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Who We Are

Education

Valparaiso University with a B.A. in English

Studied at Cambridge (England) where he was a member of the Cambridge

University Boxing Team (C.U.A.B.C.)

Indiana University – Bloomington, where he was a Stephenson Fellow and received his J.D., cum laude (with honors).

Experience

Mr. Allen is a principal in the law firm of Allen Law Group, LLC. The firm limits its practice to representation of plaintiffs in serious personal injury and wrongful death litigation, exclusively. Mr. Allen has appeared as counsel for the plaintiff in over 100 trials and published appellate court decisions. His cases have been listed among the country’s “Top 10 Verdicts” and recognized in such publications as USA TODAY, WALL STREET JOURNAL, VANITY FAIR, CRANE’S CHICAGO BUSINESS, CHICAGO SUN TIMES, LA TIMES, BOSTON GLOBE, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, AND THE NEW YORK TIMES.

He has been appointed Class Counsel in re:
January 18, 1993
South Shore Train Crash at Gary, Indiana
June 25, 1998
Nurseryland Bus Crash at Gary, Indiana
June 18, 1998
Truck/Train Collision at Portage, Indiana
July 4, 2009
Hidden Lake Bridge Collapse
2012
Indiana State Fair Disaster (VanDam v. State of Indiana)

Mr. Allen was also named to Plaintiffs’ Discovery Committee in the United Airlines DC-10 airplane crash (In re: Air Crash Disaster at Sioux City, Iowa). He has also been interviewed on CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, WGN, FOX, Dateline, Inside Edition, and on Oprah.

Mr. Allen is a former Judge, pro tempore. He also is a 30-year member of the Carpenter’s Union and worked as a Piledriver and Millright (UBC), Teamster (IBT) and RR Trackman (BMWE).

Admissions

Mr. Allen is a member of the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court, the Indiana and Illinois Supreme Courts and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Services/Community Activities/Awards

Mr. Allen has been a member of the Jeremiah Milbank Society, an elite group of philanthropists dedicated to supporting local Boys & Girls Clubs in America; the IU Arbutus Society, supporting the IU Foundation; the Kimberling Society supporting the Mauer School of Law; the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy; the IU School of Medicine: J.O. Ritchey Society. He is a lifetime member of the NAACP (Chairman’s Circle); and was named to the United Way’s Tocqueville Society, which recognizes local philanthropic leaders and volunteer champions in the United Sates and France. He was the recipient of the Fifth Annual Child Safety Advocate Award “for outstanding dedication in forwarding the issues of child safety,” awarded by the IU School of Medicine and the INDIANA SAFE KIDS COALITION. He is a proud supporter of Lambda Legal, Legal Services for the Poor, the Equal Justice Fund and Unite 2 Fight Paralysis. Honored by the Boy Scouts of America-Calumet Council for his community and legal contributions, Mr. Allen has supported that organization as well as the YMCA, the Methodist Hospital Foundation Inc., and the Provena-Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation.

Mr. Allen has been a longtime supporter of the United Way, sponsoring the Kinderprint program, providing ID kits and safety education to thousands of schoolchildren and the Reading Buddies program, providing 4,000 first and second graders with stuffed animal “buddies” to whom they read for 15 minutes each day. Mr. Allen is also a proud supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs sponsoring the Kids’ Stop program which provides before and after-school child care for needy families at the local Boys & Girls Club. He also sponsors the Teacher’s of Excellence program, which selects and honors area elementary and high school teachers every week in area newspapers. Working through charities, local schools and Ken4Kids.org, Mr. Allen has also provided thousands of winter coats, bicycle helmets, backpacks filled with school supplies, Thanksgiving meals and Christmas gifts to needy children and families throughout Northwest Indiana for two decades. He has also donated extensively to Catholic Charities as well as the Caring Place for Women and Children and supported the Rainbow Shelter, the Stepping Stone Shelter for Women, St. Jude House, Hilltop Neighborhood House, the Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, Sojourner Truth House, and Chicago South Side Youth.

