Scott Cockrum has an active litigation practice focused primarily in the area of insurance coverage litigation, including automobile, property, construction loss and bad faith claims, in addition to products liability litigation, medical device litigation and complex general tort liability matters. Mr. Cockrum also handles professional liability defense matters for a variety of professionals, including insurance agents and brokers, as well as medical malpractice defense for physicians, dentists, hospitals and other health care providers. Mr. Cockrum’s practice also encompasses legal malpractice matters, mortgage and consumer financial actions and contractual liability and indemnity claims. In May 2010, Mr. Cockrum defended an oncologist in a claim involving the death of a 29-year-old mother of two related to a complication of chemotherapy in Lake Superior Court, Lake County, Indiana. LaDere v. Drasga, Cause No.: 45D10-0901-CT-13. After a five-day trial, Mr. Cockrum obtained a defense verdict for his client, while plaintiff obtained a $5 million verdict against three co-defendants.

In 2007, Mr. Cockrum obtained a defense verdict in a bench trial involving a plastic surgeon.

In March 2006, he 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 2009 he appeared before Indiana’s Supreme Court. 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:

• Breeden v. Hoffmeister-Repp, 2010 WL 4925629 (Ind. App. 2010)
• Estate of Mintz v. CGLIC, 905 N.E.2d 994 (Ind. 2009)
• Surfware, Inc. v. Allied Specialty Precision, 876 N.E.2d 1156 (Ind. App. 2007)
• 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. Berlin Metals, 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 Indiana Public 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)

Mr. Cockrum joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in April 2003 and became a partner in 2006. Previously he was, for five years, an associate at Eichhorn & Eichhorn in Hammond, Indiana.

He served for five years as 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.