John F. Kautzman

Top Rated Family Law Attorney with 38 years of experience

Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Criminal Law, Business Law, Appellate

135 North Pennsylvania Street, Suite 1600, Indianapolis, IN 46204

About John F. Kautzman

Practice Areas

Education

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1984
J.D.
Indiana University, 1981
B.A.

Representative Cases

Served as lead counsel in more than 100 State and Federal Jury Trials including 1st televised Federal Court Jury Trial in State history; a $42 Million class action trial court judgment; and several other high profile civil & criminal trials and administrative disciplinary hearings, including Barnett v. Haslar; McKinney v. Duplain; and In Re: Dinnsen & Howard
Reported appellate cases include more than 50 decisions & opinions, including Criswell v. State of Indiana, Littleton v. State of Indiana, State of Indiana v. Fettig, Ingram v. City of Indianapolis, Arden v. State Employees Appeals Commission, and City of Indianapolis v. Fields.

Classes and Seminars

ICLEF Trial Advocacy College, Faculty, Annual Instructor
ICLEF Top 10 Practical Tips for State and Federal Litigators
Trial Advocacy Skills College Lectures, including “Examining the Expert Witness at Trial”, “Closing Arguments”, “Mechanics and Foundations of Introducing Exhibits”, “Basics of Cross Examination”, “Controlling the Difficult Witness”
Numerous Officer and Attorney "Police Liability," "Crisis Intervention Training," and "Critical Incident" Presentations
Indianapolis Bar Association CLE Presentations, including “Winning Strategies for Direct and Cross Examination”; and “Dealing with the Unexpected at Trial”
National Fraternal Order of Police Legal Counselor’s Seminar, Presenter - Privacy Information of Police Officers (2020), Beyond the Basics of a Controversial Police Action Shooting (2019), Garrity Rights and Related Topics: Cases and Strategies (2017), Department of Justice Investigations (2015), Police Encounters with the Medically or Mentally Ill (2014), The Duty to Defend and Indemnify (2012), Garcetti & Brady – Legal Implications (2010)
Indiana State Fraternal Order of Police Conference Presenter, 2014 Legal Survival – The Basics, 2012 Top Ten Keys to Avoiding Liability, 2011 Internal Investigations and Critical Incident Response, 2009 Police Liability
Professional Firefighters Conference Seminar Presenter, 2013 Protecting your Rights in Civil and Criminal Investigations, 2012 Public Employee Freedom of Speech

Bar Admissions

Other Affiliations

Indianapolis Bar Association, Past President 2005; Current Member of Board of Directors
Indianapolis Bar Association, President’s Award for Service to the Profession, 2013
Indianapolis Bar Association Bar Leader Series, Chairman/Moderator, 2010
Indianapolis Bar Association Justice Center Task Force, Current Chair
Indianapolis Bar Association, Judicial Selection Task Force, Past Chair
Indianapolis Bar Foundation, Distinguished Fellow
Indiana State Bar Association
American Bar Association
National Conference of Bar Presidents, Executive Council
Metropolitan Bar Caucus, President 2015 & 2016
IU Student Foundation Board of Associates, Past President
IU Foundation, President’s Award, 2003
IU Alumni Association, Life Member
American College of Trial Lawyers – Elected/Inducted 2012
Listed In: Best Lawyers in America; Super Lawyers; Who’s Who in America

John F. Kautzman

M. Elizabeth Bemis
31 years of experience
Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Family Law, Appellate
William A. Hasbrook
49 years of experience
Personal Injury, Civil Litigation
Leo T Blackwell
38 years of experience
Employment
Andrew R. Duncan
17 years of experience
Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Criminal Law, Business Law, Appellate

The power of the lawyer is in the uncertainty of the law.