Practice Areas

Listed to the right are practice areas in which our firm provides legal services. We seek to narrow the focus of our lawyers in order to allow each to gain a level of proficiency and specialization that general practice may not afford. We also foster an atmosphere of teamwork and cooperation among our attorneys. Such only enhances our ability to serve the best interests of our clients.

Workers' Compensation

Blachly, Tabor, Bozik & Hartman have handled Indiana Workers’ Compensation claims for many years. We are committed to obtaining the benefits to which injured workers are entitled. Whether your claim is small or large, we will clearly explain to you your benefits, your rights and the system. There is no charge for the initial meeting with one of our worker's compensation attorneys. In addition, the attorney you hire is not paid unless you receive compensation.

Indiana Workers’ Compensation claims can be challenging. The person making the claim has suffered a work related accident and may not understand his or her rights. In addition, the employer has many rights that, if not properly understood, can lead to difficult problems as the claim progresses through the system.

Partners Craig Van Schouwen and Randy Zromkoski will assist you in understanding your benefits and rights.

Social Security Disability

For over 30 years our Firm has assisted clients in obtaining Social Security Disability benefits. Working with clients, their families, doctors, therapists and various agencies, attorneys Randall J. Zromkoski and Tracey Wetzstein help navigate a client's claim through the application and appeal process in order to obtain all the benefits to which a client is legally entitled to receive. Through frequent contact with our clients, we endeavor to build a solid trusting relationship that allows for the best possible presentation of a case supporting the client's disability and entitlement to benefits. We pride ourselves in keeping our clients educated about their case and updated as to the status of receiving benefits.

As part of their commitment to the disabled, attorneys Zromkoski and Wetzstein regularly address support groups, social agencies and unions to discuss and explain issues involving the Social Security Disability process. In addition, attorney Zromkoski teaches a class at the Valparaiso University School of Law covering the area of Social Security Disability Law. Attorney Zromkoski is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives.

Contact Randall J. Zromkoski and Tracey Wetzstein for Social Security Disability questions and assistance.

Personal Injury & Wrongful Death

Since the founding of our law firm, our lawyers have provided effective and aggressive legal representation of plaintiffs in serious injury, death, medical negligence, and defective product matters. Our approach is to provide caring and compassionate assistance to seriously injured individuals and families who have lost loved ones caused by the wrongful actions of others. We are committed to protecting your access to the courts, and, as our client, we will consult with you at no charge to discuss your concerns, gather facts, and evaluate potential options. We will then investigate the matter thoroughly to pursue justice on your behalf.

We accept injury cases in the following areas:

wrongful death of a family member
vehicular accidents, including auto, train, motorcycle, plane and  heavy truck crashes
construction and jobsite injuries
product liability
medical and hospital negligence
falls
negligent security
nursing home injuries
premises liability (injury on someone else’s property)
insurance bad faith
legal malpractice/negligence

Attorneys that can represent you and/or your family in these matters are Partner Tom Macke, Partner Jeff Wrage and Associate Tracey Wetzstein.

Criminal Defense

Unfortunately, there are times when people find themselves on the wrong side of the law, wrongfully accused of a criminal act, or need to have their rights protected when arrested. Our Criminal Defense Attorney, Jason M. Denny, is a former Deputy Prosecutor who understands what happens in the courtroom and what the prosecution’s strategy may be. He understands what will be important in your defense and believes in the principle that everyone is has the right to a competent defense. If you are faced with any of the following situations, Denny can help you:

• Drunk/Reckless Driving
• Felony Arrest
• Misdemeanor Charges
• Traffic Offenses
• Pleas and Plea Agreements

Contact Jason Denny

Civil Litigation

Civil law, as opposed to criminal law, refers to that branch of law dealing with disputes between individuals and/or organizations, in which compensation may be awarded to the victim. Generally, these are disputes that involve money, or requiring another party to do something or not do something. Examples are breach of contract actions, actions for injunctions, or cases in which the Court is asked to declare the rights of the parties.

Our civil litigation attorneys have represented individuals and small businesses throughout Illinois and Indiana in state, federal trial and appellate courts, prosecuting and defending suits which have included:

• business and contract disputes
• construction
• partnership dissolutions
• commercial and medical collections
• eminent domain (condemnation) and zoning
• promissory notes and security interests
• trust litigation
• real estate
• banking
• bankruptcy
• creditor/debtor relationships

Members of our civil litigation team are Duane Hartman, Tom Macke, and Jeff Wrage.

Wills, Probate and Estate Planning

For more than forty (40) years, our firm has provided legal services in the area of guardianships, probate administration, estate planning and elder law. Besides helping individual clients in these areas, our firm has also represented the trust departments of financial institutions throughout Northernt Indiana. James S. Bozik, Kingsley Regnier and Ethan Lowe provide counsel in the areas of Wills, Probate and Estate Planning.

