Carolyn Small Grant

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Biography

As a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Cari understands trial work. She has recovered statutory limits for her client in a medical malpractice action before proceeding before the full Indiana Medical Review Panel. Conversely, she has defended doctors in a medical malpractice action for the delivery of a brain damaged baby. On behalf of an insurance company client, she recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars from a third-party tortfeasor for workers compensation benefits paid to an injured employee. Cari recovered EPA cleanup cost assessed against land leased decades earlier to a trucking company. She practices in both state and federal courts.

Cari has served on the executive boards of both the Indianapolis Bar Association and the Indianapolis Bar Foundation. She was the first woman to chair the Litigation Committee of the Indianapolis Bar Association. She has served on the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission's investigatory Grievance Committee for more than 25 years. Cari co-chaired the initial Settlement Week program, sponsored by the Indianapolis Bar Association, for several years which introduced mediation to Marion County state courts and was the precursor to the Indiana Supreme Court promulgating the alternative dispute resolution rules. She also served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP).

Numerous community Boards and committees have benefited from Cari's participation including the Board of Directors for the Horticultural Society of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Broad Ripple Village Association Board of Directors, the American Lung Association of Central Indiana, and the YWCA Board of Directors.

She has argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the Indiana Court of Appeals resulting in numerous published opinions. With this experience, Cari has taught seminars for the Indianapolis Bar Association, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, and the NASP conference.

 

Education

  • Valparaiso University School at Law, Valparaiso, Indiana
    • J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
  • Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
    • B.A., Bachelor of Arts

Representative Cases

  • Shelter Ins. Co. v. Lighting & Supplies, Inc., No. 1:12-cv-01007-LJM-DML, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 161856 (S.D. Ind. Nov. 13, 2012)
  • Celina Ins. Co. v. Indianapolis Roofing & Sheet Metal Corp, 953 N.E.2d 679 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011)
  • GuideOne v. U.S. Water Systems, Inc. and Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc., 950 N.E.2d 1236 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). (Baker, J. Dissenting)
  • Nationwide Ins. Co. v. Parmer, 958 N.E.2d 802 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011)
  • Hammock v. Red Gold, Inc. and Liberty Mutual Group, 784 N.E.2d 495 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003) (oral argument)
  • Renner v. Grant, 720 N.E.2d 774 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999)
  • Zayas v. Gregg Applicances, Inc., 676 N.E.2d 365 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997)
  • Pack v. Marsh, 155 (7th Cir. 1993), 7th Circuit
  • Allison v. Washington, 593 N.E.2d 1273 (Ind. Ct. App. 1992)
  • Kohlman v. Blomberg, 574 N.E.2d 954 (Ind. Ct. App. 1991)
  • Godsey v. Bowen, 832 F.2d 443 (7th Cir. 1987)
  • Ind., Dep't of Pub. Welfare v. Bowen, 686 F. Supp. 692 (S.D. Ind. 1987)
  • Chandler v. Bowen, 646 F. Supp. 783 (S.D. Ind. 1986)
  • Dodson v. U.S. Army Fin. & Accounting Ctr., 636 F. Supp. 894 (S.D. Ind. 1986)
  • Gilpin v. Bowen, 655 F. Supp. 110 (S.D. Ind. 1986)
  • Reed v. Blinzinger, 639 F. Supp. 130 (S.D. Ind. 1986)
  • Geary v. Jeffboat, Inc., 620 F. Supp. 41 (S.D. Ind. 1985)
  • Johnson v. Heckler, 741 F.2d 948 (7th Cir. 1985)
  • Watkins v. Blinzinger, 610 F. Supp. 1443 (S.D. Ind. 1985)
  • United States of America v. U.S. Currency in the Amount of $2,857.00, 754 F.2d 208 (7th Cir. 1985)
  • United States of America v. U.S. Currency in the amount of $2,857.00, 754 F.2d 208 (7th Cir. 1985); (supplemental brief and oral argument)
  • Jeter v. Keohane, 739 F.2d 257 (7th Cir. 1984)
  • Johnson v. Heckler, 741 F.2d 948 (7th Cir. 1984) (oral argument)
  • Prater v. U.S. Parole Commission, (S.D. Ind. 1983) 575 F. Supp. 284; (7th Cir. 1985) 764 Fed. 1230 (oral argument); vacated, (1985) 775 F.2d 1157; reh. en banc, (1986)
  • Prater v. U.S. Parole Commission, 575 F. Supp. 284 (S.D. Ind. 1983); 765 F.2d 1230 (7th Cir. 1985); vacated, 775 F.2d 1157 (1985); reh. en banc, 802 F.2d 948 (1986)

Published Works

  • Gone With the Wind: Investigating and Analyzing Wind Related Losses in a Subrogation Context, Subrogator, Spring/Summer, 2018
  • The Other ‘Other Person’ Person: Reimbursement of a Workers’ compensation Lien from an Employee’s Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Settlement, Subrogator, Winter, 2017
  • More than ACV: Calculating the Value of Household Goods, Subrogator, Fall, 2012
  • Code Enforcement in Indianapolis U. of Detroit Journal of Urban Law, Vol. 60, Issue 3, Spring, 1983
  • The Code, Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Indiana, 1981

Bar Admissions

  • Indiana
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana

Professional Associations

  • Indianapolis Bar Association, Board of Managers, 1998 to 1999, Vice President, 2000
  • Indianapolis Bar Association // Indianapolis Bar Foundation, Distinguished Fellow, 1994
  • Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission, Grievance Committee, 1992-Present
  • Indianapolis Bar Association, ADR Commission (f/k/a Settlement Week Committee), Co-Chairman, 1987 to 1993
  • Indianapolis Bar Association, Litigation Section - Chairman, 1986, 1991
  • Indianapolis Museum of Art, Horticultural Society - Board of Directors, Secretary, 1996 to 2008
  • Broad Ripple Village Association, Board of Directors, 1996 to 1999
  • Indiana Secretary of State, Operations Task Force, 1995
  • YWCA USA, Inc., Board of Directors, 1993 to 1995, Secretary, 1994
  • American Lung Association of Central Indiana, Board of Directors, 1983 to 1987, President-Elect, 1986 to 1987
  • Cathedral Arts, Midsummer Festival Steering Committee, 1982 to 1985
  • Junior League of Indianapolis

Classes and Seminars Taught

  • Subrogation Law, Indiana State Bar Association - Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 12/22/2016
  • How to Short Circuit the Litigation Process, National Association of Subrogation Pracitce - Litigation Skills Conference , 03/08/2007 to 03/09/2007
  • Confidentiality of Patient Hospital Records, Medical Records Institute; MIS Training Institute, 1995 to 1996
  • Mediation and Settlement, Indianapolis Bar Association, 1988 to 1993
  • Trial Advocacy, Department of Justice, 1987 to 1987

Classes & Seminars

  • Subrogation Law, Indiana State Bar Association - Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 12/22/2016
  • How to Short Circuit the Litigation Process, National Association of Subrogation Pracitce - Litigation Skills Conference , 03/08/2007 to 03/09/2007
  • Confidentiality of Patient Hospital Records, Medical Records Institute; MIS Training Institute, 1995 to 1996
  • Mediation and Settlement, Indianapolis Bar Association, 1988 to 1993
  • Trial Advocacy, Department of Justice, 1987 to 1987

Practice Areas:

  • Litigation
  • Subrogation
  • Personal Injury
  • Business Organization
Life Fellow | Indianapolis Bar Foundation