Presentations / Publications

Mr. Allen’s lectures and legal publications include:

  • Expert Witnesses in Civil Litigation (2021)
  • Interrogation with DDC in Semi-Truck Cases (2017)
  • Creative Presentation of Evidence in Traumatic Brain Injury Cases (2017)
  • Things You didn’t Learn in Law School (2016)
  • Representing Your Client in Federal Court: Testimony Tactics (2016)
  • Winning Brain Injury Cases (2014)
  • Getting the Most Out of Expert Witnesses (2014)
  • Trial, Damages and Obtaining the Excess Verdict (2014)
  • “Big Screen Strategies”, Trial, Vol. 49, No. 1 (January 2013)
  • Presenting Damages & Life Care Planning Experts in Construction Accident Cases (2012)
  • Theories of Liability in Semi-Truck Crashes (co-author) (2012)
  • “Spoliation of Evidence” (co-author) Truck Accident Litigation, 3rd Ed., ABA (2012)
  • Powerful Demonstrative Evidence (2012)
  • Trial Technique in Action: What Role Playing Can Reveal, Trial, Vol. 47, No. 12 (December 2011)
  • Trial Techniques in Trucking Cases (2011)
  • Trial Presentation in Trucking Cases (2010)
  • Building Your Civil Trial Skills (2009)
  • Getting the Most Out of Your Evidence (2008)
  • Five Keys to Successful Cross-Examination (2008)
  • Insurance Bad Faith, Discovery and Assertions of Privilege (2007)
  • Voir Dire: A Primer (2007)
  • “Chapter 32: The Trial–Developing and Utilizing the Theme” (co-author) Truck Accident Litigation, 2nd Ed., ABA (2006)
  • “Chapter 7: Spoliation of Evidence” (co-author) Truck Accident Litigation, 2nd Ed., ABA (2006)
  • The (Revised) Ten Commandments of Cross Examination (2005)
  • Superior Deposition Strategies (2003)
  • Personal Injury Settlements (2002)
  • Advanced Personal Injury Practice (2002)
  • You’re On Trial (2001)
  • Civil Discovery: Arguing the Tough Issues (2000)
  • Achieving Success in the Practice of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death law (1998)
  • Bad Faith Litigation In Indiana (1997)
  • The ‘New’ Indiana Constitution (1996)
  • Tort Reform, Auto Cases and Premises Liability (1995)
  • Insurance Bad Faith Law (1994)
  • Crashworthiness and Products Liability (1992)
  • Trying Auto Injury Cases (1991)

Professional Association Memberships

Mr. Allen’s professional honors and association memberships, past and present, include:

  • The American Association for Justice (Leader’s Forum Patron).
  • The Indiana and Illinois Trial Lawyers Associations (sustaining member)
  • Indiana and Illinois State Bar Associations
  • The American Bar Association
  • The Chicago Bar Association
  • Mr. Allen is also a member of the National Asbestos/Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers Association, the National Brain Injury Trial Lawyers Association, and the National Aviation Trial Lawyers Association
  • Mr. Allen has been repeatedly listed in THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA and by LAW DRAGON as one of the Leading Plaintiff’s Lawyers in America
  • Mr. Allen is a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America
  • Mr. Allen is a Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum-The Top Trial Lawyers in America, listed in Who’s Who in American Law and named to the National Advisory Board of the Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America
  • Mr. Allen was also named among the 500 Leading Lawyers in America
  • Mr. Allen is a Life Patron Fellow and served as President of the INDIANA BAR FOUNDATION (2016-2017) and was also honored by the INDIANA LAWYER as a Distinguished Barrister “for leadership in the law”.

