Tina M. Bell, Esq.
PartnerTina M. Bell is a former defense attorney who represented doctors, nurses, hospitals, and their insurance companies for over a decade in her early career. During that time, Tina learned the tactics used by the defense. She now represents the victims of medical negligence and uses that knowledge to the advantage of her clients. Just as there are two sides to any coin, there are two sides to a medical malpractice claim and Tina knows both sides. In 2009, she felt called to dedicate her practice to representing the victims of medical malpractice instead of the health care providers. She is deeply passionate about getting justice for her clients and, in turn, making the health care system safer and better for all citizens of Indiana.
Tina is the proud parent of two college age daughters – one at Purdue and one at SMU. Tina attends church at Itown. She and her girls have a love for working in the mission field together, both locally and abroad.
Achievements
Tina has been selected by Super Lawyers as an Indiana Super Lawyer honoree every year since 2012. She was selected by Super Lawyers as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in Indiana in 2014, 2021, and 2022 and as one of the Top 25 Female Lawyers in Indiana in 2014, 2019, 2021, and 2022.
Honors
- The National Trial Lawyers – Top 100 Lawyers 2023
- Indiana Lawyer’s Leadership in Law, Distinguished Barristers, 2022
- Indiana Super Lawyers Honoree, 2012-2018 (primary area of practice – Medical Malpractice)
- 2015-2021 National Association of Distinguished Counsel — The Nation’s Top One Percent
- Selected to Super Lawyers Top 50 Lawyers in Indiana, 2014
- Selected to Super Lawyers Top 25 Female Lawyers in Indiana, 2014 & 2019
- Northeast Indiana’s Future 40, 2008
- Young Lawyer of the Year, Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana, 2004
- Rookie of the Year, Defense Research Institute, 2002
Memberships
- Vice President/President-Elect for ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates)
- The American Association for Justice
- Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Directors
- Inducted into the College of Fellows, 2021
- Sagamore Inn of Court, Executive Committee
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Current Treasurer
- Indianapolis Bar Foundation Distinguished Fellow
- Christian Legal Society – Indiana Chapter, 2022 President
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Bar Admissions
- Indiana, 1998
Seminars/Lectures/Publications
- “Medical Malpractice Update,” Guest Lecturer, Attorney General Licensing Enforcement, 2024
- “Family Medicine and Indiana Medical Malpractice” Guest Speaker, IU Health, 2024
- “2024 Top 10 Outside the Box Tips to Help Your Case,” ITLA Lifetime Seminar Speaker, 2024
- “2023 Top 10 Outside the Box Tips to Help Your Case” (ITLA), 2023
- “Emerging issues in Indiana Medical Malpractice” (ITLA), 2022
- “Top 10 Crazy Outside the Box Ideas for 2022” (ITLA), 2022
- “Medical Malpractice Update,” Co-Chair (ICLEF), 2022
- “Top 10 Ways to be a Rockstar Paralegal,” Personal Injury for Paralegals, (ITLA), 2021
- “Tough Biblical Questions from Grieving Clients,” Christian Legal Society, 2021
- “Medical Malpractice Law as it Pertains to Nurse Practitioners,” Guest Lecturer, North Park University (2021)
- “Losing a Child – Walking Clients Through an Unimaginable Valley,” Christian Legal Society, 2021 (Co-Presented with Dr. Marci Larson)
- “Top 10 Outside the Box Tips,” Lifetime Achievement Seminar (ITLA), 2021
- “Medical Malpractice Law as it Pertains to Physician Assistants (Family Practice)” Guest Lecturer, North Park University, Chicago, 2020
- “What I Have Learned,” Sagamore Inn of Court, 2020
- Bench Bar Conference, “Jury Consulting: It’s No ‘Bull’” (ACBA), 2020
- Discovery, Trial Strategies and Cross Examination: The Tough Issues Argued, “The Admissibility of an Expert’s Personal Practice” (ICLEF), 2019
- “Help Me Kiss Less Frogs” – A Practical Guide for Medical Malpractice Paralegals, (ITLA), 2018
- Personal Injury Deskbook, (ICLEF), 2018
- “Top 10 Tips That Will Help You Become the Very Stable Genius You Were Always Meant to Be,“ Lifetime Achievement Seminar (ITLA), 2018
- “Medical Malpractice Cases in Indiana: The New Frontier,” Guest Lecturer, The Hall Center Health Law Grand Rounds Series, IU School of Medicine, 2018
