Marian C. Drenth

Partner

Marian Drenth is an experienced trial attorney with more than 29 years of experience. She concentrates her practice in civil litigation with an emphasis on health care litigation and professional liability defense. Ms. Drenth’s practice also includes defense of general liability matters. She holds an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability. Ms. Drenth has successfully defended clients in over thirty (30) jury trials, many as first chair, in matters involving general negligence and medical malpractice claims. These matters include successfully defending individuals, physicians, hospitals and health care providers in a variety of cases. Through her experience, Ms. Drenth can offer her clients a well-rounded defense that includes not only thorough trial preparation, but also preventative counseling. Ms. Drenth speaks at in-house seminars for health care providers including hospitals, regarding preventative tools to assist with risk management. In addition to her health law practice, Ms. Drenth represents professionals in a variety of actions including legal malpractice. Ms. Drenth has been recognized each year as an Indiana Super Lawyer in the area of professional liability, since 2019.
Ms. Drenth is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. The American Bar Foundation is an organization of lawyers, judges, law faculty and legal scholars who have been elected by their peers to become members of The Fellows because of their outstanding achievements in the legal profession. Membership in The Fellows is limited to one third of one percent of the lawyers in America.

Marian Drenth has also been nominated and accepted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and the Indiana Chapter of ABOTA. ABOTA is a prestigious invitation-only group that dedicates itself to the preservation and promotion of the Seventh Amendment, which guarantees the right to civil jury trials. Ms. Drenth has also been selected as a Fellow with Litigation Counsel of America (“LCA”). LCA is an invitation only honorary society for trial lawyers, representing less than one-half of one percent of American Lawyers.

Ms. Drenth is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, the Lake County Bar Association, and Defense Trial counsel of Indiana (DTCI). Ms. Drenth currently serves as the Treasurer for DTCI and as a liaison for the Healthcare Law Section. Before serving as an officer for DTCI, she served on the Board of Directors. She also served as a board member of Porter County Inns of Court from 2006 – 2010 and was president of the Porter County Inns of Court from June 2009 – June 2010. During her term on the board, the Porter County Inns of Court was awarded the 2009 Circle of Excellence Distinction from the American Inns of Court, an honor awarded to only a select few.

Representative Trials and Appellate Decisions

Throughout her career, Marian has tried over 30 jury trials, most resulting in verdicts in favor of her client.

Since joining OMW, Ms. Drenth has tried the following cases to verdict:

Chapman v. Ahuja, May 15 – May 26, 2023, Allen County Superior Court, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Turner v. McKeen, September 20 – October 1, 2021, Monroe County Circuit Court, Bloomington, Indiana. Defense verdict.

Robert Doll, III, et al. v. Porter Memorial Hospital, et al., February 11 – February 19, 2019, Porter Superior Court, Valparaiso, Indiana. Defense verdict.

McCammon v. McGlothan, February 2 – February 5, 2016, Hamilton County Circuit Court, Noblesville, Indiana. Defense verdict.

Dallas v. Ylagan, September 24 – September 28, 2012. Porter Circuit Court, Valparaiso, Indiana. Defense verdict.

Appellate Decisions:

Gates v. O’Connor, 111 N.E.3d 215 (Ind. App. 2018), affirming Trial Court’s granting of Motion for Summary Judgment on behalf of defendants, transfer to Indiana Supreme Court denied.

Trevino v. Comprehensive Care, Indiana Court of Appeals, Cause #45A05-1603-CT-683, affirming Trial Court’s granting of motion to dismiss on behalf of defendants, transfer to Indiana Supreme Court denied 2016.

Robert Doll, III, et al. v. Porter Memorial Hospital, et al., Cause #19A-CT-00663, affirming jury verdict on behalf of defendants.

Publications and Presentations

Ms. Drenth has authored:

“The Legal Malpractice Action – The Labyrinth of a Case-Within-A-Case” published in The Indiana Lawyer, Volume 28, No. 18; November 1-14, 2017.

“Protection of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Records” published in The Indiana Lawyer, Volume 23, No. 7, June 8-21, 2012.

Ms. Drenth has given multiple presentations to healthcare clients on risk management. In addition, she has given the following presentations:

Presented “Analysis of the Tripartite Relationship” and served as panelist in discussion: Trends in the Healthcare Insurance Industry, Impact on Indiana Medical Malpractice Act, Tort Reform, Registered Agent Issues and the Tripartite Relationship. Defense Trial Counsel Seminar, November 15-16, 2018.

“Effective Witness Preparation,” ACH Panel Counsel Meeting at DRI Medical Liability and Health Care Law Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada, March 2, 2017.

NBI Seminar: “Human Resources Law: What You Need to Know Now,” Section “Is Your Employee Handbook Up to Date?” Essential Components and Sample Policies for Today’s Workplace,” December, 2013.

DTCI conference: “Effective Direct Examination Techniques for Presentation of Expert Witness,” November 2012.

“Opening Statement Strategies,” DTCI 18th Annual Conference and Meeting, French Lick, Indiana, November 17, 2011.

“Practical Applications of the Stanley v. Walker Opinion,” DTCI 17th Annual Conference and Meeting, Michigan City, Indiana, November 18, 2010.

Professional Background

Ms. Drenth joined O’Neill McFadden & Willett LLP as a Partner in February 2012 and became a Capital Partner in 2017. Before joining O’Neill McFadden & Willett LLP, Marian worked as an associate with Johnson & Bell, Ltd.’s Indiana office from December 2008 through February 2012. Ms. Drenth also gained invaluable litigation experience as an associate and partner at Spangler, Jennings & Dougherty, P.C. from October 2000 through November 2008. Ms. Drenth’s professional experience includes working as a managing associate with Daniel G. Suber & Associates from 1998 through October 2000 and as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Porter County Prosecutor’s Office from 1995 through 1998.

Attorney Profile