| Biography | Joseph C. Chapelle is a partner in Barnes & Thornburg LLP's Indianapolis, Indiana office. He practices primarily in the Litigation Department and handles products liability and insurance coverage matters as well as general litigation. Mr. Chapelle received a B.A. in 1983 from the University of Michigan with a double major in Spanish literature and language and with honors in history. In 1986, he was awarded his J.D. cum laude by Notre Dame Law School, where he served on the Notre Dame Law Review. After graduation, Mr. Chapelle served as law clerk to the Honorable John L. Coffey, circuit judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. In 1987, Mr. Chapelle joined the U.S. Army's Judge Advocate General's Corps, fulfilling a four-year ROTC scholarship commitment. He gained litigation experience as a captain, prosecuting courts-martial, and through an appointment as a special assistant United States attorney, prosecuting civilians and military personnel in the U.S. District Court. Since joining Barnes & Thornburg LLP in 1991, he has concentrated his practice in products liability defense, commercial litigation, and insurance coverage litigation. Mr. Chapelle has represented a number of clients with substantial products liability exposure. He has handled litigation in a wide variety of jurisdictions, including Illinois, New Hampshire, Washington, Wisconsin, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia, in addition to Indiana. Mr. Chapelle also has advised clients with issues before the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The following decisions exemplify his experience during the past few years. Finchum v. Ford Motor Co., 57 F.3d 526 (7th Cir. 1995)(affirming defense verdict in product liability lawsuit); Hosler v. Caterpillar, Inc., 710 N.E.2d 193 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999)(affirming dismissal of wrongful death action); Cloverleaf Enterprises, Inc. v. Centaur Rosecroft, LLC, 815 N.E.2d 513 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004)(case of first impression involving reversal of preliminary injunction of out of state litigation); Hope Foundation, Inc. v. Edwards, No. 1:06-cv-0439-DFH-TAB, 2006 U.S.Dist. LEXIS 84244 (S.D. Ind. Apr. 12, 2006)(preliminary injunction involving alleged non-compete agreement); American Legion-Post 330 v. Heath, No. 1:06-cv-0390-DFH-TAB, 2006 U.S.Dist. LEXIS 34318 (S.D. Ind. May 24, 2006) (denial of TRO pursuant to Younger abstention doctrine). Mr. Chapelle is admitted to practice in Indiana (1989) and Illinois (1986) as well as in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2010 in the field of commercial litigation. Events 10/19/2004, Life Science and Product Liability Insurance -- Life Sciences Lunch Series 11/18/2003, How New Regulations Will Affect Your Employee Benefit Plans 09/23/2003, Risk Management Techniques to Combat the Mold Claim Epidemic 12/09/2002, Things Every Consumer Product Manufacturer, Distributor, or Retailer Needs to Know About the CPSC |