you had a do-over?

July 1, 2014

“If you could do it all over again, would you still be a lawyer?” Anyone reading this has probably been asked the question. I myself cannot think of anything else that I would do, and of course, my answer is “Yes!”

DTCI: Author! Author!

June 17, 2014

Volume XI of the DTCI Indiana Civil Litigation Review is now in the planning stages. The board of editors is seeking ideas and authors for articles for Volume XI, deadline September 2014.

DTCI: Attorney-expert communications

June 17, 2014

When you assist and prepare an expert witness and ask him to formulate his opinion, you may wonder whether your oral and written communications with the expert will be discoverable. Being required to disclose such communications in discovery depends on whether your case is in federal or state court since the federal and Indiana rules currently differ as to what is protected.

DTCI: Young attorneys should rely on their own devices at work

June 3, 2014

To the extent practicable, young attorneys should rely on their own devices to determine what needs to be done, and how to do it, rather than expect the more senior attorney to spell it out for them.

DTCI Women in the Law launch and lunch

May 20, 2014

On April 17, 2014, more than 60 female defense attorneys attended the kick-off luncheon for DTCI’s newest committee: Women in the Law.

DTCI: Public works statute tested

May 20, 2014

Publicly funded construction projects in Indiana have long been governed by statutes that set forth the procedures by which certain public entities must select the contractors performing the work.

DTCI: Invest in yourself to build practice and reputation

May 6, 2014

We have all noticed that there are a lot of lawyers. On top of that, there are a lot of lawyers with less work than they would like. Lawyering is a business and is controlled by traditional rules of commerce: supply, demand, pricing, quality, branding. Lawyers are the product. They are the brand.

DTCI: Mediation for defense lawyers

April 22, 2014

Patrick Reilly writes to help defense lawyers develop strategies to achieving the best possible results in selecting, conducting and winning mediations.

DTCI: Kick off your heels with the new Women in the Law Division

April 8, 2014

While there is no right or wrong answer, mentoring and networking can go a long way in helping women feel like they are not alone in their personal and professional lives. DTCI wants to make this even easier by expanding the available network of strong and successful women lawyers. DTCI has created the Women in the Law Division.

DTCI: Women In The Law

March 25, 2014

Join us April 17 for lunch at Osteria Pronto at the JW Marriott at 11 a.m. for the launch of the DTCI Women in the Law Section.

DTCI: You get what you pay for

March 25, 2014

Why unnamed insureds have no right to bring bad-faith claims.

DTCI: What happened to practicing ‘civil’ litigation?

March 11, 2014

It is unusual to open a lawyers’ magazine without seeing an article about civility. What happened to “civil” litigation? It must be like the weather – a lot of people are writing about it, but no one seems to be doing anything about it.

DTCI: February Kudos

February 25, 2014

News from DTCI members.

DTCI: Indiana Civil Litigation Review

February 25, 2014

The DTCI’s flagship publication, the Indiana Civil Litigation Review, will be distributed soon. Members and subscribers can anticipate another issue full of valuable information and analyses by leaders of Indiana’s defense bar.

DTCI: The aftermath of the Supreme Court’s ruling on DOMA

February 25, 2014

In June 2013, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman, is unconstitutional. In essence, the court held that the Act denied same-sex couples the “equal liberty” guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment. This decision has far broader impact than just the scope of the estate-tax issues raised in the case, and employers and benefit providers should be aware of the impact and aftermath of this ruling.

DTCI: ‘Caring for’ family under FMLA

February 11, 2014

What happens when a family member is diagnosed with a terminal illness and begins the somber review of their bucket list, noticing that a trip to Las Vegas is still unchecked? Would taking time to accompany and care for that family member be included in the definition of caring for under the FMLA?

DTCI: Johnson at regional DRI meeting

January 28, 2014

Jim Johnson, president of DTCI, attended the 2014 DRI North Central Regional Meeting held in Fort Myers earlier this month.

DTCI: Did you miss this? Kudos, News & Blogs

January 28, 2014

News from around DTCI.

DTCI: Discovery of the facts behind settlement documentaries

January 28, 2014

With increasing frequency, plaintiffs’ attorneys are using settlement “documentary” videos before and during mediation in catastrophic cases. Utilizing the format of a tabloid television news program, these “documentaries” address problematic liability and damages issues in a light that is often unreasonably favorable to the injured party.

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