PRACTICE AREAS:
Business law and litigation serving the insurance, healthcare,
construction, real estate, media, not-for-profit and entertainment
industries.
EDUCATION:
Kelly School of Business; Indiana University-Bloomington,
B.S., Finance (with high distinction and Beta Gamma Sigma)
1975; J.D. Indiana University-Indianapolis Law School (magna
cum laude, Associate Editor, Indiana Law Review) 1978.
EXPERIENCE:
Since 1978 Mr. Bennett has represented businesses and business
and property owners, including product manufacturers, contractors,
hospitals, nursing homes, and transportation companies as
well as professionals, including doctors, lawyers, insurance
and real estate agents and professional and fraternal associations
in thousands of litigated matters to conclusion through dispositive
motions, negotiated settlements, mediations, arbitrations
and numerous bench and jury trials in State and Federal courts.
He has argued appeals before the 7th Circuit Federal Court
of Appeals and before the Indiana Supreme Court. He has been
admitted to practice pro hac vice in various jurisdictions
throughout the United States and has been admitted to the
United States Supreme Court since 1991.
Mr. Bennett is also a certified Alternative
Dispute Resolution mediator and has experience as an arbitrator
and as judge Pro Tempore in the Marion Superior Courts.
Mr. Bennett forms business entities
and counsels them as well as their members, directors and
shareholders on various issues, including governance, fiduciary
duties and disclosure requirements, contractual matters, intellectual
property registration and protection, risk management, recognizing
and minimizing liability exposure, employment issues, non-compete,
non-piracy and confidentiality agreements, regulatory and
governmental relations, real estate and environmental issues,
acquisitions, creditors rights, shareholder rights and exit
strategies. He is also an experienced director serving in
leadership positions on several corporate and not for profit
boards.
SEMINARS AND PUBLICATIONS:
Mr. Bennett has served as Chairman, Moderator and Faculty
Member for business and litigation seminars on Maximizing
Cash Flow, Trial Techniques, Evidence, Case Evaluation and
Negotiation, Legal Ethics and Malpractice, Dispute Resolution,
Handling Media Inquiries, Fraternity Risk Management and has
been a featured speaker at a meeting of the Indiana Fellows
of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has published
articles in the Indianapolis Business Journal, Indiana Lawyer,
Insurance Institute of Indiana Policy Maker and various trade
publications and newsletters. Published appellate decisions
include the following:
- Frohardt v. Penske Truck Leasing
Co., L.P., 788 N.E.2d 462 (Ind.App., May 13, 2003) (No.
49A02-0204-CV-324)
- PCL/Calumet v. EnterCitement, LLC,
760 N.E.2d 633 (Ind.App., Dec. 21, 2001) (No. 32A01-0011-CV-376)
- Vernon v. Acton, 732 N.E.2d 805
(Ind., June 30, 2000) (No. 49S02-9809-CV-488)
- L.W. v. Western Golf Ass’n.,
712 N.E.2d 983, 136 Ed. Law Rep. 538 (Ind., July 12, 1999)
(No. 79S02-9907-CV-379)
- Cinergy Corp. v. St. Paul Surplus
Lines Ins. Co., 785 N.E.2d 586 (Ind.App., Mar. 17, 2003)
(No. 49A02-0206-CV-503)
- Vernon v. Acton, 693 N.E.2d 1345,
Transfer Granted, See Appellate Rule 11 (Ind.App., April
16, 1998) (No. 49A02-9702-CV-121)
- L.W. v. Western Golf Ass’n.,
675 N.E.2d 760, 115 Ed. Law Rep. 1030 (Ind.App., Jan. 29,
1997) (No. 79A02-9507-CV-393)
- Fire Ins. Exchange v. Bell by Bell,
634 N.E.2d 517 (Ind.App. 2 Dist., May 05, 1994) (No. 49A02-9308-CV-415)
- Matter of Lawrance, 579 N.E.2d
32 (Ind., Sep. 16, 1991) (No. 29S04-9106-CV-00460)
- Reed v. Beachy Const. Corp., 781
N.E.2d 1145 (Ind.App., Dec. 27, 2002) (No. 34A04-0202-CV-90)
- Babinchak v. Town of Chesterton,
598 N.E.2d 1099 (Ind.App. 3 Dist., Sep. 10, 1992) (No. 75A03-9112-CV-372)
- Frampton v. Hutcherson, 784 N.E.2d
993 (Ind.App., Mar. 11, 2003) (No. 79A02-0204-CV-309)
- South v. Johnson & Dudley Real
Estate, 437 N.E.2d 494 (Ind.App. 1 Dist., July 15, 1982)
(No. 1-1281-A-359)
ADMISSIONS:
Admitted to Indiana bar in 1978. Admitted to practice before
U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts
of Indiana; U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; and U.S.
