Overview
Trent practices in Reminger Co., LPA's Indianapolis office, and maintains a busy and diverse practice focusing on civil defense litigation. He represents physicians, dentists, chiropractors, and attorneys in professional liability claims matters. Having tried multiple jury trials, Trent has been responsible for civil cases from inception through conclusion, including appeals.
Trent counsels clients on a variety of legal issues including labor and employment, insurance coverage, contract creation and negotiation, worker's compensation, risk management, and retail and hospitality liability.
Honors & Recognitions
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
Recognized as a Rising Star and as a Super Lawyer by Indiana Super Lawyers Magazine
Rated BV Distinguished® by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
Community & Professional
Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana
-Member
Indiana Society for Healthcare Risk Management
-Former Member, Board of Directors
Child Advocates, Inc. - CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate)
-Volunteer for children in CHINS (Child in Need of Services) cases
Results
- Sep 6, 2023, Motion to Dismiss GrantedIndiana Court of Appeals
Obtained summary judgment and appellate win for a physician and surgical group. The physician was accused of negligently reporting elder abuse. Indiana has a statute that creates immunity for such actions in certain circumstances. There is very little case law to explain the scope and exceptions to the immunity. The Trial Court agreed that immunity applied. The plaintiff appealed and the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed.
- Aug 23, 2023, Defense VerdictMarion Superior Court
Obtained defense verdict in favor of chiropractors in negligence case. The plaintiff visited our chiropractor clients seeking treatment for a constant, severe headache, as well as lower back and ankle pain. After standard chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture, the clients suggested trying a whole-body cryotherapy session. The plaintiff agreed, but ended the session after two minutes, citing 10/10 pain and signs of hypertensive crisis. The plaintiff contended that her blood pressure was never checked prior to the cryotherapy, and therefore she should never been allowed to use the therapy. Further, Plaintiff also contended that our clients were negligent in their post-cryotherapy management. As per the plaintiff's assertions, our clients’ alleged negligence led the plaintiff to require emergency medical attention and resulted in subsequent diagnoses of hypertension and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).
The defendants denied they failed to take the blood pressure. They presented evidence of standard processes and procedures which they follow every time for every patient using cryotherapy. Furthermore, once the plaintiff had a bad experience they provided reasonable care in helping her recover, including offering her every opportunity to obtain transportation home or to a hospital. She recovered quickly and did not have PTSD.
After a three day trial, the jury returned a defense verdict on in favor of our client.
- Apr 6, 2023, Summary Judgment AffirmedIndiana Supreme Court
This matter involved a chiropractic malpractice claim relating to an allegation of negligent treatment resulting in a cervical spine fracture. The case centered on the element of causation, namely that the origin of the compression fracture, was complicated by the patient’s metastatic bone cancer. A licensed physician offered an opinion on behalf of the defense that the cancer was the cause of the fracture; in turn, Plaintiff designated a physical therapist (DPT) to provide an opinion to the contrary. However, as both the trial court and Court of Appeals determined, which opinions remain in-tact following the Supreme Court’s decision not to accept transfer, Plaintiff’s expert physical therapist was not qualified under the Rules of Evidence to offer an opinion on causation because such a complicated medical question, in addition to a question centering on subjective complaints of pain, required the expert opinion of a physician licensed to practice medicine. Because Plaintiff failed to designate a qualified medical opinion on the essential element of causation, defendant was entitled to summary judgment.
- Dec 14, 2022, Summary Judgment AffirmedIndiana Court of Appeals
Summary judgment affirmed in favor of our chiropractor client.
- Feb 14, 2022, Dismissed by PlaintiffElkhart Superior Court
Successfully defended chiropractor in a case transferred to us from another firm by our insurer client. After proving that the medical review panel’s negative opinion amounted to negligent billing and record keeping which could not create questions of fact for the jury, the plaintiff dismissed the case while our motion for summary judgment was pending and 1 month before the trial.
