Harmed by a medical mistake in Fort Wayne? Here's where to start.
Top 6 Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Fort Wayne, IN
Indiana medical malpractice cases run through a unique medical review panel process before most lawsuits can go forward, and the state caps the total damages you can recover. There is also a two-year deadline to act. These cases are expensive to prove and hard-fought, so you want a Fort Wayne firm that has done them before. Every firm below has a verifiable Fort Wayne malpractice practice representing patients.
Updated September 11, 202511 min readEditorially independent
When a doctor, hospital, or other provider causes serious harm through negligence, the consequences can be life-changing, and proving it is harder than people expect. Indiana's Medical Malpractice Act requires most claims to first go before a medical review panel of doctors, who issue an opinion on whether the standard of care was met, before a lawsuit can usually proceed in court. That process, plus a statutory cap on total damages, shapes every case.
These are among the most resource-intensive cases in civil law. They require qualified medical experts to establish what a competent provider should have done and to connect the failure to your injury. The providers are defended by insurers who fund an aggressive defense, so an underprepared lawyer is a real liability. Indiana also generally gives you two years from the malpractice to act, with some exceptions, so time matters.
Because Fort Wayne has a smaller pool of firms that take plaintiff-side malpractice cases to the panel and beyond, this list reflects the six firms and attorneys we could verify across at least two independent directories or peer rankings as handling medical malpractice for injured patients. Each works on contingency, so the first consultation costs you nothing.
How we picked these 6: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Fort Wayne-area medical malpractice practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Sweeney Law Firm (David Farnbauch)
Fort Wayne, INBest Lawyers in medmal since 2009Free consult
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, birth injury, surgical and medication errors, nursing home neglect
David Farnbauch, board-certified as a trial lawyer by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, has handled plaintiff injury and malpractice cases for three decades at Fort Wayne's Sweeney Law Firm and has been recognized for medical malpractice work by Best Lawyers in America every year since 2009.
Why they made the list: A board-certified trial lawyer with sustained Best Lawyers recognition specifically in medical malpractice.
Fort Wayne, IN40+ years catastrophic injuryFree consult
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, birth injury, ER and surgical errors, misdiagnosis
Richard Truitt has more than 40 years representing catastrophically injured clients, and the firm handles patients harmed by emergency-room errors, surgical mistakes, medication errors, misdiagnosis, and birth injuries.
Why they made the list: Four decades of catastrophic-injury and malpractice work, including complex birth-injury cases.
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death
Tom Manges, a Fort Wayne native named an Indiana Super Lawyer for several consecutive years, leads a firm whose attorneys bring more than two decades of experience helping clients pursue favorable settlements in medical malpractice claims.
Why they made the list: A Super Lawyer-recognized practice with a documented medical malpractice settlement record.
Fort Wayne, INKnows the review-panel systemFree consult
Practice focus: Medication errors, misdiagnosed heart attacks and strokes, birth injury, surgical errors
This firm represents patients in malpractice claims involving medication errors, improperly diagnosed heart attacks or strokes, birth injuries, and surgical errors, with a legal team reporting more than five decades of combined experience and familiarity with Indiana's medical review panel system.
Why they made the list: Hands-on experience with Indiana's medical review panel and a broad range of malpractice claim types.
Fort Wayne, INObstetrical & birth injuryFree consult
Practice focus: Birth injury, obstetrical errors, medical malpractice, wrongful death
Robert Boughter and Kenny Sinak practice exclusively in personal injury, wrongful death, and workers' compensation, including obstetrical errors and birth-injury malpractice, and are noted for empathetic, responsive handling of complex cases.
Why they made the list: A focused injury practice that takes on obstetrical and birth-injury malpractice, among the hardest cases to prove.
Fort Wayne, INLong-established injury firmFree consult
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, serious injury, wrongful death
A long-established Fort Wayne injury firm that handles medical malpractice alongside its broader serious-injury and wrongful-death practice, drawing on a team of trial lawyers with extensive combined experience.
Why they made the list: An established Fort Wayne trial firm that includes medical malpractice within its serious-injury practice.