- Deposition Skills Seminar, (ICLEF), 2017
- Health Law Symposium, “Medical Malpractice Cases in Indiana – The New Frontier,”(ISBA), 2017
- 2017 Hot Topics for Indiana Lawyers – Medical Malpractice (Allen County Bar Assoc., 2017)
- Planning Your First Personal Injury Case, (ICLEF, Program Chair), 2017
- “Medical Malpractice or General Liability,” The New Medical Malpractice Act (ICLEF), 2017
- Juries, American Inn of Court – Sagamore, 2017
- “Medical Malpractice Law as it Pertains to Residents (General Surgery),” Guest Lecturer, IU School of Medicine House Staff Forum, 2017
- “Thinking Outside the Box: Insights and Updates on Medical Malpractice Cases” (ITLA), 2016
- “Medical Malpractice Law as it Pertains to Residents (General Surgery)” Guest Lecturer, IU School of Medicine House Staff Forum, 2016
- “Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘N Roll…An Unacceptable Combo in the Patient/Physician Relationship,” Lifetime Achievement Seminar (ITLA), 2016
- “Personal Injury for Paralegals” (ITLA), 2016
- “Medical Malpractice Law as it Pertains to Residents (Radiology)” Guest Lecturer, IU School of Medicine House Staff Forum, 2016
- “Indiana Medical Malpractice Law Update” Guest Lecturer, IU School of Medicine House Staff Forum, 2016
- “Applied Professionalism” (ITLA), 2016
- “Indiana Medical Malpractice — Trending Issues” Guest Lecturer, IU School of Medicine House Staff Forum, 2015
- “Discovery and Trial Disputes: The Tough Issues Argued” (ICLEF), 2015
- Frankenstein – A Victim of a Case of Medical Malpractice, American Inn of Court – Sagamore, 2015
- “Indiana Judges on Indiana Evidence” (ICLEF), 2015
- “Medical Malpractice Litigation — Beginning to End” Indianapolis Inn of Court, 2015
- “Tina’s Top 10 Outside the Box Tips for Medical Malpractice in 2015 (ITLA), 2015
- “How to Identify and Eliminate Bad Medical Review Panel Members” (ITLA), 2015
- “Anatomy of Medical Malpractice Litigation in Indiana” Guest Lecturer at IU School of Law, 2015
- “Demonstrative Aids and Exhibit,” Indianapolis Inn of Court, 2014
- “Tina’s Top 10 Outside the Box Tips for Medical Malpractice in 2014” (ITLA), 2014
- Use of Demonstrative and Summary Aids and Exhibits During Trial, American Inn of Court – Sagamore (2014)
- “Will Work For Food… Creating a Firm Culture that Reduces Turnover and Improves Productivity” Lifetime Achievement Seminar (ITLA), 2013
- Devil is in the Details: Solutions for a Day in Courtroom Hell, American Inn of Court – Sagamore, 2013
- “CT v. MRI – Radiology 101 for Lawyers” (ITLA), 2012
- “Surprise, Surprise!: How to the Handle the Unexpected at Trial” (ICLEF), 2011
- Behind Enemy Lines: Conversations with Former Defense Lawyers about Life on the Other Side (ITLA), 2011
- “Excuse Me, Did You Say the Videographer is Employed by Your Firm?” Lifetime Achievement Seminar (ITLA), 2011
- “Recent Developments in Medical Malpractice Case Law” Risk Management Seminar (Grossnickle Eye Center), 2010
- Health Care Section Roundtable, Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana, 2009
- Anatomy of Medical Malpractice Litigation” Guest Lecturer at IU School of Medicine – Ft. Wayne, 2000–2009
- “Tina’s Top Ten Risk Management Concerns: A Year in Review,” Risk Management Seminar (Barrett & McNagny) 2006–2009
- “Motivation/Cultivation of Young Associates,” North Central Meeting (DRI), 2009
- “VBACs: Not Anymore!” presented to Fort Wayne OB-GYNs, 2009
- “Marketing: The Use of Social Networking” North Central Meeting (DRI), 2008
- “The Basics of Preparing the Defendant Health Care Provider for Deposition” DRI Medical Liability and Health Care Law Seminar (DRI), 2007
- “The Indiana Medical Malpractice Act: An Overview of Process, Recent Developments and Claims Handling Strategies” presented to AIG, 2007
- “Confidentiality of Medical Records” presented to Lorham, 2007
- “Saying Sorry Works: A Closer Look at Indiana’s New Apology Law” Guest Lecturer at Grand Rounds at St. Joseph Hospital, Ft. Wayne, Indiana (2006)
- Tort Case Law Update (ICLEF), 2003
- 7th Annual DTCI Conference & Annual Meeting: Battle of the Titans, DTCI), 2000
Tina Bell Featured on CBS Morning News
Tina Bell Featured on FOX 59 News
- Eureka College, B.A., 1995
- Indiana University School of Law — Indianapolis, J.D., 1998
Reported Cases
