J. Blake Hike

Blake represents clients in insurance defense and commercial litigation disputes. His commercial litigation clients range from small, closely held businesses to Fortune 500 companies. He represents businesses in all matters of complex litigation, including commercial, contract and employment discrimination lawsuits and disputes.

Blake’s insurance litigation practice includes personal injury defense litigation, insurance coverage disputes and bad faith defense litigation. He regularly defends cases involving catastrophic damages caused by all types of casualty risks, including premises liability, municipal liability, products liability, fires and transportation and construction losses.

Areas of Practice

Insurance Defense
Commercial Litigation

Education

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis, Indiana
- J.D.
- Honors: Health Law Concentration
- Law Review: Indiana Health Law Review, Executive Production Editor
Manchester University
- B.S.

Professional Associations and Memberships

Manchester University President’s Leadership Council, member; American Inns of Court, member.

Representative Cases

South Bend Community School Corporation, et al. v. Cook, et al., St. Joseph Superior Court: Blake obtained a defense verdict in a jury trial involving a three vehicle auto accident.
Officescape, Inc. v. The Mainz Group, LLC, Allen Circuit Court: Blake obtained a defense verdict and a judgment on a counterclaim after a bench trial in action involving breaching a commercial contract.
Omnisource, Inc. v. Three Rivers Metal Recycling Inc., Allen Circuit Court: Blake obtained a summary judgment and an order denying the request for preliminary injunction in a non-compete and trade secrets case.
Anderson v. Wal-Mart, et al., Elkhart Superior Court: Blake obtained a summary judgment for the lack of duty owed in a premises liability action.
Zalas v. Wal-Mart, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division: Blake obtained a summary judgment for the lack of actual or constructive notice of an alleged hazard in premises liability action.
Pope v. Wal-Mart, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, Fort Wayne Division: Blake secured a voluntary dismissal in a premises liability action following the plaintiff’s deposition.
Klooze v. Steuben Lakes Regional Waste District, Steuben Superior Court: Blake obtained a summary judgment for failure to comply with a notice provision of the Indiana Tort Claims Act.

Publications and Speaking

Contributing Author, Cross-Examination: The Lawyer’s Time to Shine, 2009 Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum.
Note, An Athlete’s Right to Privacy Regarding Sport-Related Injuries: HIPAA and the Creation of the Mysterious Injury, 6 IND. HEALTH L. REV. 47 (2009).

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