Christopher W. Bloomer

Senior Associate
Office: Indianapolis
cbloomer@kdlegal.com
p: 317-238-6319
f: 317-636-1507

Chris Bloomer assists clients with all aspects of business, banking, commercial, and complex litigation matters. This experience includes a concentration in construction litigation, including claims for delay, liens, state and federal Miller Act claims, and accompanying dispute resolution. Mr. Bloomer also counsels parties at each seat of the proverbial construction table before project commencement, to ensure objectives are achieved, risks are minimized, and future litigation is avoided or considerably diminished.

Mr. Bloomer counsels political subdivisions, local units, public agencies, and each of their elected officials, department heads, and employees in matters involving Indiana’s Public Access Laws (Open Door Law “ODL” and Access to Public Records Act “APRA”), public bidding laws, public purchasing laws, sale, lease, and purchase agreements, public works projects, annexation, eminent domain, Indiana’s Unsafe Building Law, the Indiana Tort Claims Act, enforcement of local code violations, negotiation of interlocal agreements by and between multiple governmental entities, and guidance concerning the day-to-day operation of local government.

Prior to joining Krieg DeVault, Mr. Bloomer was a Senior Government Sales Manager for Aventis Systems, Inc., where he served as lead sales representative for all enterprise-class server, storage array, networking, and software orders for the Department of Defense, federal government agencies, and state and local agencies. Prior to his public sector responsibilities, Mr. Bloomer provided Aventis Systems’ solution-based services to small, medium and Fortune 500 clients throughout the Midwest. This advisory role, spanning a total of nearly seven years, honed Mr. Bloomer’s client-centric problem-solving approach, whereby he was able to increase client efficiencies, reduce costs, and drive customers’ businesses forward through the use of leading technology, business innovation, and a proven ability to identify and alleviate client challenge – skills which he continues to leverage within his legal practice at Krieg DeVault.

Experience

Representative Experience

Represent clients with filing and foreclosing mechanic’s liens
Represent owners and lenders in defense of mechanic’s liens
Represent clients in mediation and other pre-trial settlement negotiations
Successfully negotiated confidential settlement agreement and releases for insurance company sued by several plaintiffs
Successfully negotiated settlement concerning alleged services provided to out-of-state construction project
Successfully represented secured lender’s interests in mechanic’s lien dispute through negotiation of another party purchasing statutory release bond
Obtained favorable judgment for insurance client accused of improperly denying coverage
Obtained favorable judgment for global financial institution accused of mishandling cash deposit
Represent commercial developers in landlord-tenant disputes and possessory matters
Assist clients with pre-trial discovery, including small and large-scale ESI and hardcopy document review, redaction, and production
Provide ancillary services to small, medium, and large corporations, including representation in Small Claims Court
Advise municipal clients concerning interlocal agreements entered into by and between units of government
Counsel municipal clients concerning real property acquisition and improvement, including the use of eminent domain
Serve as outside counsel to municipal clients seeking to enforce state statutes, as well as local ordinances
Deliver presentations to governmental clients, including department heads and key decision makers, with respect to best practices under the Indiana Code and recent developments in case law
Present evolving trends in Indiana law to local units of government, including, among other topics: the Indiana Tort Claims Act (“ITCA”), public purchasing, public bidding and public works laws, Indiana’s Open Door Law (“ODL”), and Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act (“APRA”)

Professional Associations

Member, Indiana State Bar Association
Member, Indianapolis Bar Association

Awards & Recognitions

Indiana Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2022-2025

Seminars & Presentations

Co-Presenter, "Mechanic's Liens, Stop Notices, Bonds: Getting the Bills Paid", NBI Attorney's Complete Guide to Construction Documents Seminar, May 20, 2025
Co-Presenter, "Indiana Construction Law: Guiding Commercial Contractors on Securing Payment – Mechanic’s Liens, Part 3", August 12, 2024
Co-Presenter, "Indiana Construction Law: Lien Rights, Deadlines, and Defenses - Mechanic’s Liens, Part 2", Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, April 18, 2024
Co-Presenter, "Introduction to Indiana Construction Law - Mechanic’s Liens, Part 1", Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, February 6, 2024
Presenter, "APRA Records Requests: What must be disclosed? What can be withheld? Are there time limits for the government’s response and document production?," Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, July 27, 2022
Presenter, "Bidding Public Works Projects: Common Pitfalls and Considerations," National Business Institute, July 22, 2022
Presenter, "Unsafe Building and Code Enforcement," Accelerate Indiana Municipalities & IMLA Municipal Law Seminar, June 24, 2022
Presenter, “Bidding on Public Works Projects: Common Pitfalls and Mistakes," AIM Ideas Summit, 2021
Presenter, “Public Access: The Open Door Law and Where We are Going Under HEA 1437," Accelerate Indiana Municipalities & IMLA Municipal Law Seminar, June 2021
Presenter, “Bidding Public Works Projects: Common Pitfalls and Considerations,” AIM (Accelerate Indiana Municipalities), December 2020

