Bob

Robert J. Dignam

Partner

Robert J. Dignam has been recognized as a Top 50 Indiana Super Lawyer among all lawyers in the state.

Mr. Dignam is an experienced and effective civil mediator. Over the past decade, he has successfully mediated hundreds of cases for attorneys and their clients around the State of Indiana. As a result of his extensive service as a civil mediator, Mr. Dignam, in 2020, was inducted into the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, and he conducts mediations in a wide variety of matters in a pre-litigation setting and in cases pending in state and federal courts. He also serves as arbitrator to resolve civil litigation disputes. Mr. Dignam has been named as an Indiana Super Lawyer for Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Mr. Dignam is also an experienced civil litigation and appellate lawyer. He represents clients in the areas of employment and labor law, as well as in many other areas of law.

Mr. Dignam has attained an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest available designation for ethics and legal ability. Mr. Dignam has been named to Best Lawyers in America in the area of Employment Law. He has also been recognized as an Indiana Super Lawyer in the areas of Employment and Labor Law.

Mr. Dignam has represented employers in state and federal court in Indiana, in federal courts in Illinois, and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, and other employment law agencies. He has argued cases for employers before the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and has represented an employment law client before the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Dignam also serves as lead negotiator in labor negotiations. In this role, he has assisted employer clients in reaching collective bargaining agreements with the representative union. In addition, Mr. Dignam has assisted clients with labor arbitration matters.

Mr. Dignam has presented multiple continuing legal education seminars about the mediation process, including the nuances of mediating employment law disputes. He has helped teach future mediators at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, and for many years, Mr. Dignam served as an adjunct professor at Purdue University Northwest, teaching students conflict resolution techniques.

Mr. Dignam has also presented numerous continuing legal education seminars on labor and employment law topics, including at the request of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, the Lake County Bar Association, and private continuing legal education organizations. He has also authored articles addressing various areas of employment law. In 2018, Mr. Dignam published a Law Review article advocating for a change in an area of labor law for the benefit of employers that has now occurred. During his time teaching at Purdue University Northwest, Mr. Dignam has also taught courses involving employment law and human resources concepts.

Finally, a substantial part of Mr. Dignam’s practice involves serving as a medical review panel chairman. In this capacity, he guides the parties and health care provider panelists through the medical review panel process before the Indiana Department of Insurance in accordance with the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act.

Representative Trials and Appellate Decisions

Jury Trials:
  • Desmond v. Applegarth Dermatology, Porter Superior Court (2007). (Defense counsel in employment benefits case – Defense Verdict)
  • Wadley v. Okalocha, Lake Superior Court (2005). (Defense Counsel in medical malpractice case – Defense Verdict)
  • Harness v. Shirley Hildebrand and Starke Memorial Hospital, Starke Circuit Court (2005). (Defense counsel in medical malpractice case – Defense Verdict)
  • Ouellet v. Norma Odar and Calumet Anesthesiologists, Lake Superior Court (2002). (Defense Counsel in general negligence case involving fear of AIDS – Defense Verdict)
  • Brammer v. Spillman, St. Joseph Superior Court (2001). (Defense Counsel in dental malpractice case – Plaintiff’s Verdict limited to amount offered at mediation.)
  • Foster v. St. Anthony Medical Center, Lake Superior Court (1996). (Defense Counsel in food poisoning case – Directed Verdict for Defendant)
  • Johnson v. Wiseway, Newton Superior Court (1994).(Defense Counsel in slip and fall case – Defense Verdict)
  • Beauprey v. Porte, Porter Superior Court (1998). (Co-Defense Counsel in medical malpractice case – Judgment Notwithstanding Verdict for Defendants)
  • Felton v. Harrington, Porter Superior Court (1993). (Defense Counsel in auto accident case – Defense Verdict)
  • Brown v. Spartus Corporation, Newton Superior Court (1992).(Co-Plaintiffs’ Counsel in products liability subrogation case – Plaintiffs’ Verdict)
  • Tramm v. Porter Memorial Hospital, U.S. District Court, N.D. Ind. (1990). (Co-Defense Counsel in constitutional violation case – Verdict was 20% of plaintiff’s demand)
  • Carlin v. Dillabaugh, Lake Circuit Court (1990). (Co-Plaintiffs’ Counsel in house destruction case – Plaintiffs’ Verdict)
  • Area Interstate Trucking v. O’Kelly, Newton Superior Court (1990). (Co-Plaintiff’s Counsel in trucking accident case – Plaintiff’s Verdict)
  • Leverence v. Nunn, U.S. District Court, N.D. Ind. (1988).(Co-Defense Counsel in trucking accident case – Defense Verdict)
  • U.S.A v. Cyprion, U.S. District Court, N.D. Ind. (1986). (Co-counsel for the United States of America in criminal prosecution – Conviction of defendant)
Appellate Decisions:
  • Simpson v. Franciscan Alliance, 827 F.3d 656 (7th Cir. 2016) ) – Affirming summary judgment for employer in alleged race, gender, age and disability discrimination case.
  • Hill v. Sisters of St. James Hospital and Health Centers, 2013 WL 593954 (N.D. Ill. 2013) – Summary judgment for employer in alleged race discrimination and FMLA retaliation case.
  • King v. Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, 2012 WL 165809 (N.D. Ill. 2012) – Summary judgment for employer in alleged race discrimination and retaliation case.
  • Syfu v. Quinn, 826 N.E.2d 699 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005) – Reversed and remanded with instructions to enter summary judgment for client in medical malpractice case based on failure of plaintiff to produce expert testimony to refute unanimous panel opinion.
  • Levy v. Newell, 822 N.E.2d 234 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005) – Reversed and remanded with instructions to enter summary judgment for client in medical malpractice case based on statute of limitations defense. (Co-Appellee’s Counsel was Partner, Michelle P. Burchett)
  • Stahl v. St. Anthony Medical Center, 2004 WL 1445937 (7th Cir. 2004) ) – Affirming summary judgment for employer in alleged gender discrimination case.
  • Christian v. St. Anthony’s Medical Center, 117 F.3d 1051 (7th Cir. 1997); cert denied 118 S. Ct. 1304 (1998) – Affirming summary judgment for employer in alleged disability discrimination case.
  • Lavery v. Southlake Center for Mental Health, 566 N.E. 2d 1055 (Ind. Ct. App. 1991) – Affirming summary judgment for employer in alleged wrongful discharge case.

