James Johnson of Rudolph, Fine, Porter & Johnson, LLP, recognized as Distinguished Barrister
EVANSVILLE, IND. – Attorney James D. Johnson of Rudolph, Fine, Porter & Johnson, LLP, has been recognized by The Indiana Lawyer as a Distinguished Barrister for making a positive impact on the legal profession and in the community. The Indiana Lawyer annually honors members of the legal community who have shown a commitment to their profession and the clients they serve with the Leadership in Law Distinguished Barrister award. Johnson will receive the award at a recognition ceremony, May 2, in Indianapolis.
“Through professional commitments, social and civic involvement, and volunteer efforts, lawyers serve a diverse citizenry and business community,” said Kelly Lucas, editor of The Indiana Lawyer. “The Leadership in Law Distinguished Barrister award is a tribute and testament of Indiana lawyers’ contributions to the legal profession and the communities they live and work. We are pleased to announce Mr. Johnson has been recognized as one of 15 Distinguished Barristers for his leadership in the legal profession and in his community.”
For more than 25 years, Johnson has demonstrated his leadership skills in representing clients -- from reaching agreement through procedural and preliminary matters to obtaining favorable summary judgments and jury verdicts in cases he has tried before state courts and in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, and handling appeals at the Seventh Circuit Court Indiana Court of Appeals and Indiana Supreme Court.
In the legal community, Johnson is actively involved in the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana, serving as President Elect and leading the organization in the upcoming term. Prior to this role, he served as secretary of the organization and also Amicus Chair for more than 10 years, filing many cases on behalf of DCTI. In 2007, DTCI named him Indiana Defense Lawyer of the Year for promoting interests of the Indiana Defense Bar and his participation in state and national defense organizations, including the Defense Research Institute and the selective American Board of Trial Advocates, which requires a minimum of 25 jury trials to verdict. He also serves on the Local Rules Advisory Committee of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
In the Evansville community, he is an active board member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ohio Valley and personally volunteers at the House on a regular basis as a front desk host, assisting with the check-in of new guests and “making them feel comfortable and assured that they have a safe, relaxing place where they can focus their time on their ill child and not worry about meals and a place to sleep,” as stated by Theresa Floyd-Maas, House Operations Manager of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ohio Valley, in her nomination letter.
Johnson also made a big impact in the community through his involvement with the Carver Community Organization.
“During Jim’s ten years on the board of directors, our organization tripled in the clients served and the number of employees,” said David Wagner, Executive Director of Carver Community Organization, in his nomination letter. “We purchased the first independently owned facility and added a second facility for our senior participants. This organization growth required additional skills and strengths from our board of directors. It was a difficult transition; and without Jim’s dedication and commitment of time and talent, it was very probable Carver’s board and the organization as a whole would have been overwhelmed.”
Johnson was admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1987 and, since then, has been admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. His areas of practice include commercial and civil litigation, products liability and appeals. Rated “Pre-eminent” by AV® Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rated for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability™, Johnson has been recognized in “Best Lawyers of America®” 2012 and 2013 in the appellate practice area in the Evansville metropolitan area.
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ABOUT RUDOLPH, FINE, PORTER & JOHNSON, LLP.
Founded in 1987, Rudolph, Fine, Porter & Johnson, LLP, is a full-service practice law firm dedicated to providing clients with high-quality, cost-effective representation. Using a team approach and the latest technology, its experienced attorneys offer professional legal services ranging from small business matters and insurance defense cases to highly complex financial transactions and business litigation to a variety of individual and business clients. Practice areas include civil and commercial litigation, corporate and business law, employment and labor law, probate and estate planning, real estate law and family law. Visit www.rfpj.com for more information.