Krieg, Jessica E.

Jack Kramer is a partner at Tauber Westland & Bennett.

I represent people who have been harmed or injured. I hope you never need my services; but if you are ever harmed because of the carelessness of another, I will work hard to represent your interests.

I am often asked, "when do I need to meet with an attorney if I am injured?" The answer is simple: Immediately. The insurance companies have teams of people whose job it is to investigate ways to minimize or eliminate your claim. There is absolutely no charge to meet with me to discuss your case. Whether it is by meeting with me or another attorney, be sure to protect your rights.

My practice predominately consists of representing people who have been harmed because of the negligence of another. I routinely am involved in car crash and semi-truck accident cases. These cases often involve rear-end collisions, failure-to-yield and driver inattention. An alarming number of crashes are caused by texting while driving. Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found those who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in some type of safety critical event as compared to those drivers who do not text while driving. Federal law bans commercial drivers from texting or using hand held phones while driving. PLEASE download, read and sign The Pledge to stop texting while driving.

A topic that is especially important to me are defective products. Each year, millions of Americans hurt or killed by defective products. I take great pride in representing people and families who have been injured by unsafe products. While my primary goal is to make sure my client is fairly compensated for their loss, I also have a keen eye on making products safer. Throughout our nation's history, civil lawsuits have been a driving force in making products safer.

Closely related to defective products are harmful drugs (prescription and over-the-counter) that can shatter the lives of people and families. Nearly all drugs have some risk of harm; and we, as a society, accept that risk because of the great benefit we all receive from pharmaceuticals. However, when drug companies know that their drug can or will cause harm and fail to inform the public and doctors of that risk, they must be held responsible for that conduct. I have recently had the honor of representing people harmed by the Fleet Phospho-Soda, Visicol and OsmoPrep, drugs which are used to prepare for a colonoscopy, but cause renal failure. After much litigation and an FDA announcement, the C.B. Fleet Company recalled its product.

We also represent children who have been seriously injured as a result of the negligence of a health care providers. These injuries sometimes occur during child birth. Unfortunately, all too often I am called upon to represent the estate of someone in a wrongful death matter.

I also represent people who have been harmed by their own insurance company. People who purchase insurance are also purchasing the right to be treated fairly when they present a claim for payment. When an insurance company wrongfully denies a claim for payment, a cause of action for bad faith insurance practices may exist. These claims arises out of uninsured or underinsured motorist claims, fire loss claims, medical payment claims or disability claims. I have handled numerous such claims on behalf of people who have been treated unfairly by the insurance industry. I have also authored several publications on this area of law, including: Insurance Bad Faith, a Compendium of State Law (Indiana portion); Insurance Bad Faith; and Discovery in Insurance Bad Faith Cases.

I endeavor to use the latest in technology to manage and present cases. For example, my clients receive the benefit of regular CaseMap reports concerning their case. When appropriate, TimeMap professional timelines are used. I also have a network of medical artists and illustrators that are used to visually explain complicated medical concepts.

In 1992, I graduated cum laude from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana with a B.S. in Economics. I received my law degree from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1995 where I graduated magna cum laude. While in law school, I was a Note Editor of the Valparaiso University Law Review and served on the Moot Court Society. I am admitted to practice in the State of Indiana, the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and the District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana. In 1998, I was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. I am also admitted to the United States District Court for the District of Colorado and have been admitted to practice on a specific case basis in other courts.

I was born in East Chicago, Indiana and graduated from Lake Central High School. Presently, I live in St. John, Indiana with my wife, two children and our Goldendoodle, Hershey. My family are avid soccer fans.