Patricia Polis McCrory

Practice Profile

A graduate of the IU McKinney School of Law, Patricia is a business major and former managing partner of Harrison & Moberly, LLP. She has held leadership positions with not-for-profits as president where she was involved in strategic planning, budgeting, personnel issues and grant review. As past president of the Kiwanis Foundation of Indianapolis, she oversaw a $6 million Foundation. As President of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association, she coordinated conferences with the judiciary of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Seventh Circuit.

As a litigator and business adviser, Patricia concentrates her practice in complex business litigation including litigation of intellectual property disputes, trade dress infringement, director and officer liability environmental contamination, and lender liability. Patricia’s clients include corporations, sole proprietorships, limited liability companies, not-for-profit entities, health care providers and financial institutions. She has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® (2009-2025) in the areas of Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Insurance; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, and by Indiana Super Lawyers® in Business Litigation and Environmental (2004-2025). Patricia has a 2024 Martindale AV® Preeminent peer review rating. Patricia was recognized twice by The Best Lawyers in America®, most recently in the 2024 Indianapolis Mass Tort Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants and Litigation – Insurance “Lawyer of the Year.” Only a single lawyer per practice area in each community is honored as a “Lawyer of the Year.”

Ms. McCrory is regularly called upon by clients with environmental concerns on the regulatory and litigation fronts, including petroleum operators and dry cleaners. She has assisted property owners throughout the state with a myriad of legal issues including Brownfields redevelopment. Patricia is also the owner and sole member of Mediation Roundtable, LLC (mediationroundtable@icloud.com)

Bar Memberships

• Indiana
• Indianapolis
• 7th Circuit
• Defense Trial Counsel of Defense Research Institute

Courts

• U.S. Supreme Court    
• Indiana Supreme Court  
• U.S. District Courts (Northern and Southern Districts)
• 7th District Court of Appeals

Education

• IU McKinney School of Law, J.D.    
• Indiana Law Review, Associate Editor   
• University of Indianapolis, B.S., cum laude

Experience 

Corporate Litigation

• Tippecanoe County Right to Life, Inc. vs. Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation, doing business as CityBus; United States District for the Northern District of Indiana, Lafayette Division, Case No. 4:18-cv-00052. Case brought by Tippecanoe County Right to Life, Inc. for declaratory and injunctive relief as well as damages against Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation (d/b/a CityBus) over the actions of CityBus in rejecting a proposed advertisement to be placed on the side of its buses. CityBus rejected the proposed ad stating that the ad expressed a political viewpoint. The case involved the First Amendment and Freedom of Speech issues along with the Fourteenth Amendment, Due Process and Equal Protection. I was lead counsel for Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation (d/b/a CityBus). Ultimately, the case was resolved after a settlement conference before the Court..
• Lead Counsel in patent infringement litigation involving catalytic converting coating processes brought in the United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana/ Hammond Division. BASF Corp. v. Aristo, Inc.
• Represented competitor in injunction action in which company failed to show that competitor took company’s client list assuming that list was a trade secret. PrimeCare Home Health v. Angels of Mercy Home Health Care, LLC.
• Represented Fortune 500 company in alleged breach of contract issues involving wireless communication systems and equipment in United States District Court. Southern District of Indiana.  ViaStar Energy, LLC v. Motorola, Inc.
• Represented financial institution in action involving alleged Lender Liability and fraud by successfully resolving a complex lender liability action from a failed marina and condominium project, involving complicated collateral disposition, bankruptcy and state law commercial lending issues. MainSource Bank v. Patricia Hereford v. Peoples Trust Co.
• Represented employer when discharged African-American salesperson brought action against employer and co-workers alleging civil rights violations and torts. The Johnson County Circuit Court granted employer summary judgment on all claims. The Court of Appeals affirmed.  Perry v. Stitzer Buick GMC, Inc.

