Stephen Hensleigh Thomas

Attorney

Experienced. Responsive. Deeply Committed. These are qualities you want to see in your attorney.And these are exactly the qualities you’ll find in Gerling attorney Stephen H. Thomas.

A long-time resident of the Tri-State area, Steve has been fighting for the rights of serious personal injury and accident victims and their families for 35 years. Steve's motivating goal is to ensure that his clients are satisfied that their claims have been handled in the highly professional manner they deserve and that their rights have been protected to the fullest extent of the law.

A quick review of Steve’s education and accomplishments listed below will clearly show you that he’s an experienced and hard-working attorney. But there’s more that you should know.

Steve listens. Carefully. By creating a trusting relationship and open lines of communication, Steve’s clients can rest assured that they have an attorney who is fully dedicated to their cause – an attorney who will make every effort to reach a fair settlement and a just outcome. In fact, there have been several cases where Steve has stayed in contact with his clients and their families years after their cases have been completed. It’s that kind of connection that sets him apart.

A civic-minded individual, Steve considers his involvement in the Tri-State community a natural extension of his legal practice – he understands that the very qualities that make him a successful attorney (experience, responsiveness and commitment) allow him to be a valuable leader in our community. He is immediate past-president of the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity of Evansville while also serving in several different ministries at St. Mary’s Parish in downtown Evansville. A firm believer in the power of education, Steve gives back and stays connected to young people by teaching occasional law classes as an Adjunct Professor at University of Evansville’s Legal Studies Program and by serving as a substitute teacher in the Catholic Diocese of Evansville.

Professional Experience

As a Gerling attorney, Steve has successfully represented clients in medical malpractice, professional negligence, product liability and serious personal injury cases. He is licensed in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

Certifications

• State of Indiana Registered Civil Law Mediator

Honors

• Martindale-Hubbell – Peer Review Rated: AV
• Indiana State Bar Association Litigation Section Civility Award 2007
• Board of Editors of Southern Illinois University Law Journal

Professional Associations

• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Indiana Trial Lawyers Association
• Evansville Bar Association – Past Chair of Bench and Bar Committee; Past Board Member
• Kentucky Justice Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• St. Thomas More Society of Southwestern Indiana
• Indiana Bar Foundation – Fellow
• Evansville Bar Foundation – Barristers Circle
• Indiana Defense Lawyers Association – Diplomat

Civic Activities

• Habitat for Humanity of Evansville – President and Board Member; Past Vice President and Secretary
• University of Evansville, Legal Studies Department – Adjunct Professor
• Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum (ICLEF) Programs on Trial Practice and Family Law – Faculty and Presenter
• Evansville Legal Secretaries Association, Continuing Education – Guest Lecturer
• Reitz Memorial High School Friends and Alumni – Board Member
• St. Mary’s Medical Center Pastoral Care Department – Volunteer
• St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (R.C.I.A.) – Team Member
• Catholic Diocese of Evansville – Substitute teacher, social studies and theology
• Christ the King School – Board of Education, Past President and Board Member
• Evansville Youth Hockey Association – Past Board Member
• Legal Services Organization of Indiana – Past Board Member
• Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of Southwestern Indiana – Past Board Member
• Sierra Club of Evansville – Past Member
• Evansville Freedom Festival – Past Board Member
• Daughters of Charity Foundation – Past Advisory Board Member
• Catholic Diocese of Evansville, Priests Retirement Board – Past Member
• Christ the King Parish Council – Past Council Member
• Christ the King Parish – Spiritual Life Committee Past Member

Published Opinions

• Merritt v. Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp., 735 N.E.2d 269 (Ind. App. 2000).
• Estate of Cummings by Heck v. PPG Industries, Inc., 651 N.E.2d 305 (Ind. App. 1995).
• American Family Mut. Ins. Co. v. Rockenbach, 634 N.,E.2d 844 (Ind. App. 1994).
• Brewster v. Rankins, 600 N.E.2d 154 (Ind. App. 1992).
• Whitledge v. Jordan, 586 N.E.2d 884 (Ind. App. 1992).
• Union Federal Savings Bank v. INB Banking Co., 582 N.E.2d 426 (Ind. App. 1991).
• Midwest Fertilizer Co., v Ag-Chem Equipment Co., 510 N.E.2d 232 (Ind. App. 1987).
• Gonzales v. Kil Nam Chun, 465 N.E.2d 727 (Ind. App. 1984).
• Zehner v. MFA Insurance Co., 451 N.E.2d 65 (Ind. App. 1983).