Publications

Construction and Litigation:

Municipal and Governmental Law:

Credentials

Education

J.D., cum laude, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2017
- IU Moot Court (Named to Order of the Barristers)
- ISBA Moot Court (Moved to semi-finals, arguing in front of the Indiana Court of Appeals)
- Legal Extern to Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush
- Indiana Law Review (Executive Board Member)
- Dean’s Tutorial Society Member
B.A. in Political Science, with Distinction, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana, 2014
- Dean's List

Bar & Court Admissions

Indiana, 2017
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, 2017
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, 2017

Certifications

Legal Lean Sigma® White Belt

Practices & Industries

Practices

Industries

Beyond the Office

Cooking

Home Improvement

Indiana Pacers

Insights

Litigation

Owners / GCs / Subs / Suppliers / Lessors – Check Your Contracts. Court of Appeals Decision Highlights Challenges when Dispute Resolution Process Varies

August 25, 2022

Municipal

APRA Records Requests: What must be disclosed? What can be withheld? Are there time limits for the government’s response and document production? (Podcast)

July 27, 2022

Litigation

Open Door Law Update: “Declared Emergency” Virtual Meetings Continue Under Governor Holcomb’s Eighteenth Renewal of the Public Health Emergency Declaration

September 8, 2021

Litigation

During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, What Constitutes an “Essential Matter,” Thus Warranting a Public Meeting by Local Governmental Entities?

March 30, 2020

Construction

COVID-19: What Every Construction Owner and Entity Should Do Right Now

March 26, 2020

Municipal

Indiana's Public Access Counselor Provides Open Door Law (“ODL”) Guidance Following Governor Holcomb's Most Recent COVID-19 Executive Order

March 19, 2020

Municipal

Immunity under the Indiana Tort Claims Act ("ITCA") unavailable to government entity after student murdered away from school premises

March 18, 2019

Thought Leadership

AIA form documents offer predictability, cost-savings to contractors and subcontractors

February 6, 2019

Thought Leadership

AIA form documents offer predictability, cost-savings to contractors and subcontractors

February 6, 2019

Municipal

Court's Finding that Property Violated Indiana's Unsafe Building Law Provides Best Practices to Local Units of Government

December 12, 2018

Thought Leadership

Known By the Successful Company We Keep® - Krieg DeVault Issues Annual Ad Showcasing Transactions from Many of Our Valued and Successful Clients

January 30, 2023

Firm News and Events

Krieg DeVault Announces 2022 Senior Associate Promotions

January 26, 2022

Municipal

New Congressional Bills Introduced to Promote Multifamily Housing and Reinstate Advance Refunding (Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2021 and Local Infrastructure Financing Tools Act)

May 3, 2021

Municipal

Representative Experience

Represent clients with filing and foreclosing mechanic’s liens
Represent owners and lenders in defense of mechanic’s liens
Represent clients in mediation and other pre-trial settlement negotiations
Successfully negotiated confidential settlement agreement and releases for insurance company sued by several plaintiffs
Successfully negotiated settlement concerning alleged services provided to out-of-state construction project
Successfully represented secured lender’s interests in mechanic’s lien dispute through negotiation of another party purchasing statutory release bond
Obtained favorable judgment for insurance client accused of improperly denying coverage
Obtained favorable judgment for global financial institution accused of mishandling cash deposit
Represent commercial developers in landlord-tenant disputes and possessory matters
Assist clients with pre-trial discovery, including small and large-scale ESI and hardcopy document review, redaction, and production
Provide ancillary services to small, medium, and large corporations, including representation in Small Claims Court
Advise municipal clients concerning interlocal agreements entered into by and between units of government
Counsel municipal clients concerning real property acquisition and improvement, including the use of eminent domain
Serve as outside counsel to municipal clients seeking to enforce state statutes, as well as local ordinances
Deliver presentations to governmental clients, including department heads and key decision makers, with respect to best practices under the Indiana Code and recent developments in case law
Present evolving trends in Indiana law to local units of government, including, among other topics: the Indiana Tort Claims Act (“ITCA”), public purchasing, public bidding and public works laws, Indiana’s Open Door Law (“ODL”), and Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act (“APRA”)