Contact James S. Bozik, Kingsley Regnier and Ethan Lowe

Family Law

Our attorneys vigorously represent our clients in family law matters while remaining ever mindful of our obligation to as professionals to the children who often get the brunt of highly charged emotions. The term "family law" encompasses:

• dissolution of marriage
• legal separation
• grand parents' rights
• modification of decrees or court orders
• mediation

We are known to be aggressive in our approach to family law matters in order to help our clients get their lives back in order with hope for the future.

Family Law Attorneys include Tom Macke and Duane Hartman

Real Estate

The purchase of real estate, whether residential or commercial, can be a very complex process. Dealing with lender requirements, coordinating inspections, reviewing title work, ordering an appraisal, and reviewing Closing documents are just some of the issues that often must be addressed before a sale can be completed.

At Blachly, Tabor, Bozik & Hartman, attorneys Patrick Lyp and Ethan Lowe have helped numerous buyers, sellers, lenders, developers and property owners in various types of real estate related matter and can advise you in each step of the process. In addition to more traditional real estate matters, attorney Lyp has represented property owners and developers before various local Plan Commissions and Boards of Zoning Appeals on subdivision, variance and other land use issues.

Contact attorneys Patrick Lyp and Ethan Lowe

Business and Corporate Law

Whether a new start-up business or a long-established company, the attorneys at Blachly, Tabor, Bozik & Hartman can provide assistance to the many challenges faced in today's business environment. Attorney Patrick Lyp has helped established numerous corporations and limited liabilities companies.

Our Firm's legal services for business include:

• Contract drafting and review
• Business sale/acquisition issues
• Dispute resolution/litigation
• Collection matters
• Bankruptcy/insolvency

In addition, as counsel to several local lenders, our Firm understands the process of business capitalization and has provided assistance is seeking SBA loans and other funding sources.

Contact Patrick Lyp

Employment Related Claims

The law firm of Blachly, Tabor, Bozik & Hartman represents employees and employers in both the public and private sector, handling a wide range of employment law and contractual matters facing industry, business, health care and education institutions, as well as state and local governments.

Our attorneys have extensive experience in prosecuting and defending discrimination claims in federal district court, and before the EEOC. Unlike other law firms, we represent both employees and employers. In addition, our firm tries cases. We are known for our tenacity in the employee rights field and we have an exceptional history of winning cases and reaching successful settlement for both the employee and the employer.

The Firm has the knowledge and resources to act quickly when a lawsuit arises, and help limit the clients' exposure and costs. Our attorneys help our corporate clients develop policies, procedures, employee handbooks and other employment matters. We offer in-house training on a variety of matters to assist managers in understanding how to apply their policies and procedures in a lawful manner in an attempt to avoid litigation. The Firm takes a broad view of each case, considers how it affects the client's overall employment picture, and works to achieve outcomes that meet the client's long-term employment goals.

For assistance in Employment Law matters, contact Partner Jeff Wrage.

Municipal/Local Government

Representing City, County and Regional Government Entities

When mayors, city councils, county and township board presidents and community leaders seek legal advice in northwest Indiana, they often turn to our firm. Currently, we represent more than 25 municipal, county and regional agencies, including the recently established Regional Development Authority (RDA).

This commitment to our communities and elected officials began with our founders, Quentin Blachly and Glenn Tabor. Today, David Hollenbeck devotes a substantial portion of his practice to representing local governments and agencies. Ethan Lowe and Patrick Lyp also provide legal counsel in this area.

Representative local and regional clients include:

Regional:

• Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority
• Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority
• Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission  
• Lake Michigan Marina Development Commission County:
• Porter County Council
• Porter County Board of Health
• Porter County Board of Parks and Recreation
• Porter County Convention, Recreation & Visitors Commission

Municipal:

• City of Valparaiso
• Valparaiso Community Schools
• Valparaiso Plan Commission
• Town of Porter
• Town of Westville
• Conservancy Districts

Our attorneys also provide legal counsel to nearly 20 conservancy districts in six counties. Established by Indiana law, these districts allow residents not served by municipal sewer and water utilities, to form a district for obtaining services. In addition to providing an environmentally positive alternative to outdated, leeching septic fields, conservancy districts offer property developers better tools for land development and allow property owners more direct input into development and management of their own utility services.

Representative clients include the following conservancy districts:

• Valparaiso Lakes Area, Porter County
• Bass Lake, Starke County
• Pine Lake, LaPorte County
• New Paris, Elkhart County
• Illiana-Brunswick, Lake County
• Indiana Beach, White County

Contact David Hollenbeck, Patrick Lyp, and Ethan Lowe