Lafayette, IN

Nicholas C. Deets

Nicholas C. Deets is a nationally recognized trial attorney and Partner at Hovde Dassow & Deets, specializing in personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and product liability litigation. He has taken over 80 jury trials to verdict and argued numerous high-profile cases before state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a past President of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Indiana Chapter, and has received multiple 'Lawyer of the Year' awards from Best Lawyers® and consistent recognition from Super Lawyers, including Top 10 and Top 50 Indiana Super Lawyers.

Frederick R. (Rick) Hovde

Frederick R. (Rick) Hovde is a founder of Hovde Dassow and Deets LLC, focusing on medical negligence, car and truck accidents, construction site accidents, and injuries from dangerous consumer products. He has tried over 110 cases to a jury verdict and obtained numerous significant verdicts and settlements. He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2003 and recognized as an Indiana Super Lawyer since 2004. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, American College of Trial Lawyers, Indiana College of Trial Lawyers, and Litigation Counsel of America. He served as President of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association from 2002-2003 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the ITLA in 2019.

Robert T. Dassow

Robert T. Dassow was admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1990. He practices in federal and state courts across the country, including the United States Court of Federal Claims. He is a partner at Hovde Dassow + Deets, specializing in complex defective product, personal injury, and wrongful death cases. He has been recognized multiple times as Best Lawyers in America, Top 100 Plaintiff’s Lawyer, Top 25 Mass Tort Lawyers, and a Super Lawyer in Mass Torts and Class Actions. He was part of the trial team that secured a $4.69 billion verdict against Johnson & Johnson and has obtained significant settlements and judgments in other mass tort and personal injury cases.

F. Boyd Hovde

F. Boyd Hovde was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1959 and to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1977. He is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Michigan School of Law. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the Indiana College of Trial Lawyers. He served on the Indiana Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness and the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure. He was president of the Indianapolis Bar Association in 1979 and president of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association from 1976-1977, where he is also a lifetime Director.

Jeffrey A. Cooke

Jeffrey A. Cooke is a founding member of Cooke Law Firm, with over 50 years of experience in personal injury law. He is a Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and received the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. He is recognized as an Indiana Super Lawyer and is Martindale Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated.

Tom Blackburn

Blackburn Romey founding partner Tom Blackburn graduated with honors receiving a degree from Indiana University at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He was awarded cum laude status in 1977 when he graduated. He is currently admitted to practice law at the United States Courts of Appeals Seventh Circuit, the Supreme Court of the United States of America, the U.S. District Courts in Northern and Southern districts of Indiana in addition to all state courts in Indiana. Since 1977, he has been active in practicing law and currently serves as a member of the Indiana State Bar Association on the Ethics and Advertising Committees, the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, as a board member at the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, and as an appointed member of the Executive Committee for the State of Indiana for the National Trial Lawyers Association. The National Trial Lawyers Association has named Tom as one of the Top 100 trial lawyers across Indiana. In addition, he has been named an Indiana Super Lawyer and was also awarded the distinction of being a top lawyer for personal injury and wrongful death in Fort Wayne by Professional Research Services. From Martindale-Hubbell, he has received the AV preeminent certification. Furthermore, he has received distinction as a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-million Dollar Advocates Forum. Tom was named a Top Lawyer by Ft. Wayne and Indianapolis Monthly Magazines and received the “2018 Ten Best Personal Injury Attorneys” designation from the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys. The certification from Martindale-Hubbell is achieved by fewer than 5% of all lawyers. Furthermore, he serves as a lifetime charter member of the Best Attorneys of America under RUE ratings. Previously, Tom served as a law firm partner, general practitioner and deputy prosecuting attorney. While working as a partner in a law firm, he focused his practice on insurance defense law. Since 1985, his practice has been exclusively limited to personal injury and wrongful death law.

Michael J. Stapleton

Michael (“Mike”) Stapleton’s practice is limited to personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and insurance law. He is honored to be annually listed in “Best Lawyers in America” for personal injury litigation, and as an Indiana “Super Lawyer” in Indianapolis Monthly Magazine. Mike was voted “Trial Lawyer of the Year” for 2016 by the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association. He is a fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and American College of Trial Lawyers, having served as Indiana state chairman in 2007-08. Mike serves on the board of directors of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association and in the Indiana Trial Lawyers College of Fellows. He is also a registered mediator for civil disputes. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, making furniture, reading, exercising, and spending time with his grandkids.