Scott Cockrum has an active litigation practice focused primarily in the area of professional liability defense with particular emphasis on medical malpractice defense for physicians, hospitals and other health care providers. He also handles legal malpractice matters. In addition to his professional liability practice, Mr. Cockrum also handles insurance coverage litigation, products liability litigation, complex general tort liability matters, labor and employment law and ERISA litigation.

Mr. Cockrum’s clients include Medical Protective Company and Hudson Insurance, as well as a local hospital/surgery center and a group of neurosurgeons.

In March 2006, Mr. Cockrum first-chaired a medical malpractice jury trial to verdict: Estate of Donald Custer et al v. Richard Wolfe, D.O., Cause No.:46D03-0001-CT-00052, in LaPorte County, Indiana. Jury verdict for plaintiff for less than estate's claimed medical expenses.

Mr. Cockrum also has a strong appellate practice, having handled more than 25 appeals. In August 2005 he argued an appeal before the Indiana Court of Appeals in Brant v. Krilich, 45A03-0411-CV-514, an appeal regarding the seizure of bank accounts in a multi-million dollar judgment collection action. Mr. Cockrum’s reported appellate cases include:

• Rood v. Saber, 844 N.E.2d 502 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006)
• Brant v. Krilich, 835 N.E.2d 582 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005)
• McGarrity v. BerlinMetals, 744 N.E.2d 71 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002)
• Loomis v. Ameritech Corp., 764 N.E.2d 658 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002)
• Gallant Ins. Co. v. Oswalt, 762 N.E.2d 1254 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002)
• Palmer & Sons Paving v. Northern IndianaPublic Service Co., 758 N.E.2d 550 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001)
• In Re: Estate of Meyer, 747 N.E.2d 1159 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001)

In addition, Mr. Cockrum handled the following appeals with unpublished opinions: 

• Foot Surgery Associates v. Aguirre (Ind. Ct. App. 2001)
• Mintz v. CGLIC (Ind. Ct. App. 2005)
• American Country Insurance Company v. Ndugire (Ind. Ct. App. 2004).

Mr. Cockrum joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in April 2003. Previously he was, for five years, an associate at Eichhorn & Eichhorn in Hammond, Indiana.

He is an adjunct professor in the Paralegal Program at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Indiana. 

Mr. Cockrum is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association.