Professional Associations

Member, Indiana State Bar Association
Member, Indianapolis Bar Association

Awards & Recognitions

Indiana Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2022-2025

Seminars & Presentations

Co-Presenter, "Mechanic's Liens, Stop Notices, Bonds: Getting the Bills Paid", NBI Attorney's Complete Guide to Construction Documents Seminar, May 20, 2025
Co-Presenter, "Indiana Construction Law: Guiding Commercial Contractors on Securing Payment – Mechanic’s Liens, Part 3", August 12, 2024
Co-Presenter, "Indiana Construction Law: Lien Rights, Deadlines, and Defenses - Mechanic’s Liens, Part 2", Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, April 18, 2024
Co-Presenter, "Introduction to Indiana Construction Law - Mechanic’s Liens, Part 1", Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, February 6, 2024
Presenter, "APRA Records Requests: What must be disclosed? What can be withheld? Are there time limits for the government’s response and document production?," Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, July 27, 2022
Presenter, "Bidding Public Works Projects: Common Pitfalls and Considerations," National Business Institute, July 22, 2022
Presenter, "Unsafe Building and Code Enforcement," Accelerate Indiana Municipalities & IMLA Municipal Law Seminar, June 24, 2022
Presenter, “Bidding on Public Works Projects: Common Pitfalls and Mistakes," AIM Ideas Summit, 2021
Presenter, “Public Access: The Open Door Law and Where We are Going Under HEA 1437," Accelerate Indiana Municipalities & IMLA Municipal Law Seminar, June 2021
Presenter, “Bidding Public Works Projects: Common Pitfalls and Considerations,” AIM (Accelerate Indiana Municipalities), December 2020

Publications

Construction and Litigation:

Author, "Owners / GCs / Subs / Suppliers / Lessors – Check Your Contracts. Court of Appeals Decision Highlights Challenges when Dispute Resolution Process Varies," August 25, 2022
Co-Author, "Court Bulldozes Indiana Contract Provision Requiring Florida Litigation," August 9, 2021
Co-Author, "Preserving (or Defeating) Mechanic's Lien Rights Amid COVID-19," July 22, 2020
Co-Author, "COVID-19: What Every Construction Owner and Entity Should Do Right Now," March 26, 2020

Municipal and Governmental Law:

Co-Author, "Public Access Counselor Addresses Board’s “Final Action” Under Indiana’s Open Door Law," February 14, 2022
Author, "Eliminating Blight: Court Issues Opinion re: Indiana’s Unsafe Building Law," January 26, 2022
Co-Author, "Open Door Law Update: “Declared Emergency” Virtual Meetings Continue Under Governor Holcomb’s Eighteenth Renewal of the Public Health Emergency Declaration," September 8, 2021
Co-Author, "Public Access Alert: New Law Permits Electronic Meetings, but Requires Planning," May 19, 2021
Co-Author, "Indy’s Amazon HQ2 Records Shielded by APRA (and What it Means for Local Economic Incentive Records)," February 26, 2021
Co-Author, "Emergency Public Works Project? In Addition to Obtaining Bids, Declare the Emergency on the Record," February 1, 2021
Co-Author, "Local Governments at Risk if Agent Waives Notice Requirement Under the Tort Claims Act," July 19, 2020
Co-Author, "Exceptions to Indiana's Open Door Law and Access to Public Records Act Extended Until June 13, 2020," May 21, 2020
Co-Author, "Exceptions to Indiana's Open Door Law and Access to Public Records Act Set to Expire on May 23, 2020," May 14, 2020
Co-Author, "Indiana's Public Access Laws Further Suspended in Response to COVID-19," April 3, 2020
Co-Author, "During a COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, What Constitutes an “Essential Matter,” Thus Warranting a Public Meeting by Local Governmental Entities?," - March 31, 2020
Co-Author, "Indiana's Public Access Counselor Provides Open Door Law (“ODL”) Guidance Following Governor Holcomb's Most Recent COVID-19 Executive Order," March 20, 2020
Co-Author, "Indiana's Open Door Law (“ODL”) Partially Suspended in Response to COVID-19," March 18, 2020

Education

J.D., cum laude, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2017
- IU Moot Court (Named to Order of the Barristers)
- ISBA Moot Court (Moved to semi-finals, arguing in front of the Indiana Court of Appeals)
- Legal Extern to Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush
- Indiana Law Review (Executive Board Member)
- Dean’s Tutorial Society Member
B.A. in Political Science, with Distinction, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana, 2014
- Dean's List