Jeffrey P. Smith

A lifelong resident of Fort Wayne, Jeff attended Concordia Lutheran High School. He graduated from Purdue University (B.A. with distinction, 1992) and Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (J.D. cum laude, 1995). He was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1995. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals (Seventh Circuit) and the federal and bankruptcy courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.
His primary areas of practice include civil litigation and appeals, concentrating in commercial and insurance defense/coverage litigation. Client representation includes individuals, business entities, and institutional clients.
Jeff also has an active civil appeals practice, having served as lead counsel in more than 30 appeals.  He has argued before the Indiana Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
He and his wife, Kristin, are members of Emmanuel Lutheran Church. They have two sons and a daughter.

Primary Areas of Practice

• Civil Litigation and Appeals

• Insurance Defense and Coverage

• Employment Litigation Defense

• Business & Commercial Litigation

• Creditors' Rights/Collections

• Personal Injury

• Landlord-Tenant Relations

Bar Admissions

• Indiana

• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit

• U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana

• U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana

• U.S. Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Indiana

• U.S. Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Indiana

Education

• Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Juris Doctorate (Cum Laude) - May, 1995

• Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

  • Bachelor of Arts (With Distinction), Political Science - May, 1992

Published Works

• Appellate Law 101: Dos and Don'ts for the Occasional Appellate Practitioner, Speaker/Co-Author, Allen County Bench Bar, March, 2007

• One of the Most Honorable Professions, Author, Res Gestae, January/ February, 2003

• Legal Stuff (You Should Know), Editor/Contributing Author, Indiana State Bar Association, 5th Edition, 2001

• Planning Your First Bankruptcy/Collection, General Chair/Speaker, ICLEF, July, 2001

• Getting Started with Collections: The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Author, ICLEF, July, 2001

• Civility Between Lawyers is Good Practice, Author, Res Gestae, October, 1997

Reported Appellate Decisions

• Carroll Creek Development Co., Inc. v. Town of Huntertown, 9 N.E.3d 702 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014)

• Estate of Prickett v. Womersley, 905 N.E.2d 1008 (Ind. 2009); 885 N.E.2d 619 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008)

• Harold McComb & Son v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA, 892 N.E.2d 1255 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008)

• Beineke v. Chemical Waste Management, 858 N.E.2d 534 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007)

• Walker v. DaimlerChrysler Corp., 856 N.E.2d 90 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006)

• Tun v. Whitticker, et al, 398 F.3d 899 (7th Cir. (Briefed and argued) 2005)

• DaimlerChrysler Corp. v. Yaeger, 838 N.E.2d 449; 818 N.E.2d 527 (Ind. 2005; Ind. Ct. App. 2004)

• DaimlerChrysler Corp. v. Franklin, 814 N.E.2d 281 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004)

• DeHayes Group v. Pretzels, Inc., et al, 786 N.E.2d 779 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003)

• Estate of Heck v. Stoffer, 786 N.E.2d 265 (Ind. 2003); 752 N.E.2d 192 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001)

• Cyr v. Yoder, 762 N.E.2d 148 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002)

• Journal Gazette v. Board of Trustees of Purdue University, 698 N.E.2d 826 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998)

• Kessen v. Graft, 694 N.E.2d 317 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998)

• Farm Bureau v. Nationwide, 678 N.E.2d 1165 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997)

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Indiana State Bar Association

• Allen County Bar Association

Service

• Allen County Bar Association, Nominating Committee (2011)

• Allen County Judicial Nominating Commission (October 2007-2011)
   

• Indiana State Bar Association

  • Board of Governors (2002-2003)

  • Board of Governors Nominating Committee (2005, 2008)

  • House of Delegates (2002-2011)

  • House of Delegates Nominating Committee (2006)

  • Local Bar Leadership Conference Planning Committee (2008)

  • Membership & Membership Benefits Committee (2008-2015)

  • Appellate Practice Section Council, District Representative (2011-2015)

• Indiana State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section Council

  • Counsel to Chair (2004-2005)

  • Immediate Past Chair (2003-2004)

  • Chair (2002-2003)

  • Chair-Elect (2001-2002)

  • Secretary-Treasurer (2000-2001)

  • District Representative (1996-2000)

• Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum (ICLEF)

  • Board of Directors (2002-2003, 2008-present)

  • Treasurer (2013-present)

  • Personnel Committee (2015-present)

  • Budget & Fiscal Committee (2008-present)

  • Long-Range Planning Committee (2008)

  • Task Force Member (2003-2004)

• Indiana Bar Foundation, Grant Making Strategic Planning Subcommittee (2004)

• Indiana Pro Bono Commission, Member (2013-present)

• Republican Party of Allen County, Indiana, Precinct Committeeman (2008-2012)

• Indiana State Republican Convention, Delegate – Third District (2008)

• Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana, Fort Wayne, IN

• Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, IN

  • Congregational President (2012-2015)

  • Church Council (2000-2002, 2012-2015)

  • Christian Education Deacon (2000-2002)

  • Early Childhood Education Board (2002-2005)

• Emmanuel-St. Michael Lutheran School, Fort Wayne, IN

  • Interparish School Board (2006 – 2011)

  • President (2008-2010)

  • Treasurer (2006-2007)

  • Finance Committee Chair (2011)

• Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Indiana District Convention, Lay Delegate (2012)

• The Lutheran Foundation, Fort Wayne, IN, Congregational Delegate (2014)