Practice Groups

Auto Dealer Legal Services

Appellate Law

Business Services

Litigation Services

PRIMARY PRACTICE

Automotive Retail, Appellate Advocacy, Business and Commercial Litigation, and Employment and Labor Law.

EXPERIENCE

Bill represents the interests of automobile dealerships and automobile dealers and has dealt with all facets of this unique business for almost nineteen (19) years. He has developed his legal practice to assist Indiana auto dealers and to protect and advance their business interests. He has provided legal advice to motor vehicle, large truck and motorcycle dealers throughout the state of Indiana, and provides ongoing counsel on employment, consumer, factory and vendor legal issues. Bill also assists dealers in complying with a multitude of local, state and federal regulatory issues, and has represented the interests of the Automobile Dealers Association of Indiana, the Indianapolis Auto Trade Association and their numerous members. In working with these associations, Bill has assisted with the review of legislation and drafting of proposed legislation that is of particular interest to dealers.

Bill has defended the interests of dealers in both individual consumer claims and federal class actions. He also has represented automobile dealers with respect to issues, claims and contracts involving manufacturers, finance companies and numerous other vendors. Bill’s practice also includes representation before various local, state and federal agencies, including local human rights commissions, the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, the Indiana Attorney General, the EEOC, and the National Labor Relations Board.

In addition to litigation, Bill has also assisted dealers by providing education and general business compliance advice. Bill has presented individualized training seminars for dealers and their managers. He also presents seminars to multiple dealer groups and associations, providing guidance on the myriad of manufacturer, consumer, vendor, employment and regulatory issues confronting auto dealers. Bill also provides instruction to the Indiana auto dealer trade associations and their members by speaking at seminars and workshops, and by writing articles on many of the legal issues that impact the automotive retail industry.

In addition to his work for automobile dealers, Bill has also represented numerous clients on employment issues. He also has represented clients before both state and federal appellate courts. His work in this area began immediately after he completed a clerkship for Chief Judge Wesley W. Ratliff, Jr. of the Indiana Court of Appeals. Bill has written more than fifty appellate briefs, has argued appellate cases before the Indiana Court of Appeals, the Indiana Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and is listed as counsel in published decisions of each of those courts.

EDUCATION

Purdue University, B.A., Political Science, 1984; Valparaiso University School of Law, J.D., 1987.

BAR ADMISSION

United States Supreme Court
United States Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
United States District Courts for Southern and Northern Districts of Indiana
Indiana Supreme Court

MEMBER

Indianapolis Bar Association (Appellate and Labor and Employment Sections)
Indiana State Bar Association (Appellate and Labor and Employment Sections)
American Bar Association (Litigation and Labor and Employment Sections)
National Association of Dealer Counsel
Allied Member of the Automobile Dealers Association of Indiana, Inc.

ARTICLES AND SEMINARS

Law Notes, contributing author to monthly column appearing in Showroom magazine, published by the Automobile Dealers Association of Indiana; Complying with the Financial Privacy Rules under the Grahm-Leach Bliley Act, ADAI member compliance publication; Multiple Seminars for ADAI members and affiliates regarding legal compliance issues presented on an annual basis since 1990. Co-Chair Indianapolis Bar Association seminar, “Litigating Employment Claims”; Presenter, Indianapolis Bar Association, “Post Trial Motions Practice”.

REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED CASES

Indiana Gaming Comm’n v. Moseley, 643 N.E.2d 296 (Ind. 1994) (amicus curiae)

Sullivan v. Am. Cas. Co. of Reading, Pa., 605 N.E.2d 134 (Ind. 1992)

Richey v. Chappell, 594 N.E.2d 443 (Ind. 1992)

Webb v. Jarvis, 575 N.E.2d 992 (Ind. 1991)

Sharp v. Tom Wood East, Inc., 822 N.E.2d 173 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004)

Indiana Union Mut. Ins. Group v. Smith, 656 N.E.2d 538 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995)

McKinney v. Pub. Serv. Co. of Indiana, Inc., 597 N.E.2d 1001(Ind. Ct. App.1992)

Church Bros. Body Serv., Inc. v. Merchants Nat’l Bank and Trust Co. of Indianapolis, 559 N.E.2d 328 (Ind. Ct. App. 1990)

Bruce v. Grieger’s Motor Sales, Inc., 422 F. Supp. 2d 988 (N.D. Ind. 2006)

Stavroff v. Gurley Leep Dodge, Inc., 413 F. Supp. 2d 962 (N.D. Ind. 2006)

Additional reported cases are available upon request.

REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS

List will be provided upon request.