Tell us what happened. We'll connect you with one of these Fort Wayne medical malpractice firms or a similar one for a free, confidential case review.
How to choose between them in Fort Wayne
Ask how many malpractice cases they've taken through the panel. Indiana routes most claims through a medical review panel before trial. A firm that has done this repeatedly, like Sweeney Law Firm or Geisleman & Brown, knows how to present the medicine and what these cases require.
Confirm they arrange medical experts before filing. Proving malpractice requires qualified medical experts on the standard of care and causation. Reputable firms line up that review before they file. Ask each firm how it handles expert review.
Make sure they understand the damages cap. Indiana caps total malpractice damages and structures how they are paid, including from a state-administered fund for larger awards. A lawyer who knows the cap can set realistic expectations and structure the case accordingly.
Choose a firm that can fund the case. Malpractice cases are expensive to prove and the defense is well-funded. A firm should be willing and able to advance significant case costs. Ask how costs are handled and what happens if the case is unsuccessful.
What medical malpractice help typically costs in Fort Wayne
Medical malpractice lawyers in Fort Wayne work on contingency, so you pay nothing up front and the fee comes from any recovery. The key numbers:
Contingency fee: Typically about one-third of the recovery, sometimes more if the case is litigated through the panel and into court.
Case costs: Expert witnesses, records, and panel fees are substantial and usually advanced by the firm, then repaid from the recovery; ask what you owe if there is no recovery.
Damages cap: Indiana limits the total damages recoverable in a malpractice case, with larger awards paid in part from a state patient compensation fund.
Free consultation: Reputable Fort Wayne malpractice firms review your case at no charge before deciding whether to take it.
Because these cases are costly and the recovery is capped, firms are selective. A free review tells you quickly whether the facts and the medicine support a claim.
How long it takes
Indiana's review-panel process makes malpractice cases longer than typical injury claims:
Investigation and expert review (months): The firm gathers your medical records and has qualified experts review whether the standard of care was breached before committing to the case.
Medical review panel (often a year or more): Most claims must go before a panel of doctors that issues an opinion on the standard of care, a process that commonly takes well over a year.
Lawsuit and discovery (months to years): After the panel, the case can proceed in court, with depositions and dueling experts, if it does not resolve first.
Settlement or trial: Many cases settle once the panel opinion and expert evidence are clear, but some go to a jury, especially when liability or causation is disputed.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a medical malpractice lawyer in Fort Wayne
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many medical malpractice matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your Fort Wayne consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most medical malpractice matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Medical Malpractice attorney in Fort Wayne
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about medical malpractice lawyers in Fort Wayne
Do I need a medical expert before filing in Indiana?
Effectively, yes. Proving malpractice requires qualified medical experts to establish the standard of care and causation, and most claims first go before a medical review panel of doctors. Reputable firms arrange that review before filing.
How long do I have to file a malpractice claim in Indiana?
Generally two years from the date of the malpractice, with limited exceptions. Because the review-panel process takes time, you should talk to a lawyer well before the deadline.
What is the medical review panel?
Indiana requires most malpractice claims to go before a panel of doctors who review the records and issue an opinion on whether the standard of care was met, usually before a lawsuit can proceed in court.
Is there a cap on what I can recover?
Yes. Indiana's Medical Malpractice Act caps the total damages recoverable, with larger awards paid in part from a state patient compensation fund. A lawyer can explain how the cap applies to your case.
How much does a malpractice lawyer cost in Fort Wayne?
These cases are handled on contingency, typically about one-third of any recovery, with substantial case costs usually advanced by the firm and repaid from the recovery.
What if a family member died from a medical error?
You may have a wrongful-death claim. Indiana allows certain family members to recover for a death caused by negligence, and a malpractice firm can evaluate whether the proof is there.
Why are these cases so hard to win?
They require proving both that a provider fell below the standard of care and that the failure caused your specific harm, using expert testimony, against a well-funded defense. That is why experienced, well-resourced firms matter.
What should I bring to the consultation?
Your medical records if you have them, the names of the providers and facilities involved, a timeline of your treatment, and any correspondence about what happened.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
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