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  • Jeffrey S. Wrage Partner
  • 219-464-1041 phone

  • 219-464-0927 fax

mdaflogo award_NBTA_ELA The National Trial Lawyers Top 100

Jeffrey S. Wrage, Attorney/Partner, devotes 100% of his practice to litigation. As a plaintiffs’ advocate, Mr. Wrage represents individuals and families in state and federal courts in all types of personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice cases.  Jeff’s experience also includes complex civil litigation, employment litigation, and business and commercial litigation for the firm’s business, municipal, estate and conservancy district clients.  Born in Rockford, Illinois, Jeff attended Indiana University – Bloomington, graduating from the School of Business in 1991, now known as the Kelley School of Business.

With more than 38 civil jury trials to his credit, Jeff’s trial experience includes motor vehicle and semi-truck cases, medical malpractice, slip and fall, premises liability, insurance, and employment cases.  His trial results include verdicts of $3,500,000; $2,000,000; $1,500,000; $1,021,387; $750,000; and $650,000.  Before joining Blachly Tabor in June 2000, Jeff defended similar injury cases, which continues to serve him well in counseling his clients regarding what to expect in the litigation process and in preparing them to testify and ultimately reach a successful conclusion.

In 2006, due to his prior civil jury trial experience and completion of written exam, Jeff became a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, an achievement attained by less than 1% of all lawyers.  Through continued trial experience, Jeff has attained recertification every 5 years since 2006.  Mr. Wrage is also a lifetime member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a member of the Elite Lawyers of America, and recognized as an Indiana Super Lawyer in Personal Injury.  Jeff has been a presenter at a number of Continuing Legal Education programs involving personal injury skills, trial techniques, and complex personal injury issues.

Mr. Wrage previously taught Trial Practice as an adjunct professor at Valparaiso University School of Law, as well as coaching students in the Trial Advocacy Program in 2013, 2014 and 2015.  Jeff is also active within the community, having discussed legal topics at local area schools, civic gatherings, labor union meetings, Chamber of Commerce programs and at Indiana University Northwest, as well as volunteering for the Boone Grove Math Fair, Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce Reality Store.  Mr. Wrage’s speaking engagements include the “Ask Me What’s Great About America” program, the “Talk to a Lawyer for Free Day” program, and the “Why Lincoln was a Lawyer” program (all 3 programs are associated with the Indiana State Bar Association).  Jeff’s volunteer activities also include the Valparaiso Lions Club, as a youth sports coach from 2007-2008, and as a graduate of the Leadership Northwest Indiana program in 2010.  Since 2019, Jeff has also served on the Board of Directors of the Porter County Community and Aging Services, an organization which provides services to seniors, the disabled, and persons of low income.

Areas of Practice: Personal Injury; Wrongful Death; Medical Malpractice; Complex Civil Litigation including Employment Litigation; 100% of practice devoted to litigation

Professional Credentials: J.D., Valparaiso University School of Law 1994; B.S., Business Economics & Public Policy, Indiana University – Bloomington, 1991

Bar Admission: Indiana, 1994; Illinois, 1994; U.S. District Court, Northern & Southern Districts of Indiana; U.S. District Court, Northern; District of Illinois; U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit

Distinctions: Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (2006 to the present); Certified Lifetime Member, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum; Indiana Super Lawyer in Personal Injury – 2010, 2013-2022; Top 100 Trial Lawyer – National Trial Lawyers Association; Elite Lawyers of America; Top 10 Client Services 2016-17 – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys.

