Debra A. Mastrian

Debra Mastrian concentrates her practice in the areas of employment law and civil litigation, including commercial, corporate, employment, insurance and tort litigation.  She has experience with jury trials, bench trials, arbitrations, mediations and appeals, encompassing a wide range of litigation areas.  Ms. Mastrian has authored numerous appellate briefs and has been counsel of record in a number of published opinions.  Further, she has presented oral argument to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Representative Experience

• Lead plaintiff's counsel, representing a large financial institution, in a week long bench trial in bankruptcy court.  Obtained a nondischargeability finding on a multimillion dollar judgment after establishing that the borrowing base certificates submitted by the defendant were fraudulent
• Lead plaintiff's counsel, representing a large financial institution, in a bench trial.  Obtained a multimillion dollar judgment on the enforcement of a personal guaranty and successfully defended against claim that the personal guaranty was fraudulently obtained
• Lead counsel in various litigation matters involving closely-held businesses, representing the business entities as well as the members or majority shareholders
• Lead counsel in various employment litigation matters, defending employers against Title VII, ADA, FMLA,  and ADEA discrimination and retaliation claims
• Lead counsel in numerous litigation matters involving insurance coverage issues;  successful representation of both the insurance company and the individual insureds
• Lead counsel in countless litigation matters involving breach of contract,  fraud, defamation and other torts

Education

• Valparaiso University School of Law, Valparaiso, Indiana (J.D., summa cum laude, 1994)
• Franklin College, Franklin, Indiana (B.A., summa cum laude, 1991)

Bar Admissions

• Indiana, 1994
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, 1994
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, 1994
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1997

Professional Associations

• Indianapolis Bar Association (Member)
• Indiana State Bar Association (Member)
• Indianapolis Law Club (Member)

Awards and Recognitions

• Valparaiso University Law Review, Note Editor
• Scholastic Honors at Valparaiso University School of Law, 1991-1994
• Who’s Who in American Colleges & Universities
• Valparaiso University School of Law Outstanding Student Achievement, 1994
• Indiana Rising Star, 2009