Reported Appellate Decisions

2012
Laporte Cmty. Sch. Corp. v. Rosales, 963 N.E.2d 520
2011
Estate of Vandam v. Daniels, 278 F.R.D. 415
2010
A.S. v. LaPorte Reg’l Health Sys., 921 N.E.2d 853
2009
Storey v. Leonas, 904 N.E.2d 229
2006
Funston v. Sch. Town of Munster, 849 N.E.2d 595
2009
Franciose v. Jones, 910 N.E.2d 862
2008
Van Swol v. ISG Burns Harbor, LLC, 491 F. Supp. 2d 80
2007
Florio v. Tilley and Calark International, Inc., 875 N.E.2d 253
2007
Bond v. Walsh & Kelly, Inc., 869 N.E.2d 1264
2006
R & D Transp., Inc. v. A.H., 855 N.E.2d 996
2006
Recio v. GR-MHA Corp., 366 Ill. App. 3d 48 851 N.E.2d 106
2006
Allstate Ins. Co. v. Fields, 842 N.E.2d 804
2006
Reliable Dev. Corp. v. Berrier, 851 N.E.2d 983
2006
Walker v. Emplrs Ins. of Wausau, 846 N.E.2d 1098
2005
Fifth Third Bank v. CSX Corp., 415 F.3d 741
2005
Parks v. Guidant Corp., 402 F. Supp. 2d 964
7th Cir. 2005
Anderson v Griffin, 397 F.3d 515
2005
Madden v. INDOT, 832 N.E.2d 1122
2005
In re Estate of Hammar, 832 N.E.2d 1065
2005
Mesman v. Crane Pro Services, 409 F.3D 846
2005
Monroe Guaranty Ins. Co. v. Berrier, 827 N.E.2d 158
2004
Funston v. School Town of Munster, 822 N.E.2d 985
2005
Transfer granted 831 N.E.2d 748
2004
Csicsko v. Hill, 808 N.E.2d 80
2004
Woodley v. Fields, 819 N.E.2d 123
2005
Transfer granted, 831 N.E.2d 750
2004
Messer v. Cerestar USA, Inc., 803 N.E.2d 1240
2004
Fifth Third Bank v. CSX Corp., 306 F.Supp.2d 841
2004
Strack and Van Til, Inc. v. Carter, 803 N.E.2d 666
2003
Evans v. Buffington Harbor River Boats, LLC, 799 N.E.2d 1103
2002
Wright v. American States Ins. Co., 765 N.E.2d 690
Ind.App. 2001
Indian Trucking v. Harber, 752 N.E.2d 168
2001
Kleen v. Homak Mfg. Co., Inc., 749 N.E.2d 26
1999
Schmidt v. American Trailer Court, Inc., 721 N.E.2d 1251
1999
Pluard ex rel. Pluard v. Patients Compensation Fund, 705 N.E.2d 1035
1998
Barclay v. Universal Underwriters Group, 703 N.E.2d 169
1998
Grand Trunk Western R. Co. v. Kapitan, 698 N.E.2d 363
1997
Thiele v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 973 F.Supp. 1091
1996
In re Train Collision at Gary, Ind. on Jan. 18, 1993, 670 N.E.2d 902
1995
In re Train Collision at Gary, Ind. on Jan. 18, 1993, 654 N.E.2d 1137
1994
Osmulski v. Becze, 638 N.E.2d 828
1994
Precision Erecting, Inc. v. Wokurka, 638 N.E.2d 472
1992
Voight v. Subaru-Isuzu Automotive, Inc., 141 F.R.D. 99
1983
Allen v. Scherer, 452 N.E.2d 1031, 13 Ed. Law Rep. 128
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Articles / Journals / Seminars

Mr. Allen is a frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Education seminars attended by attorneys, judges and insurance claims professionals, and his presentations and publications include:

