Katherine S. Strawbridge

Partner

317.453.8688

Katie’s calm and reassuring demeanor encourages open and frequent communication with clients, the court, and opposing counsel, leading to better results for her clients and more efficient resolution of claims.

Practice Areas

Premises Liability

Transportation

Auto & TNC Liability

Legal Assistant

Claudia Estrada

317.237.0500

cestrada@lewiswagner.com

“I have a true passion for the strategy discussions and analytical thinking involved in the law and consider it an honor to be trusted by my clients with such important and impactful matters.”

Katie is a partner in Lewis Wagner’s transportation practice group, leveraging more than a decade of experience defending motor carriers and their drivers in wrongful death and catastrophic injury claims. She shines under pressure while leading time-sensitive and complex investigations and is dedicated to being available for 24/7 statewide emergency rapid response. She takes great pride in her ability to earn clients’ trust, and is honored to have the opportunity to assist her transportation clients in other litigated matters arising in their business, including her representation of multinational retailers in premises liability claims in both state and federal courts in Indiana.

Katie enjoys all aspects of the litigation process and routinely takes claims from pre-suit investigation through trial, when necessary. She excels at advancing persuasive arguments through motion practice, while feeling equally comfortable in the courtroom. When the opportunity and desire for early resolution presents itself, Katie has experience representing her clients in federal settlement conferences and private mediations, often securing a dismissal without the need for protracted litigation and expense.

Away from the firm, Katie is part of a two-lawyer household. She and her husband, Bryan, live in Westfield with their two children. A self-proclaimed foodie, Katie loves cooking and trying out new restaurants at every opportunity.

ALFA International
- Transportation Practice Group Steering Committee
  - Co-Chair, Regional Seminars (2023 - present)
- Women's Initiative Practice Group Steering Committee
  - Liaison to Transportation Practice Group, 2020-2022
Defense Research Institute
- Litigation Skills Steering Committee
  - Program Chair, 2024
  - Program Vice Chair, 2023
- Public Service Committee Liaison, 2015-2018
Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana
- Trial Tactics Committee – Section Chair, 2022-2023
- Trial Tactics Committee – Vice Chair, 2020-2021
Indianapolis Bar Association – Legal Lines Volunteer
Indianapolis Bar Foundation Distinguished Fellow
Indiana Chamber of Commerce – Indiana Intern of the Year, 2007
Indiana Super Lawyers – Rising Stars, 2014–2021
Indiana University Kelley School of Business - Dean’s List
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
- Order of the Barristers
- Robert H. Staton Moot Court Competition Executive Board
- Dean’s Tutorial Society Executive Board
- Benjamin F. Small Scholarship Recipient, 2010-2011
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review – Rated AV® Preeminent
Sagamore Inn of Court – Associate Member, 2016-2018
The Best Lawyers in America – Ones to Watch - Transportation Litigation, 2021-2023

“Dealing with Extraneous Unnecessary, Burdensome, Laborious, Oppressive, Troublesome, Arduous, Pointless, Onerous, Exhaustive and Downright Appalling Written Discovery,” ALFA International 2023 Transportation Practice Group Seminar, Moderator, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, April 27, 2023.
“Social Inflation’s Effect on Jury Verdicts,” ALFA International 2022 Transportation Practice Group Seminar, Speaker, Rancho Palos Verdes, California, May 5, 2022.
“Defending Traumatic Brain Injury Claims,” Defense Research Institute Litigation Skills Seminar, Speaker, Las Vegas, Nevada, February 3, 2022.
“Defending TBI Claims,” ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Virtual Seminar, Speaker, August 9, 2021.
“Depositions: Preparing, Taking & Defending,” Indianapolis Bar Association, Speaker, Indianapolis, Indiana, May 20, 2020.
“Don't Bogart that Liability - Medical Marijuana Legalization and the Transportation Industry,” ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Regional Seminar, Speaker, Nashville, Tennessee, November 6, 2019.
“The Reptile Theory in Trucking Cases,” ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Regional Seminar, Speaker, Atlanta, Georgia, August 15, 2018.
“The Mediation Process: What Happens in the Other Room?,” ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Regional Seminar, Speaker, St. Louis, Missouri, February 21, 2018.
“Beyond the Numbers: A Discussion on the Finer Points of Mediation,” Indianapolis Bar Association, Speaker, Indianapolis, July 25, 2017.
"Defending the Traumatic Brain Injury," ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Regional Seminar, Speaker, St. Louis, Missouri, February 18, 2017.
“FMCSA Crash Preventability Demonstration Program Likely to Become Permanent in August”, Lewis Wagner Newsroom, 2019.