- Oaks v. Timothy Chamberlain, M.D. , 2017WL1953144 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017)
- K.D. v. Chambers, 951 N.E.2d 855 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011) transfer denied, 962 N.E.2d 654 (Ind. 2011)
- Estate of O’Neal ex rel. Newkirk v. Bethlehem Woods Nursing & Rehab. Ctr., LLC, 878 N.E.2d 303 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) decision clarified on reh’g, 887 N.E.2d 1019 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008) vacated sub nom. Newkirk v. Bethlehem Woods Nursing & Rehab. Ctr., LLC, 898 N.E.2d 299 (Ind. 2008)
- Hamilton v. Ashton, 846 N.E.2d 309 decision clarified on reh’g, 850 N.E.2d 466 (Ind.Ct. App. 2006)
- Blasko v. Menard, Inc., 831 N.E.2d 271 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005)
- GYN-OB Consultants, L.L.C. v. Schopp, 780 N.E.2d 1206 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003)
- Clark v. Sporre, 777 N.E.2d 1166 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002)
- Bloemker v. Detroit Diesel Corp., 720 N.E.2d 753 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999)
- Nw. Nat. Ins. Co. v. Mapps, 717 N.E.2d 947 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999)
- Shenefield v. Barrette, 716 N.E.2d 1 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999)
Seminars/Lectures/Publications
- “Medical Malpractice Update,” Guest Lecturer, Attorney General Licensing Enforcement, 2024
- “Family Medicine and Indiana Medical Malpractice” Guest Speaker, IU Health, 2024
- “2024 Top 10 Outside the Box Tips to Help Your Case,” ITLA Lifetime Seminar Speaker, 2024
- “2023 Top 10 Outside the Box Tips to Help Your Case” (ITLA), 2023
- “Emerging issues in Indiana Medical Malpractice” (ITLA), 2022
- “Top 10 Crazy Outside the Box Ideas for 2022” (ITLA), 2022
- “Medical Malpractice Update,” Co-Chair (ICLEF), 2022
- “Top 10 Ways to be a Rockstar Paralegal,” Personal Injury for Paralegals, (ITLA), 2021
- “Tough Biblical Questions from Grieving Clients,” Christian Legal Society, 2021
- “Medical Malpractice Law as it Pertains to Nurse Practitioners,” Guest Lecturer, North Park University (2021)
- “Losing a Child – Walking Clients Through an Unimaginable Valley,” Christian Legal Society, 2021 (Co-Presented with Dr. Marci Larson)
- “Top 10 Outside the Box Tips,” Lifetime Achievement Seminar (ITLA), 2021
- “Medical Malpractice Law as it Pertains to Physician Assistants (Family Practice)” Guest Lecturer, North Park University, Chicago, 2020
- “What I Have Learned,” Sagamore Inn of Court, 2020
- Bench Bar Conference, “Jury Consulting: It’s No ‘Bull’” (ACBA), 2020
- Discovery, Trial Strategies and Cross Examination: The Tough Issues Argued, “The Admissibility of an Expert’s Personal Practice” (ICLEF), 2019
- “Help Me Kiss Less Frogs” – A Practical Guide for Medical Malpractice Paralegals, (ITLA), 2018
- Personal Injury Deskbook, (ICLEF), 2018
- “Top 10 Tips That Will Help You Become the Very Stable Genius You Were Always Meant to Be,“ Lifetime Achievement Seminar (ITLA), 2018
- “Medical Malpractice Cases in Indiana: The New Frontier,” Guest Lecturer, The Hall Center Health Law Grand Rounds Series, IU School of Medicine, 2018
- Deposition Skills Seminar, (ICLEF), 2017
- Health Law Symposium, “Medical Malpractice Cases in Indiana – The New Frontier,” (ISBA), 2017
- 2017 Hot Topics for Indiana Lawyers – Medical Malpractice (Allen County Bar Assoc., 2017)
- Planning Your First Personal Injury Case, (ICLEF, Program Chair), 2017
- “Medical Malpractice or General Liability,” The New Medical Malpractice Act (ICLEF), 2017
- Juries, American Inn of Court – Sagamore, 2017
- “Medical Malpractice Law as it Pertains to Residents (General Surgery),” Guest Lecturer, IU School of Medicine House Staff Forum, 2017
- “Thinking Outside the Box: Insights and Updates on Medical Malpractice Cases” (ITLA), 2016
- “Medical Malpractice Law as it Pertains to Residents (General Surgery)” Guest Lecturer, IU School of Medicine House Staff Forum, 2016
- “Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘N Roll…An Unacceptable Combo in the Patient/Physician Relationship,” Lifetime Achievement Seminar (ITLA), 2016
- “Personal Injury for Paralegals” (ITLA), 2016
- “Medical Malpractice Law as it Pertains to Residents (Radiology)” Guest Lecturer, IU School of Medicine House Staff Forum, 2016
