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Mr. Costakis is a graduate of Purdue University and the Indiana University School of Law (cum laude). While in law school, Mr. Costakis served as an Associate Editor of the Indiana Law Review and participated in Moot Court. His legal practice is devoted primarily to commercial litigation, the defense of major manufacturers in product liability actions and the defense of toxic tort actions arising in a variety of contexts. Mr. Costakis has also served on the firm's Executive Committee. Mr. Costakis is admitted to practice before the Indiana Supreme Court, the Northern and Southern District Courts of Indiana, the Central District Court of Illinois, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.
During law school, Mr. Costakis served as a law clerk for the Honorable Donald E. Foulke, the Honorable Judith S. Proffitt and the Honorable Jerry H. Barr in Hamilton County, Indiana . Mr. Costakis also interned with the Honorable S. Hugh Dillin of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division.
Mr. Costakis has served as the lead counsel in cases tried to juries involving issues of negligence, breach of contract, promissory estoppel, trespass quasi contract, fraud, constructive fraud and punitive damages. He has also tried, as sole or lead counsel, bench trials involving issues of breach of contract, restrictive covenants, covenants not to compete, first amendment rights, establishment clause issues and conversion. On two (2) occasions Mr. Costakis has presented oral argument to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Representative published opinions in which Mr. Costakis was counsel of record include:
Rogers v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 745 N.E.2d 793 ( Ind. 2000)
Downs v. Montezuma, 694 N.E.2d 1198 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998)
Grossbaum v. IMCBA, 870 F. Supp. 1450 (S.D. IN 1994)
Grossbaum v. IMCBA, 63 F.3d 581 (7th Cir. 1995)
Grossbaum v. IMCBA, 905 F. Supp. 1187 (S.D. IN 1995)
Grossbaum v. IMCBA, 100 F.3d 1287 (7th Cir. 1996)
In 1998, Mr. Costakis served as a faculty member at a National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) Indiana Witness Examination Program. More recently, Mr. Costakis has been a contributing author to a series of practice commentaries published by NITA.
Mr. Costakis is also experienced in arbitration and mediation. He has arbitrated several matters and has participated in approximately fifty (50) mediations involving issues such as toxic exposure, premises liability defense, the defense of a corporate trustee, product liability defense, environmental insurance coverage, and various other commercial disputes.
In addition to the above-described recent actual trial experience, Mr. Costakis routinely works both individually and as a member of a team of lawyers on a wide variety of matters that do not result in a trial, ranging from toxic tort litigation to corporate environmental due diligence.
Mr. Costakis is married and has three (3) sons. He is active in his church and his community.
Representative Cases
Rogers v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 745 N.E.2d 793 (Ind. 2000)
Downs v. Montezuma, 694 N.E. 2d 1198 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998)
Grossbaum v. IMCBA, 870 F. Supp. 1450 (S.D. IN 1994)
Grossbaum v. IMCBA, 63 F.3d 581 (7th Cir. 1995)
Grossbaum v. IMCBA, 905 F. Supp. 1187 (S.D. IN 1995)
Grossbaum v. IMCBA, 100 F. 3d 1287 (7th Cir. 1996)
Classes/Seminars Taught
The Indiana Responsible Property Law, Community Bankers Association of Indiana
Environmental Liability for Corporate Fiduciaries, Probate and Estate Section of the Indiana Bar Association
EPA Lender Liability Rule, National Conference for In-House Counsel
Public Displays, Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association, 1995
"Environmental Considerations and Recent EPA and DOJ Lender Liability Policy", Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 1997
Faculty member, National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) Indiana Witness Examination Program, 1998
Honors and Awards
Indiana Super Lawyers, 2006-2008
Professional Associations and Memberships
Federal Seventh Circuit Bar Association
Member
Indiana State Bar Association
Member
Indianapolis Bar Association
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