Kathleen M. Erickson

Kathleen M. Erickson

Partner

Kathleen Erickson is an experienced defense attorney with over a decade of experience. She has been named as a Rising Star by Indiana Super Lawyer®, in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Kathleen Erickson focuses her litigation practice in the areas of professional liability, including the defense of physicians, hospitals, and lawyers, as well as general liability matters involving catastrophic personal injuries. Kathleen has counseled hundreds of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers through the Medical Review Panel process and has tried multiple bench trials and jury cases to verdict. Kathleen is also a speaker at CLE and Risk Management seminars for physicians and lawyers.

Kathleen Erickson started at O’Neill McFadden & Willett as a law clerk in April of 2012. After passing the July 2012 Bar Examination, she practiced as an Associate with the Firm until December of 2018. Kathleen became a Partner in January of 2019, and remained a Partner with the Firm until she joined a regional law firm in March of 2023 to practice professional liability, commercial, liquor liability, employment law, and transportation defense. In May of 2024, Kathleen re-joined O’Neill McFadden & Willett as a Partner and continues to focus her practice on defending insureds in state and federal court, as well as representing healthcare providers before the Indiana Department of Insurance, in state court, and on appeal. She is licensed to practice law in Indiana, including the Northern and Southern District Courts.

Kathleen is a faculty member with the National Business Institute (NBI), and has given multiple presentations on trial advocacy and advanced trial/discovery skills. Kathleen Erickson can be contacted at (219) 322-0450 or by email at [email protected]

Representative Trials and Appellate Decisions

Ms. Erickson has tried multiple significant exposure jury cases to verdict. Following are representative verdicts:

• Hetep Bilal Neter-Nu v. Zainab Abbas, M.D., Morgan Mittler, Methodist Hospital, Lake Superior Court, Crown Point, Indiana, October 24- November 3, 2022. On Appeal.
• Lenore Hess vs. Yanzhang Dong, et al., Lake Superior Court, Gary, Indiana, September 12-21, 2022. Defense Verdict.
• Schimizzi v. Brooks, St. Joseph County Circuit Court, South Bend, Indiana, March 14-23, 2022. Defense Verdict.
• Barfield v. Methodist Hospital, Lake Superior Court, Crown Point, Indiana, June 16 – 19, 2014. Defense Verdict.
  Ms. Erickson’s representative appellate decisions include:
• Jody Smedley v. Indiana Spine Group, P.C., and Rick C. Sasso, M.D., and John W. Arbuckle, M.D.- memorandum decision;
• Richard L. Wallen, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Cathy L. Wallen v. Dr. Steven Hossler, M.D., and Radiologic Associates of Northwest Indiana, P.C., 130 N.E.3d 138 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019)- decision published;
• Bonnie Moryl, as Surviving Spouse and Personal Representative of Richard A. Moryl v. Carey B. Ransone, M.D., LaPorte Hospital, Dawn Forney, R.N., Wanda Wakeman, R.N. BSBA, B. Prast, R.N., and Carol Cutter, in her capacity as Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Insurance, 987 N.E.2d 1159 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013)- decision published.