- Feb 4, 2020, DismissalMarion County Superior Court, Indianapolis, IN
Defense of claim alleging negligence to properly maintain sidewalks and warn plaintiff of a dangerous condition.
- Mar 1, 2019Lake County, Indiana Superior Court
The plaintiff claimed that the cardiologist failed to diagnose an acute aortic dissection resulting in her husband’s death. Following a three-week long jury trial with numerous experts, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendant cardiologist.
- Feb 27, 2018U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division
Defense of convenience store in premises liability case alleging slip and fall on ice resulting in personal injuries.
- Darlene Warlick v. Defendant Emergency Medicine Physician and Defendant Physician Practice GroupDec 2012Lake County Superior Court, Hammond, IN
Plaintiff alleged that defendant failed to diagnose and treat cauda equina syndrome, a rare neurological disease that later caused the plaintiff permanent bowel and bladder incontinence.
- David and Bonnie Sharp v. Defedant Urologist, et al.Jan 2012Porter County Superior Court, Valparaiso, IN
Plaintiffs alleged that defendant failed to give prophylactic antiobiotics prior to a cystoscopy on a patient with a history of joint replacement
- Jordan v. Defendant PulmonologistOct 2011Lake County Superior Court, Crown Point, IN
Plaintiffs alleged that defendant failed to diagnose and treat pulmonary emboli.
- Pritt v. Defendant NursesOct 2011Lake County Superior Court, Hammond, IN
Plaintiff alleged that defendants were negligent in administration of an injection thereby allegedly causing damage to the sciatic nerve.
- Hicks v. Defendant Radiologist, et al.Apr 2011, Motion for Judgment on the evidence granted in the defendant's favorLaPorte County Circuit Court, LaPorte, IN
Plaintiffs alleged that defendant failed to diagnose a congenital diaphragmatic hernia and ventricular septal defect by fetal ultrasound.
- Lewis v. Defendant Emergency Medicine Physician and Defendant Family Practice PhysicianAug 2010LaPorte County Superior Court, Michigan City, IN
Plaintiff alleged that defendants failed to diagnose and treat a stroke while the patient was in the emergency department.
- Gettleman v. Defendant SurgeonsMar 2010Porter County Superior Court, Valparaiso, IN
Plaintiffs alleged claims of medical malpractice in the performance of an appendectomy and post-surgical management.
- Chilton v. Defendant NeurosurgeonMar 2008Marion County Circuit Court, Indianapolis, IN
Plaintiffs alleged defendants failed to diagnose non-accidental trauma in an infant who sustained head fractures.
- May 2007Lake County Circuit Court, Crown Point, IN
Plaintiffs alleged defendant negligently performed a low forceps delivery resulting in brain injuries and developmental delays to the newborn child.
- Jan 2006Lake County Circuit Court, Crown Point, IN
Plaintiffs alleged defendant negligently performed a hysterectomy.
- Dec 2004Lake County Superior Court, Hammond, IN
Plaintiffs claimed defendant negligently maintained equipment at defendant’s building which allegedly malfunctioned causing injury to the plaintiff.
- May 2003Marion County Superior Court, Indianapolis, IN
Plaintiff alleged defendant incorrectly diagnosed and treated plaintiff’s partially ruptured triceps tendon.
News
News
Speaking Engagements
Insights
Publications
Reminger Reports
Practice Areas
Subrogation
Clerkships
- Judicial Externship: U.S. District Court – Southern District (Magistrate Ken Foster), Fall 2001
- Judicial Externship: Indiana Court of Appeals – The Honorable Patricia A. Riley, Spring 2001
Education
J.D., Robert H. McKinney School of Law – Indiana University at Indianapolis, 2002
-Dean's Tutorial Society
-Intramural Moot Court
B.A., Indiana University, 1999
Admissions
- State of Indiana, 2002
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 2002
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, 2002
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 2010