Matthew James Elliott

Many attorneys boast about practicing "exclusively" in some narrow corner of the law.  Unlike them, I am proud to practice across many areas of civil litigation.  I have found that working in different practice areas is incredibly helpful, as it allows me to see the big picture, and to spot hidden issues that a specialist might miss.  Also, representation of both plaintiffs and defendants enables me to better understand where each side is coming from, which in turn helps me represent all my clients. 

In the end, litigation of any kind is just a means to resolve disputes, and the most important skill in dispute resolution is problem-solving.  My goal is to be as flexible, driven, and thoughtful as possible in solving the problem that each case presents.  Since no two problems are the same, there is never a cookie-cutter approach.  My central aim is to advance the client's goals, whatever they may be. 

Over the years, I have built a significant practice defending all manner of employment claims, including discrimination and retaliation claims, claims under the FMLA and ADA, and wage claims.  Many of these cases arise in the health care industry.  I have also prosecuted and defended many cases arising out of non-compete agreements, many of which involve the medical device industry.

In addition to my work in employment law, I also handle all kinds of tort cases, including dozens of cases involving wrongful death or other significant injuries.  My work in the tort area has given me a wealth of experience interpreting insurance policies, which in turn has led to many cases involving insurance coverage disputes.

I have also been fortunate to represent the largest school corporation in the State of Indiana for many years, as well as several other school districts.  This has led to many cases asserting constitutional claims or other novel questions of school law.

One of my proudest achievements is handling class and/or collective action lawsuits from early on in my career.  These cases present interesting and exciting challenges, and are often the most rewarding.

Finally, I regularly assist out-of-state lawyers as local counsel in Indiana's state and federal courts.  I am also happy to work with local lawyers on a co-counsel basis.