Supreme Court. Pro hac vice admissions to practice law before
courts in Ohio, Illinois and South Carolina.
COMMUNITY AND CIVIC:
Mr. Bennett is active on numerous community service committees
and has experience as an Officer, Director and Counsel to
several boards, including:
- Chairman of the Board, Central Indiana
Better Business Bureau (2006- )
- Member, Board of Directors (2002-
)
- Central Indiana Small Business
Development Center, Board of Advisors (1999-2000)
(2003- )
- President, Board of Directors, Indianapolis
City Market Corporation (1998-2000)
- President, Indianapolis Bar Foundation
(1995-2002); President (2001)
- Indiana Chamber of Commerce: Small
Business Council; Economic Development and
Congressional Affairs Committees
- Indianapolis Bar Association, Board
of Managers (1995-1997) (2001-2003)
- House of Delegates, Indiana State
Bar Association (1996- )
- Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra,
Board of Directors (2004- )
- Skyline Club Board of Governors
(1994- )
- Arts Council of Indianapolis, Board
of Directors (2002- )
- Chairman, City of Indianapolis Equal
Opportunity Advisory Board (1994-1996)
- Rotary Club of Indianapolis (1991-2004)
- Sr. Vice President and General
Counsel for Hemophilia of Indiana, Inc. (1991-1999)
- General Counsel and Treasurer of
the Indianapolis Press Club (1991-1998)
- Vice President and Director, American
Pianists Association (1994-2000)
- Indianapolis Philharmonic Orchestra,
Vice President, Board of Trustees (1995-2004)
- Chairman, Board of Directors, Historic
City Market Foundation (2004- )
MEMBERSHIPS:
Mr. Bennett is a member of the I.U. School of Business Alumni
Association, American Bar Association Construction Forum,
Litigation, and Intellectual Property Sections, International
Association of Defense Counsel, Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana,
past President of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation, Chairman
of the Executive Counsel of the Indianapolis Bar Association
Litigation Section (1994), Chairman of the IBA Judicial Evaluation
Committee (1996), Indiana State and American Bar Associations,
Indiana State Bar Association (House of Delegates and Litigation
Section), Indianapolis Bar Association, Defense Research Institute,
Indianapolis Downtown, Inc., Indiana Chamber of Commerce,
Insurance Institute of Indiana, and Metro Indianapolis Coalition
for Construction Safety, Inc.
AWARDS:
Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award in Business Associations;
named as a “Super Lawyer” in Indianapolis Monthly
magazine; listed in several “Who’s Who”
publications; “Grand Buffalo” of Indianapolis
Press Club and named by the Indianapolis Business Journal
in its charter class of the top 40 “hotshots”
from various professions and businesses who made their mark
in Indianapolis before their 40th birthday; Indianapolis Bar
Association Fellow; and Indiana Bar Association Fellow.
PERSONAL:
His wife, Donna Bennett, also an attorney, is the former Commissioner
of the Indiana Department of Insurance.
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