Katie strives to achieve positive results for her clients whether through trial, settlement or motion practice. Some notable outcomes include:

Lundy v. King Real Estate, LLC, 1:20-CV-01764 (S.D. Ind. 2021)
- Obtained summary judgment and recovered attorney fees for her client, a property owner, on claims asserting negligence and negligence per se arising from an alleged dog bite on the premises.

Waldon v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2019 WL 699139 (S.D. Ind. 2019), aff'd, 943 F.3d 818 (7th Cir. Ct. of App. 2019)
- Obtained summary judgment for her client on a slip and fall claim on the basis of lack of duty. The matter was appealed by the Plaintiffs to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, who, following oral argument, affirmed the underlying judgment in all respects.

Cook v. Prime Trucking, Inc. et al. (Boone Co. Superior Ct., 2018)
- Represented her clients, a commercial carrier and its driver, in a claim which arose from allegations that that driver and other defendants were to blame for injuries sustained by the Plaintiff when a metal wheel chock dislodged during the process of sliding the trailer tandems. Following a two-day jury trial, Katie secured an outright defense verdict for her clients.

Williams v. Wal-Mart Stores East, LP, 2017 WL 6997731 (S.D. Ind. 2017)
- Prevailed on a summary judgment motion in a claim arising from a trip and fall incident on the client's premises.

Bormann v. Asplundh Tree Expert Co. et al. (LaPorte Superior Ct., 2014)
- Obtained summary judgment on trespass and negligence claims arising from an easement dispute.

Macek v. Town of Danville et al. (Hendricks Superior Ct., 2014)
- Obtained summary judgment in state court for her client, a property owner, in negligence case involving common enemy doctrine.

Hollis v. Metropolitan School Dist. Of Pike Township, 2013 WL 5656088 (S.D. Ind. 2013)
- Summary judgment secured for defendant on claims brought forth under the Indiana Crime Victim’s Relief Act.

Huntine v. Whitley County Sheriff’s Department et al. (Whitley Circuit Ct., 2013)
- Obtained summary judgment following oral argument in state court for her law enforcement clients on claims involving alleged wrongful arrest.

Gillock v. City of New Castle, 999 N.E.2d 1043 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013)
- Appeal in which the award of attorney fees against Plaintiffs in favor of her clients was on the basis that the underlying lawsuit was unreasonable and groundless.

Premises Liability

Transportation

Auto & TNC Liability

Indiana University Kelley School of Business, B.S., 2008
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, J.D., 2011
Supreme Court of Indiana, 2011
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 2019
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 2011
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, 2011

ALFA International
- Transportation Practice Group Steering Committee
  - Co-Chair, Regional Seminars (2023 - present)
- Women's Initiative Practice Group Steering Committee
  - Liaison to Transportation Practice Group, 2020-2022
Defense Research Institute
- Litigation Skills Steering Committee
  - Program Chair, 2024
  - Program Vice Chair, 2023
- Public Service Committee Liaison, 2015-2018
Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana
- Trial Tactics Committee – Section Chair, 2022-2023
- Trial Tactics Committee – Vice Chair, 2020-2021
Indianapolis Bar Association – Legal Lines Volunteer
Indianapolis Bar Foundation Distinguished Fellow
Indiana Chamber of Commerce – Indiana Intern of the Year, 2007
Indiana Super Lawyers – Rising Stars, 2014–2021
Indiana University Kelley School of Business - Dean’s List
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
- Order of the Barristers
- Robert H. Staton Moot Court Competition Executive Board
- Dean’s Tutorial Society Executive Board
- Benjamin F. Small Scholarship Recipient, 2010-2011
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review – Rated AV® Preeminent
Sagamore Inn of Court – Associate Member, 2016-2018
The Best Lawyers in America – Ones to Watch - Transportation Litigation, 2021-2023