Membership Associations: Indiana State Bar Association; Illinois State Bar Association; Porter County Bar Association; Indiana Trial Lawyers Association (Sustaining Member 2006-present; Associate Member – Board of Directors, 2014-present); The American Association for Justice, formerly The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; National Employment Lawyers Association

Publications and Presentations: Presenter – October 1999 – Tank Truck Carriers Association St. Louis, Missouri – “What a Carrier Should Do: The First Hours after a Serious Loss”

Contributing Author – 1999/2000 – TransPoints – monthly publication of the ATA (American Trucking Association)

Author – Indiana Lawyer – 2003 – “Recent Indiana Supreme Court Decision Ignores Indiana Children”

Author – The Verdict (a publication of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association) – Spring 2006 – “The Risk of Serious Personal Injury or Death by Electrocution is a Non-Delegable Duty”

Presenter – 2006 ITLA Lifetime Achievement Seminar Indianapolis, IN – “The Risk of Serious Personal Injury or Death by Electrocution is a Non-Delegable Duty”

Author – Winter 2007 Article – “Back to Basics: Seven Steps for Litigation an Auto Crash Case with the Client” (also published in the Spring 2008 Verdict Magazine with permission)

Presenter – December 2007 – NBI Seminar Lake County, IN – “Personal Injury: Practical Tips and Applications”

Presenter – December 2008 – NBI Seminar Lake County, IN – “Personal Injury: Practical Tips and Applications”

Author – The Verdict (a publication of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association) – Spring 2010 – “Do you need to retain a vocational expert? An overview of Indiana law regarding proving damages for lost time, earnings, salary, and lost or impaired earning capacity”

Presenter – November 2011 – ICLEF Seminar Lake County, IN – “Successfully Handling Employment Matters from the Employer and Employee Perspective”

Presenter – Employment Law Seminar – Lake County, Indiana – Plaintiff’s Employment Law: Counseling Clients on a Variety of Issues’

Published Cases: Mayflower Transit, Inc. v. Davenport, 714 N.E.2d 794 (Ind. App. 1999)

Sweet v. Art Pape Transfer, Inc., 721 N.E.2d 311 (Ind. App. 1999)

Randolph v. Methodist Hospitals, Inc., 793 N.E.2d 231 (Ind. App. 2003)

East Chicago Police Dept. v. Bynum, 826 N.E.2d 22 (Ind. App. 2005)

Beta Steel v. Rust, 830 N.E.2d 62 (Ind. App. 2005)

Mayfield v. Levy Co., 833 N.E.2d 501 (Ind. App. 2005)

Hlinko v. Marlow, 864 N.E.2d 351 (Ind. App. 2007)

In re Estate of Holt, 870 N.E.2d 511 (Ind. App. 2007)

Wiley v. McShane, 875 N.E.2d 273 (Ind. App. 2007)

State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co. v. Jakupko, 881 N.E.2d 654 (Ind. 2008) (amicus curiae)

Bryan v. Lyons, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 54645 (N.D. Ind. 2010)

Manns v. Richie, 937 N.E.2d 44 (Ind. App. 2010)

Powers v. VSF Holland, Inc., 667 F3d 815 (C.A.7 Ind. 2011)

Rosich v. Sur-Townsend Pontiac, Inc., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 81418 (N.D. Ind. 2011)

Harper v. C.R. England, Inc., 687 F3d 297 (C.A. 7 Ind. 2012)

Mr. Bults, Inc. v. Orlando, 990 N.E.2d 1 (Ind. App. 2013)

Newman v. Gagan, LLC, 939 F.Supp.2d 883 (N.D. Ind. 2013)

Wiseman v. City of Michigan City, 966 F. Supp. 2d 790, (N.D. Ind. 2013)

Davis v. Lakeside Motor Co., 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92091 (N.D. Ind. 2014)

Perry v. Bath & Body Works, LLC, 993 F. Supp. 2d 883 (N.D. Ind. 2014)

Zoeller v. Sweeney, 19 N.E.3d (Ind. 2014)

Robinson v. Lake Minnehaha Owner’s Ass’s, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 110577 (N.D. Ind. 2015)

Janero v. Norfolk Southern Ry. Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36822 (N.D. Ind. 2017)

Thorne v. Member Select Ins. Co., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 3265 (7th Cir. 2018)

Personal: Born in Rockford, Illinois, Dec. 6, 1968