Stephen R. Pennell

Steve Pennell has extensive experience as a trial attorney in Indiana and courts across the country. Steve served as national trial counsel for a pool product company in Atlanta for sixteen years, during which time Steve appeared as lead trial counsel in cases in California, New York, Oregon, Idaho, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, Maryland, and Massachusetts. In a case in Massachusetts in which the co-defendant paid $24 million to settle, Steve was successful in obtaining summary judgment for his client despite testimony from two experts that the product manufactured by Steve's client was defective.

Steve has successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases including antitrust, insurance coverage, employment, personal injury, product liability, premises liability, business, construction, school and education law, and wills and estates. Steve also has considerable experience in appellate matters and has successfully argued cases in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Indiana Supreme Court, and Indiana Court of Appeals. In recognition of his success as a trial lawyer, Steve has been named as an Indiana SuperLawyer for civil litigation defense each year since 2004 and has also been named in Best Lawyers in America since 2004.

Steve is recognized as one of the leaders for the defense bar in Indiana. Steve served as President of the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana ("DTCI") in 2004. In recognition of his accomplishments as President of DTCI, Defense Research Institute ("DRI") presented Steve with the Fred Sievert Award which is given to the most outstanding leader of a state defense organization in the nation. Steve was also presented with the Diplomat Award by the DTCI which is given for lifetime achievement as a defense lawyer. Steve also served as the chairman for the Indiana State Bar Association Litigation Section in 2004. During his year as chairman of the Litigation Section, Steve worked to promote civility among attorneys by instituting the Litigation Section Civility Award for attorneys and judges in Indiana.

Recently, Steve has begun serving as a mediator in civil cases. He is a certified mediator in Indiana. He is also a member of the Indiana Mediators Association.

Steve's greatest passion is his family. He has been married for 35 years and has two children and four grandsons. He greatly enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and family. Steve is also active in community affairs. He has served as president of the Wesley Foundation and has served on several committees at his local church. He is also an active member of the Rotary Club in Lafayette. Steve is a veteran of the military having served as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Education

• Indiana University, A.B., summa cum laude, 1973; J.D., magna cum laude, 1976

Honors

• Phi Beta Kappa
• Order of the Coif
• American Jurisprudence Award
• DRI Fred H. Sievert Award
• DRI Exceptional Performance Citation
• Indiana Super Lawyer
• Best Lawyers in America
• Editor-in-Chief of Indiana Civil Litigation Review
• DTCI Diplomat Award

Bar Admission

• Indiana, 1976

Professional Associations

• Tippecanoe County Bar Association
• Indiana State Bar Association (Litigation Section chair, 2004)
• American Bar Association
• Bar Association of the Seventh Federal Circuit
• Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana (president, 2004)
• Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (Executive Council 2008-2011)
• Defense Research Institute (Indiana State Representative 1998-2001)
• International Association of Defense Counsel
• Indiana Association of Mediators

Civic / Charitable Activities

• Wesley Foundation, president
• Rotary

Publications / Presentations

• Indiana Law Journal, note editor, 1975-1976
• Lawyer's Lounge, Indiana State Bar Association Litigation Section newsletter, editor
• "The Defense of antitrust claims raised by exclusive services contractors between hospitals and physicians," Indiana Civil Litigation Review, Spring 2005
• "Kochert v. Greater Lafayette Health Services, Inc.: The Final Chapter of an Antitrust Case"
• "Termination of a Tenured Teacher in Indiana: Lessons Learned"