1991
Trying Auto Injury Cases
1992
Crashworthiness and Products Liability
1994
Insurance Bad Faith Law
1995
Tort Reform, Auto Cases and Premises Liability
1996
The ‘New’ Indiana Constitution
1997
Bad Faith Litigation In Indiana
1998
Achieving Success in the Practice of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death law
2000
Civil Discovery: Arguing the Tough Issues
2001
You’re On Trial!
2002
Advanced Personal Injury Practice
2002
Personal Injury Settlements
2003
Superior Deposition Strategies
2005
The (Revised) Ten Commandments of Cross Examination “Chapter 7: Spoliation of Evidence” (co-author)
2006
“Chapter 32: The Trial–Developing and Utilizing the Theme” (co-author)Truck Accident Litigation, 2nd Ed.
2007
Voir Dire: A Primer
2008
Five Keys to Successful Cross-Examination
2008
Getting the Most Out of Your Evidence
2010
Presenting Damages & Expert Testimony at Trial
2010
Trial Presentation in Trucking Cases
2010
How to Select the Right Jury For Your Case
2010
Winning Jury Verdicts
Winter 2011
Trial Techniques in Trucking Cases, Trial Journal, Vol. 13, No.1
December 2011
Trial in Action: What Role Playing Can Reveal, Trial, Vol. 47, No. 12 and “Spoliation of Evidence” (co-author)
2012
Truck Accident Litigation, 3rdEd. “Spoliation of Evidence” (co-author) Truck Accident Litigation, 3rd Ed.
2012
Presenting Damages & Life Care Planning Experts in Construction Accident Cases
January 2013
“Big Screen Strategies,” Trial, Vol. 49, No. 1
2014
Trial, Damages and Obtaining the Excess Verdict
April 2014
“Thinking Outside the Toolbox: Finding Third-Party Liability in Work Accident Cases” (co-author), Trial, Vol. 50, No. 4 He is a Sustaining Member of the American Association for Justice, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and holds membership in the Indiana State Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association Lake County (Indiana) Bar Association, Porter County (Indiana) Bar Association, the American Bar Association and is a Fellow of the Indiana Bar Foundation.
April 2014
“Thinking Outside the Toolbox: Finding Third-Party Liability in Work Accident Cases” (co-author), Trial, Vol. 50, No. 4
2014
Trial, Damages and Obtaining the Excess Verdict
January 2013
“Big Screen Strategies,” Trial, Vol. 49, No. 1
2012
Presenting Damages & Life Care Planning Experts in Construction Accident Cases
2012
Theories of Liability in Semi-Truck Crashes (co-author)
2012
“Spoliation of Evidence” (co-author) Truck Accident Litigation, 3rd Ed.
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Meet Our Attorneys

Bryan L. Bradley

Trial Attorney
Admitted in Indiana and Illinois
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Robert D. Brown

Appellate Attorney
Admitted in Indiana and Illinois
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David W. Conover

Trial Attorney
Admitted in Indiana and Illinois
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Otto J. Shragal

Trial Attorney
Admitted in Indiana and Illinois
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Andrew T. Tkacs, II

Trial Attorney
Admitted in Indiana and Illinois
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Jack A. Kramer

Trial Attorney
Admitted in Indiana and Illinois
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Sarah M. Cafiero

Appellate Attorney
Admitted in Indiana and Illinois
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Christopher Hansen

Trial Attorney
Admitted in Indiana and Illinois
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Ryan O'Day

Trial Attorney
Admitted in Indiana and Illinois
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Hunter J. McKee

Trial Attorney
Admitted in Indiana and Illinois
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Thomas R. Benton

Trial Attorney
Admitted in Indiana and Illinois
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Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed due to the wrongful acts of another, then you may have a legal claim for damages as well as the right to justice against the wrongdoer and you are welcomed to contact the Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland personal injury lawyers at Allen Law Group to schedule a free initial legal consultation.

    Our
    Locations

    Nearest Office View All Locations
    Allen Law Building
    501 Allen Court, Chesterton, IN
    (219) 465-6292
    Capital Center
    201 N. Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN
    (317) 842-6926
    Chicago Loop Office
    77 W. Wacker Dr. Suite 4500
    (312) 236-6292
    Justice Center
    3700 E. Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, IN
    (219) 736-6292
    Regency Office Suites
    10062 W. 190th Place, Mokena, IL
    (815) 725-6292
    Orland Park Executive Tower
    15255 S. 94th Avenue, Orland Park, IL
    (708) 460-6292

    New Coffee Creek Location

    501 Allen Court, Chesterton IN 46304

    Render of new Ken Allen Law Group location in Coffee Creek
    Render of new Ken Allen Law Group location in Coffee Creek