- “Indiana Medical Malpractice Law Update” Guest Lecturer, IU School of Medicine House Staff Forum, 2016
- “Applied Professionalism” (ITLA), 2016
- “Indiana Medical Malpractice — Trending Issues” Guest Lecturer, IU School of Medicine House Staff Forum, 2015
- “Discovery and Trial Disputes: The Tough Issues Argued” (ICLEF), 2015
- Frankenstein – A Victim of a Case of Medical Malpractice, American Inn of Court – Sagamore, 2015
- “Indiana Judges on Indiana Evidence” (ICLEF), 2015
- “Medical Malpractice Litigation — Beginning to End” Indianapolis Inn of Court, 2015
- “Tina’s Top 10 Outside the Box Tips for Medical Malpractice in 2015 (ITLA), 2015
- “How to Identify and Eliminate Bad Medical Review Panel Members” (ITLA), 2015
- “Anatomy of Medical Malpractice Litigation in Indiana” Guest Lecturer at IU School of Law, 2015
- “Demonstrative Aids and Exhibit,” Indianapolis Inn of Court, 2014
- “Tina’s Top 10 Outside the Box Tips for Medical Malpractice in 2014” (ITLA), 2014
- Use of Demonstrative and Summary Aids and Exhibits During Trial, American Inn of Court – Sagamore (2014)
- “Will Work For Food… Creating a Firm Culture that Reduces Turnover and Improves Productivity” Lifetime Achievement Seminar (ITLA), 2013
- Devil is in the Details: Solutions for a Day in Courtroom Hell, American Inn of Court – Sagamore, 2013
- “CT v. MRI – Radiology 101 for Lawyers” (ITLA), 2012
- “Surprise, Surprise!: How to the Handle the Unexpected at Trial” (ICLEF), 2011
- Behind Enemy Lines: Conversations with Former Defense Lawyers about Life on the Other Side (ITLA), 2011
- “Excuse Me, Did You Say the Videographer is Employed by Your Firm?” Lifetime Achievement Seminar (ITLA), 2011
- “Recent Developments in Medical Malpractice Case Law” Risk Management Seminar (Grossnickle Eye Center), 2010
- Health Care Section Roundtable, Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana, 2009
- Anatomy of Medical Malpractice Litigation” Guest Lecturer at IU School of Medicine – Ft. Wayne, 2000–2009
- “Tina’s Top Ten Risk Management Concerns: A Year in Review,” Risk Management Seminar (Barrett & McNagny) 2006–2009
- “Motivation/Cultivation of Young Associates,” North Central Meeting (DRI), 2009
- “VBACs: Not Anymore!” presented to Fort Wayne OB-GYNs, 2009
- “Marketing: The Use of Social Networking” North Central Meeting (DRI), 2008
- “The Basics of Preparing the Defendant Health Care Provider for Deposition” DRI Medical Liability and Health Care Law Seminar (DRI), 2007
- “The Indiana Medical Malpractice Act: An Overview of Process, Recent Developments and Claims Handling Strategies” presented to AIG, 2007
- “Confidentiality of Medical Records” presented to Lorham, 2007
- “Saying Sorry Works: A Closer Look at Indiana’s New Apology Law” Guest Lecturer at Grand Rounds at St. Joseph Hospital, Ft. Wayne, Indiana (2006)
- Tort Case Law Update (ICLEF), 2003
- 7th Annual DTCI Conference & Annual Meeting: Battle of the Titans, DTCI), 2000
- Global Orphan Foundation in Congo, Nov. 2021
- WyldLife Middle School Leader, 2016-present
- YWAM Mission Adventure, San Antonio Del Mar Campus, Mexico, July 2017
- Homes for Hope, Tijuana, Mexico, July 2015 and July 2017
- Mission Uprising – The Well, in 2017, Arizona 2019, Indiana 2018, and North Carolina 2020
- Heritage Christian Community High School Camp Tecumseh Devotional Leader 2016
- Heritage Christian Community High School Camp Tecumseh Devotional Leader 2015
- American Heritage Girls Camp Facilitator 2014
- Alpha – Northview Church, 2010-2012
- Women’s Discipleship Walk, 2011-2012
- Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana, 1999-2007
- Junior Achievement Volunteer, 1999-2007
- Law Day, 1999-2007
- Dynamic Marriage Facilitator
Menopause Misdiagnosis
Indiana’s Medical Malpractice System
Birth Injury From Vacuum Extraction
10 Steps to Protect Yourself When You Visit the Hospital or Doctor
5 Common Causes of Wrongful Death
Why Medical Care is Critical After Suffering a Catastrophic Injury
What are the Time Limitations for Medical Malpractice Cases in Indiana?
Medical Malpractice Myths
Can You Sue for Shoulder Dystocia?
10 Steps to Protect Yourself When You Visit the Hospital
What Is the Most I Can Recover in a Medical Malpractice Case?
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
Can I File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Without a Lawyer?