Thomas N. Spyker

Secured a dismissal in favor of a township in the Fifth District Court of Appeals. The Plaintiff was injured when they swerved off a county road, which was gravel, onto an embankment. They alleged our client was liable since an employee was operating a tractor that was in the process of grading the road. They claimed our client’s negligent positioning forced them off the road, causing injuries. Below, we secured dismissal in our client’s favor based on political subdivision immunity. The Fifth District affirmed that dismissal on two grounds. First, it held the township employee was engaged in the governmental function of grading the gravel road, which the township was statutorily duty-bound to perform. And second, the employee’s tractor was not an obstruction. As such, the township preserved its entitlement to immunity under R.C. 2744.03.

Motion for summary judgment granted in favor of trucking client. Plaintiff alleged that our client forced another driver off the road, resulting in significant injuries.

Defense of the City of Frankfort, Indiana and their police officers in a Section 1983 case, with alleged claims of unlawful stop and arrest, unlawful use of force, unlawful search, malicious prosecution, and respondeat superior liability.

Defense of police department against sexual harassment claim.

First of its kind defense of Prosecutor and Clerk of Courts for publicly making a Plaintiff’s personal driver’s license and date of birth information available. 

Defense of a police excessive force case.

Summary judgment on gender discrimination and retaliation claims upheld involving a female police officer who was terminated at the end of her training phase

Defense of police chief and captain against Fourteenth Amendment claim that the police department failed to adequately investigate the circumstances of the death of Plaintiff’s family member. 

Prosecution of commercial business dispute claim

Defense of nonprofit claim for invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Defense of damages in an admitted liability auto accident.

Defense of gender discrimination case.

Successfully overturned Magistrate’s bench trial verdict awarding Plaintiff full damages, fees, and interest during oral arguments on objections and motion for a new trial. Immediately after, successfully argued for a directed Defense verdict based on the first trial’s transcript in lieu of a second trial.