James P. Strenski

Cantrell-Vcard

Position:

 Partner

Main Phone:

 317.352.3500

Direct Phone:

 317.352.3503

Main Fax:

 317.352.3501

Email:

 jstrenski@csmlawfirm.com

Hometown:

 Wheaton, IL

Jim Strenski concentrates his practice in the areas of insurance bad faith, insurance coverage and third party defense of insureds. Along with his partner Dennis Cantrell, he currently represents the largest insurer in the nation in bad faith litigation in Indiana. He has served as legal counsel in numerous trials as both first and second chair, and has attended and managed countless summary judgment hearings, mediations, and arbitrations. Jim has also argued cases in front of the Indiana Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.

Jim is married and has three children. He enjoys travel, fishing, coaching his children on their sports teams, and he is a lifelong die-hard fan of the Chicago Cubs.

Legal Organizations:

Indiana State Bar Association
Indianapolis Bar Association
Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana

Board Memberships:

Hoosier Burn Camp, 2007-present

Seminars:

USLAW Insurance Track Seminar, Spring 2007, speaker on post-litigation bad faith
NBI Seminar, "Bad Faith Insurance Claims in Indiana," 2005, 2007, speaker
"How to Handle Insurance Claims in Indiana," 2004, 2006
Indiana State University Education Law Conference – "The ABC´s of School Tort Liability Law Under Indiana Law," 2004

Civic Organizations:

Georgetown University Alumni Association, 1990-present
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 1994-present
Catholic Youth Organization, 1998-present
Broad Ripple Haverford Little League, 2000-present

Publications:

"Magwerks and Post-Litigation Bad Faith Under Indiana Law: Brave New World or Same Old Song and Dance?" 2006
"Current State of Indiana Law Regarding 'Apex' Depositions," Fall 2005
"Indiana Bad Faith Law 10 Years After Erie: Some Questions Answered and Others Raised," 2004
"Indiana Statutes Protect Franchisees From Opportunistic Behavior," 2000
"Standing Up for Security: Recent Indiana Cases Limit Premises Liability For Third Party Criminal Acts," May 1996

Significant Cases:

Keown v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Company (Scott County, Indiana, 2006) - defense of insurer in coverage and bad faith action stemming from roof damage
Erie Insurance Exchange v. Kevin T. Watts (Southern District of Indiana, 2006) - representation of insurer in coverage action for violation of the federal "blast fax" statute
Sammons v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. (Southern District of Indiana, 2006) - defense of insurer in mold claim
Blumenstock v. Erie Insurance Exchange (Putnam County, Indiana, 2004) - defense of insurer in coverage and bad faith case
Achey v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Company (Northern District of Indiana, 2003) - defense of insurer in arson and bad faith case
Central Indiana Dealers v. Shell Oil Company (Southern District of Indiana, 2001) - defense of oil company in case involving fraud and antitrust violations
Schuman v. Kobets (Indiana, 1999) - representation of defendant in histoplasmosis case
Straley v. Kimberly, et al. (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1997) - representation of defendant in gas explosion case: argued case in front of Court of Appeals and Supreme Court

Former Employment:

Bingham McHale LLP, 1994-2009
Law Office of Paul W. Ferrell, 1992-1993

James P. Strenski

Practice Areas:

Education:

Georgetown University, B.S. cum laude, International Law, Relations, and Organizations, 1990

Law School:

Indiana University School of Law – Bloomington magna cum laude, 1994

Bar Admissions:

Indiana
United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana
United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana