Tried. And True.

Jon M. Pinnick

Principal Partner

Practice Areas

• Medical Malpractice
• Health Care
• Medical Licensing Board
• Litigation

Education

• Indiana University School of Law (J.D., 1990)
• Hanover College (B.A.S. Economics, Presidential Scholar, Academic and Athletic All-American, and Member of the Mortar Board Honor Society, 1987)

For more than nineteen years, Mr. Pinnick has been focusing his expertise in the defense of physicians, dentists, osteopaths and podiatrists across the State of Indiana. Mr. Pinnick has taken numerous medical malpractice trials to jury verdict as a first chair. In addition, he has presented briefs to and argued cases at the Indiana Court of Appeals and Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. Mr. Pinnick is licensed to practice in Indiana and before the Northern and Southern Federal District Courts as well as the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago and is a member of the Defense Research Institute and the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana. Mr. Pinnick regularly gives presentations to healthcare providers on medical/legal related issues, and he regularly serves as a speaker to attorneys in continuing legal education seminars.

Recent/Selected Cases to Jury Trial Verdict, Summary Judgments, Appellate Court Cases, Significant Dismissals

Recent Jury Trial Verdicts

1. Mitchell v. Geier, M.D., (Grant Superior Court). Defended Urologist in alleged medical malpractice case involving performance of bladder suspension procedure. Despite 3-0 loss at Medical Review Panel, received Defense Verdict after four (4) day jury trial.
2. Cook v. Galloway, M.D., (Hamilton Superior Court). Defended Plastic Surgeon in alleged medical malpractice case involving breast augmentation and mastopexy. Despite 3-0 loss at Medical Review Panel, with the aid of four independent experts (infectious disease surgical expert, Rhumatologist, and two plastic surgeons) received Defense Verdict after four (4) day jury trial.
3. Burns v. Zollman, M.D., (Marion Superior Court). Defended Plastic Surgeon in alleged medical malpractice case involving removal of breast implants and breast reconstructive surgery. With favorable panel doctors and independent experts (infectious disease and plastic surgeon), received defense verdict after seven (7) day jury trial.
4. Neeley v. Ganser, M.D., (Marion Superior Court). Defended public health physician in alleged medical malpractice case involving needle stick with fear of AIDS/HIV and Hepatitis. Compromise Verdict entered by the jury after three (3) day jury trial.
5. Harris v. Zollman, M.D., (Marion Superior Court). Defended plastic surgeon in alleged medical malpractice case involving abdominoplasty and liposuction. Despite seemingly unfavorable Medical Review Panel, received Judgment on the Evidence at the close of plaintiff’s case in chief.
6. Didot v. Lupton, M.D., (Marion Superior Court). Defended Obstetrician/Gynelocologist in alleged medical malpractice case involving the stillbirth of one the plaintiff’s twins. Plaintiffs claimed a cesarean section should have been performed sooner and if it had been the twin would have been born healthy. Despite a loss at the Medical Review Panel, with assistance from National Maternal Fetal Medicine expert, received a Defense Verdict after four (4) day jury trial.
7. Haussin v. Moody, M.D., (Tippecanoe Circuit Court). Defended Emergency Department Physician in alleged medical malpractice case involving alleged failure to diagnose Acute Coronary Syndrome and/or a Myocardial Infarction. With favorable panel opinion and two independent experts (Cardiologist and Emergency Department physician), received Defense Verdict after seven (7) day jury trial.
8. Clidinst v. Jackson, M.D., (Marion Superior Court). Defended Orthopedic Surgeon in alleged medical malpractice case involving ankle surgery and purported cause of polyneuropathy. With favorable panel (two orthopods and one neurologist), received Defense Verdict after four (4) day jury trial.
9. Choate v. Cornett, M.D., (Johnson Superior Court). Defended Internal Medicine specialist in alleged medical malpractice case involving the death of a middle-aged gentlemen who allegedly sufference a biphasic allergic reaction to a medication. Despite an unfavorable opinion from a medical review panel and the testimony of these three physicians against us at trial, received a Defense Verdict after four (4) day jury trial. Called two independent experts---an Internal Medicine Specialist from NorthWest Indiana and a Toxicologist/Emergency Department Specialist from Indianapolist—as defense experts.

Summary Judgments

1. Hunger v. Donahue, M.D., (Marion Superior Court). Alleged medical malpractice in failing to diagnose colon cancer. Summary Judgment entered in Dr. Donahue’s favor.
2. Wyatt v. Tandy, M.D., (Marion Superior Court). Alleged psychiatric malpractice regarding involuntary admission. Summary Judgment entered in Dr. Tandy’s favor.
3. Butler v. Chua, M.D., (Tippecanoe Superior Court). Alleged medical malpractice in neurosurgery case. Summary Judgment entered in Dr. Chua’s favor.

Appellate Court Cases

1. Burkett v. Pulos, DDS, (Johnson Superior Court and Indiana Court of Appeals). Case involved alleged dental malpractice. Summary Judgment entered in favor of Dr. Pulos. Argued case before the Indiana Court of Appeals, with the Appellate Court affirming summary judgment for Dr. Pulos.
2. Cobb v. McIntosh, M.D., (Johnson Superior Court and Indiana Court of Appeals). Case involved alleged orthopedic malpractice in performance of foot surgery. Summary Judgment entered in favor of Dr. McIntosh. Argued case before the Indiana Court of Appeals, with the Appellate Court affirming summary judgment in favor of Dr. McIntosh.
3. Phelps v. Hale, M.D., (Marion Superior Court and Indiana Court of Appeals). Case involved alleged medical malpractice during performance of significant GYN procedures. Favorable panel opinion. Trial Court (Judge Hanley) denied motion for summary judgment despite the fact that the plaintiff failed to produce expert testimony in opposition to the unanimous panel opinion. The Indiana Court of Appeals REVERSED the trial court and ordered Summary Judgment in favor of Dr. Hale.

Dismissals

1. Walden v. Brodell, M.D., (Tippecanoe Superior Court). Defended two Cardiologist through favorable Medical Review Panel and to the eve jury trial. Plaintiff dismissed doctors less than a week prior to jury trial.
2. Slaughterbeck v. Richmond, M.D., (Tippecanoe Superior Court). Defended family practitioner in case involving alleged failure to diagnose prostate cancer. Despite favorable medical review panel, the plaintiff proceeded in state court. Court dismissed claim of the plaintiff one week prior to start of jury trial.
3. Pownell v. Kochert, M.D., et al., (Tippecanoe Superior Court). Defended to Pain Management Doctors in alleged spinal nerve damage. Despite unfavorable medical review panel, obtained a Court Dismissal of claim prior to jury trial.
4. Koivuniemi v. Kleinman, M.D., (IDOI-Medical Review Panel). Alleged Hand Surgery malpractice. Obtained Dismissal shortly after case filed.