Officers

President

Norris Cunningham
Norris.Cunningham@skofirm.com

Mr. Cunningham concentrates his practice in healthcare dispute resolution including trial practice, regulatory advocacy, and arbitration. He has tried and arbitrated numerous matters throughout the nation on behalf of healthcare providers. Mr. Cunningham is the Immediate Past Chair of the Indiana State Bar Association Diversity Committee and past chair of the Long-Term Care Subcommittee of the Health Section of the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana. He is a certified arbitrator by the American Arbitration Association and the American Health Lawyers Association. Mr. Cunningham has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (2016-present); Super Lawyers (2017- present); America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators (2018-present); and The National Black Lawyers Top 100. Mr. Cunningham is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, the Indianapolis Bar Association, DRI, and The National Bar Association. Mr. Cunningham achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in United States Air Force and Indiana Air National Guard where he retired 2010 after completing twenty-two years of service as a Medical Service Corps officer. He is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm (1990); Operation Noble Eagle (2001); Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003); and Joint Task Force Katrina (2005).

Presidennt-Elect

James P. Strenski
jstrenski@dsvlaw.com

Jim Strenski represents insurance companies in insurance coverage, insurance bad faith litigation, and third-party defense of insureds.  He advises insurance companies pre-suit on issues of coverage and conducts examinations under oath.  He has over 25 years of experience in handling jury trials, summary judgment hearings, and arbitrations.  He has served as legal counsel in numerous trials as both first and second chair.  He has argued before the Indiana Court of Appeals, Indiana Supreme Court, and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.  He has been selected to the Indiana Super Lawyers® list in 2009, 2011-2012, 2018-2022.

Secretary

Marian C. Drenth
mdrenth@omwlegal.com

Marian C. Drenth concentrates her practice in civil litigation with an emphasis in health care litigation. Her experience includes representing clients through Indiana’s Medical Review Panel Process, mediation and through trial. Ms. Drenth has successfully defended clients in numerous jury trial, many as first chair, in matters involving general negligence and medical malpractice claims. She speaks at in-house seminars for health care providers regarding preventative tools to assit in risk management. She is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, the Porter County Inns of Court and Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana, where she currently serves as Director and previously served as vice-chair of the Health Lasw Section. She is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.She served as a board member of the Porter County Inns of Court where she became president in 2009.

Treasurer

Lauren Dimmitt
Lauren.Dimmitt@dinsmore.com

Lauren’s practice focuses on personal injury defense, insurance coverage, and medical malpractice defense. She has represented individuals and businesses through all stages of litigation including discovery, mediation, motion practice, trial, and appeals.  She regularly appears in state and federal courts throughout Indiana and Kentucky. Lauren is also a registered domestic mediator in Indiana and is passionate about helping families resolve conflicts outside the courtroom.

Immediate Past President

Scott B. Cockrum
Scott.Cockrum@lewisbrisbois.com

Scott Cockrum is a partner in the Northwest Indiana and Indianapolis offices of Lewis Brisbois. He has extensive experience handling professional liability claims in state and federal courts in Indiana, including ones involving the defense of architects, engineers, lawyers, accountants, surveyors, property managers, and realtors. He also frequently represents physicians and nursing homes in medical malpractice claims.  In addition, Scott has experience defending products liability and general liability claims. He represents insurers in coverage disputes, declaratory judgment actions, bad faith cases, UIM claims, and other allegations of breach of contract. He handles bench trials for the Indiana Patient’s Compensation Fund in petitions for excess damages under Indiana’s Medical Malpractice Act, and has handled more than 50 appeals, including multiple oral arguments, before Indiana’s appellate courts.  Scott spent five years as an adjunct instructor in the paralegal program at Calumet College of St. Joseph, and is a regular presenter at CLE events and conferences.

President

PicCunninghamNorris

Norris Cunningham
Norris.Cunningham@skofirm.com

Mr. Cunningham concentrates his practice in healthcare dispute resolution including trial practice, regulatory advocacy, and arbitration. He has tried and arbitrated numerous matters throughout the nation on behalf of healthcare providers. Mr. Cunningham is the Immediate Past Chair of the Indiana State Bar Association Diversity Committee and past chair of the Long-Term Care Subcommittee of the Health Section of the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana. He is a certified arbitrator by the American Arbitration Association and the American Health Lawyers Association. Mr. Cunningham has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (2016-present); Super Lawyers (2017- present); America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators (2018-present); and The National Black Lawyers Top 100. Mr. Cunningham is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, the Indianapolis Bar Association, DRI, and The National Bar Association. Mr. Cunningham achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in United States Air Force and Indiana Air National Guard where he retired 2010 after completing twenty-two years of service as a Medical Service Corps officer. He is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm (1990); Operation Noble Eagle (2001); Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003); and Joint Task Force Katrina (2005).

Presidennt-Elect

PicStrenskii

James P. Strenski
jstrenski@dsvlaw.com

Jim Strenski represents insurance companies in insurance coverage, insurance bad faith litigation, and third-party defense of insureds.  He advises insurance companies pre-suit on issues of coverage and conducts examinations under oath.  He has over 25 years of experience in handling jury trials, summary judgment hearings, and arbitrations.  He has served as legal counsel in numerous trials as both first and second chair.  He has argued before the Indiana Court of Appeals, Indiana Supreme Court, and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.  He has been selected to the Indiana Super Lawyers® list in 2009, 2011-2012, 2018-2022.

Secretary

DrenthMarian

Marian C. Drenth
mdrenth@omwlegal.com

Marian C. Drenth concentrates her practice in civil litigation with an emphasis in health care litigation. Her experience includes representing clients through Indiana’s Medical Review Panel Process, mediation and through trial. Ms. Drenth has successfully defended clients in numerous jury trial, many as first chair, in matters involving general negligence and medical malpractice claims. She speaks at in-house seminars for health care providers regarding preventative tools to assit in risk management. She is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, the Porter County Inns of Court and Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana, where she currently serves as Director and previously served as vice-chair of the Health Lasw Section. She is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.She served as a board member of the Porter County Inns of Court where she became president in 2009.

Treasurer

picDimmitt_Lauren_cropped

Lauren’s practice focuses on personal injury defense, insurance coverage, and medical malpractice defense. She has represented individuals and businesses through all stages of litigation including discovery, mediation, motion practice, trial, and appeals.  She regularly appears in state and federal courts throughout Indiana and Kentucky. Lauren is also a registered domestic mediator in Indiana and is passionate about helping families resolve conflicts outside the courtroom.

Immediate Past President

PicCockrum_Scott

Scott Cockrum is a partner in the Northwest Indiana and Indianapolis offices of Lewis Brisbois. He has extensive experience handling professional liability claims in state and federal courts in Indiana, including ones involving the defense of architects, engineers, lawyers, accountants, surveyors, property managers, and realtors. He also frequently represents physicians and nursing homes in medical malpractice claims.  In addition, Scott has experience defending products liability and general liability claims. He represents insurers in coverage disputes, declaratory judgment actions, bad faith cases, UIM claims, and other allegations of breach of contract. He handles bench trials for the Indiana Patient’s Compensation Fund in petitions for excess damages under Indiana’s Medical Malpractice Act, and has handled more than 50 appeals, including multiple oral arguments, before Indiana’s appellate courts.  Scott spent five years as an adjunct instructor in the paralegal program at Calumet College of St. Joseph, and is a regular presenter at CLE events and conferences.