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Samuel Vazanellis
About Samuel
Biography
Areas of Practice:
Criminal Law Defense • Personal Injury • Trademark Prosecution/Litigation
Copyright Contracts • Paternity • Divorce • DWI/DUI & Traffic
Litigation Percentage:
95% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Previous Employment:
Associate Attorney at Thiros & Stracci, PC previously named Cohen & Thiros PC from 2004 until 2014
Law Clerk at Cohen & Thiros from 2002 until 2004
Merrillville Town Attorney from 2004 until 2012
Bar Admissions:
Indiana, 2004
Illinois, 2005
U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana, 2004
U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana, 2004
Education:
Valparaiso University School of Law, Valparaiso, Indiana, 2004 J.D.
Indiana University, Bloomington/Gary, Indiana, 2002 B.S.
Honors: Dean's List
Major: Chemistry
Minor: Mathematics/Physics
Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, Indiana
Honors: Dean's List
Professional Associations and Memberships:
American Bar Association, 2003 - Present
Member
Lake County Bar Association, 2004 - Present
Member
Calumet Inns of Court, 2003 - Present
Member
Indiana State Bar Association, 2004 - Present
Member
Illinois State Bar Association, 2005 - Present
Member
The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
Practice Areas
1
Practice Area
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
$ 200-300 per hour
Contingency
33%-40%
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Illinois for 20 years
State: Illinois
Acquired: 2005
Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2018
Licensed in Indiana for 21 years
State: Indiana
Acquired: 2004
Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2016
Location
Law Offices of Samuel G. Vazanellis
2546 45th Street, Highland, IN, 46322
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Samuel Vazanellis's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
1 Client Review
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Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 review | Practice Area Knowledge
Posted by anonymous | April 29, 2015 | Debt Collection
Don't hire this man
I wish i didnt have to rate him because this man sucks bad... But i didnt get that option.....Its been since 2012 and my case isn't closed yet....this man didn't do anything to help my accident case....instead he made it worse and now I will never get my bills paid...people trying to sue me and garni...
Samuel Vazanellis's Lawyer Endorsements
"I have known Sam for nearly 20 years. He is a brilliant scholar who happens to be an attorney. He handles a wide variety of cases for all kinds of clients, big and small. In addition to working in Indiana, he can also represent client's needs in Chicago. From personal injury cases to criminal defense, hiring Sam is one of the smartest decisions you can make."
"I endorse this lawyer."
Paul Stanko
Unknown lawyer
Experience
Professional misconduct
This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2018.
Suspension Until Compliance With Condition(S) issued in IL, 2018
updated on 11/29/2018A suspension until compliance with conditions reflects a determination that the lawyer has engaged in misconduct and that the misconduct warrants an interruption of the lawyer's authority to practice law during the suspension period, which is a fixed period of time identified in the Supreme Court's order and until the lawyer complies with condition(s) imposed by the Court. The lawyer is not authorized to practice law during the period of the suspension.
Indefinite Suspension issued in IN, 2016
updated on 01/17/2017Suspended indefinitely means an attorney lost his or her license to practice law for an as yet unknown period of time. The attorney will need to re-apply for admission to the Bar if he or she intends to resume practice in the future.
Suspension issued in IL, 2014
updated on 11/21/2014Suspension means an attorney lost his or her license to practice law for a specific period of time. The attorney typically returns to practicing law when the suspension expires.
Samuel’s comment:
“30 Day Suspension from 10/01/2014 to 10/30/2014 for forgetting to pay licensing fee. Once realized, fee was paid immediately.”
Honors
2014
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers
2014
Top 40 Under 40, The National Trial Lawyers
Work Experience
2014 - Present
Managing Partner, Law Offices of Samuel G. Vazanellis
2014 - Present
Judge Pro Tem, Town of Merrillville
2008 - Present
Murder felony, Lake County Public Defender's Office
2010 - 2013
Associate, Thiros & Stracci
2004 - 2009
Associate General Counsel, Cohen & Thiros
2004 - 2010
Town Attorney, Town of Merrillville
2002 - 2004
Law Clerk, Cohen & Thiros
Associations
2014 - Present
National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
2005 - Present
Illinois State Bar Association
2004 - Present
Lake County Bar Association
2004 - Present
Calumet American Inn of CourtBarrister
2004 - Present
Indiana State Bar Association
Sample of Legal Cases
State Of Indiana v. Jerode Cursey
Not Guilty
State of Indiana v. Kelvin McGill
Not Guilty
State of Indiana v. Jermaine Beck
Not Guilty
Education
2004
Valparaiso University School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
2002
Indiana University
BS - Bachelor of Science
Speaking Engagements
N/A
Experts and Forensics
Expert Witnesses
Languages
Greek