“Dealing with Extraneous Unnecessary, Burdensome, Laborious, Oppressive, Troublesome, Arduous, Pointless, Onerous, Exhaustive and Downright Appalling Written Discovery,” ALFA International 2023 Transportation Practice Group Seminar, Moderator, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, April 27, 2023.
“Social Inflation’s Effect on Jury Verdicts,” ALFA International 2022 Transportation Practice Group Seminar, Speaker, Rancho Palos Verdes, California, May 5, 2022.
“Defending Traumatic Brain Injury Claims,” Defense Research Institute Litigation Skills Seminar, Speaker, Las Vegas, Nevada, February 3, 2022.
“Defending TBI Claims,” ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Virtual Seminar, Speaker, August 9, 2021.
“Depositions: Preparing, Taking & Defending,” Indianapolis Bar Association, Speaker, Indianapolis, Indiana, May 20, 2020.
“Don't Bogart that Liability - Medical Marijuana Legalization and the Transportation Industry,” ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Regional Seminar, Speaker, Nashville, Tennessee, November 6, 2019.
“The Reptile Theory in Trucking Cases,” ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Regional Seminar, Speaker, Atlanta, Georgia, August 15, 2018.
“The Mediation Process: What Happens in the Other Room?,” ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Regional Seminar, Speaker, St. Louis, Missouri, February 21, 2018.
“Beyond the Numbers: A Discussion on the Finer Points of Mediation,” Indianapolis Bar Association, Speaker, Indianapolis, July 25, 2017.
"Defending the Traumatic Brain Injury," ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Regional Seminar, Speaker, St. Louis, Missouri, February 18, 2017.
“FMCSA Crash Preventability Demonstration Program Likely to Become Permanent in August”, Lewis Wagner Newsroom, 2019.

Katie strives to achieve positive results for her clients whether through trial, settlement or motion practice. Some notable outcomes include:

Lundy v. King Real Estate, LLC, 1:20-CV-01764 (S.D. Ind. 2021)
- Obtained summary judgment and recovered attorney fees for her client, a property owner, on claims asserting negligence and negligence per se arising from an alleged dog bite on the premises.

Waldon v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2019 WL 699139 (S.D. Ind. 2019), aff'd, 943 F.3d 818 (7th Cir. Ct. of App. 2019)
- Obtained summary judgment for her client on a slip and fall claim on the basis of lack of duty. The matter was appealed by the Plaintiffs to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, who, following oral argument, affirmed the underlying judgment in all respects.

Cook v. Prime Trucking, Inc. et al. (Boone Co. Superior Ct., 2018)
- Represented her clients, a commercial carrier and its driver, in a claim which arose from allegations that that driver and other defendants were to blame for injuries sustained by the Plaintiff when a metal wheel chock dislodged during the process of sliding the trailer tandems. Following a two-day jury trial, Katie secured an outright defense verdict for her clients.

Williams v. Wal-Mart Stores East, LP, 2017 WL 6997731 (S.D. Ind. 2017)
- Prevailed on a summary judgment motion in a claim arising from a trip and fall incident on the client's premises.

Bormann v. Asplundh Tree Expert Co. et al. (LaPorte Superior Ct., 2014)
- Obtained summary judgment on trespass and negligence claims arising from an easement dispute.

Macek v. Town of Danville et al. (Hendricks Superior Ct., 2014)
- Obtained summary judgment in state court for her client, a property owner, in negligence case involving common enemy doctrine.

Hollis v. Metropolitan School Dist. Of Pike Township, 2013 WL 5656088 (S.D. Ind. 2013)
- Summary judgment secured for defendant on claims brought forth under the Indiana Crime Victim’s Relief Act.

Huntine v. Whitley County Sheriff’s Department et al. (Whitley Circuit Ct., 2013)
- Obtained summary judgment following oral argument in state court for her law enforcement clients on claims involving alleged wrongful arrest.

Gillock v. City of New Castle, 999 N.E.2d 1043 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013)
- Appeal in which the award of attorney fees against Plaintiffs in favor of her clients was on the basis that the underlying lawsuit was unreasonable and groundless.

Katherine S. Strawbridge

Skilled Advocacy. Practical Solutions.