Publications and Presentations:

Publication Title Date
National Business Institute Human Resource Law From Start to Finish – Contributing Author 2020
National Business Institute Indiana Mediation: Start to Finish – Contributing Author 2019
Valparaiso University Law Review There is More to Fear than Fear Itself. The National Labor Relations Board’s Attack on Purposeful Work Rules Must Be Stopped 2018
National Business Institute Human Resources Law Bootcamp – Contributing Author 2018
Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly Monitoring Social Media Use 2012
Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act 2011
Professional Education Systems, Inc. Indiana Evidence Workshop – Contributing Author 2008
National Business Institute Advanced Discovery for the Litigation Paralegal in Indiana 2000

Presentations:

Title Conference Date
Human Resource Law From Start to Finish Human Resource Law From Start to Finish 2020
Mediation Participation and Ethics Indiana Mediation: Start to Finish 2019
Mediation Procedures and Ethics Lake County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Seminar 2019
Mediation of Employment Law Cases Lake County Bar Association Employment Law Section Seminar 2019
The ADA and FMLA Legal Update Lake County Bar Association Employment Law Section Seminar 2019
Employment Law for Small Companies Lake County Bar Association Employment Law Section Seminar 2019
Mediation Procedures and Ethics Lake County Bar Association Applied Professionalism Seminar 2018
The Fundamentals of Employment Law for Attorneys Who Do Not Practice Employment Law Lake County Bar Association Employment Section Seminar 2018
Family Medical Leave and Americans with Disabilities Act Explained, Discussed and Unraveled Lake County Bar Association Employment Section Seminar 2018
Employment Law Issues in a Law Firm Hardball Litigators Seminar 2018
Employee Handbook Do’s and Don’ts Human Resources Law Bootcamp 2018
Social Media Policies for Employers Human Resources Law Bootcamp 2018
Business, Labor, and Employment Laws for Medical Practices O’Neill McFadden and Willett Seminar for Firm Clients 2018
Management of Employee Social Media Activity Construction Advancement Foundation Seminar 2018
The EEOC and ADA in a Law Firm Setting The Business of Law 2017
Mediating Employment Law Cases Indiana Continuing Legal Education Seminar 2016
Mediating Employment Law Cases Human Resources Law From Start to Finish 2015
Employer Discipline of Employees for Social Media Activity Employment and Labor Law Section Meeting 2015
The Americans with Disabilities Act – A Historical Perspective Indiana Civil Rights Comm. Disability Law 101 2015
Medical Malpractice Litigation From the Perspective of the Panel Chair Lake County Bar Assoc. Hardball Litigator Seminar 2014
How to Stay out of Hot Water Lakeshore Public Media Management Training 2013
How to Stay out of Hot Water Indiana Continuing Legal Education Seminar 2013
Sexual Harassment, A Historical Perspective Indiana Continuing Legal Education Seminar 2013
How to Stay out of Hot Water Franciscan Alliance Management Training 2013
Indiana Unemployment Benefits Construction Advancement Foundation Training 2011
Indiana Unemployment Benefits NWI SHRM Human Resources Update 2011
Indiana Mechanics Liens Plumbing and Piping Contractors of Northern Indiana Training 2010
Indiana Evidence Indiana Evidence Workshop 1998-2008
Warranties of Habitability in Indiana Legal Update for Construction Professionals 2006
Avoiding Sexual Harassment Claims in the Workplace Continuing Medical Education Seminar 2003
Litigation for Indiana Paralegals Continuing Paralegal Education 2000

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