Director and Officer Liability

• Represented officers and directors of a health care company in a case brought against them by the Indiana Department of Insurance for breach of fiduciary duties and malfeasance. Issues included alleged preference payments and liability related to continuation of benefits.  Sally B. McCarty, as the Insurance Commissioner of the Dept. of Insurance of the State of Indiana v. Alan Bloom, et al. and officers and/or directors of Maxicare Indiana, Inc. and Maxicare Health Plans, Inc.
• Represented officers and directors of a Multi-Employer Welfare Benefit Plan (MEWA) in case brought against them by the Indiana Department of Insurance for breach of fiduciary duties and malfeasance. Indiana Construction Industry Trust (ICIT), Marion County Circuit Court.
• Represented bank wherein the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded the bank could assign malpractice claim against accountants who audited bank to directors who purchased bank’s nonperforming loans. First Community Bank and Trust v. Kelley, Hardesty, Smith and Co., Inc.

Environmental

• Haber Land Co., Ltd. vs. American Steel City Industrial Leasing, Inc., et al.; United States District Court the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division, Cause No. 1:18-cv-4091-JMS-MJD. This was an action brought by Haber against a variety of defendants for environmental contamination under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) for Cost Recovery; Indiana’s Environmental Legal Action Statute; Nuisance; Trespass; Declaratory Judgment; Illegal Dumping and TSCA Citizen Suit. I was lead counsel for former owners of the site – Mosey Real Estate, Inc. I conducted depositions of the plaintiff and defended Mosey Real Estate, Inc. In a series of depositions. The case was ultimately resolved after a Settlement Conference and subsequent settlement discussions.
• Lead counsel for Titan Industries in one-week bench trial in City of Indianapolis v. Titan Industries. Matter resulted in two parcels of property being placed in the Voluntary Remediation Program.
• Represented various entities in environmental matters including actions before administrative agencies such as the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and in Superfund litigation in Indiana, Illinois, New Jersey and Tennessee.
• Represented seller of lead plates where owners of lead smelting facility brought action against seller of lead plates under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), seeking contribution to response costs for cleaning up contamination at facility. On cross-motions for summary judgment, the U.S. District Court held that sale of lead plates recycled from used batteries was sale of commercially valuable product, rather than arrangement for disposal or treatment of hazardous substance. RSR Corporation and Quemetco, Inc. v. Avanti Development, Inc., et al.
• Represented numerous petroleum operators and dry cleaners in remediation activities within the State of Indiana. Represented companies in acquiring property and in Brownfields applications.
• Represented gas station wherein the Indiana Court of Appeals found amendments to underground storage tank law did not apply retroactively to allow contribution for response costs that were incurred before its effective date and gas station’s gas vapor contamination into residences required prompt action for which agency could be reimbursed. Commissioner, Indiana Department of Environmental Management v. Bourbon Mini-art, Inc., et al., Cause No. 50A03-9912-CV-476; 741.N.E. 2d 361; 753 N.E. 2d 17 (Ind. 2001); 782 N.E. 2d 253, (Ind. 2003).

Mediation

• Appointed to the Commercial Court Neutral counsel directory (2024 to present)
• Registered Mediator in the State of Indiana (Civil) Sole Member of Mediation Roundtable, LLC
• Past Chair and Member of the Indianapolis Bar Association ADR Section Executive Committee
• Member of the Shared Neutrals Mediation Program
• Member (in good standing) of Association of Attorney-Mediators (2018-2025)
• The Indiana Registry of Domestic Relations Mediators – completed March 2023
• Judges & Lawyers Assistance Program – completed March 2023
• ICLEF Family Mediation Training Program – completed May 2024

Highlights & Recognitions

• Most Influential Women in Indianapolis – IBJ (1999)
• Distinguished Barrister – IBJ (2006)
•  The Best Lawyers in America® Commercial Litigation; Litigation- Banking & Finance, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, 2009-2025
• Women in the Law Best Lawyers – Top Peer Nominated Lawyers (2016/17-2020/21)
• SuperLawyer, 2004-2024 – Business Litigation 2004-2024 | Environmental Litigation 2024
• Martindale AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating (2016-2025)
• Sagamore Inn of Court, 2007-2025
• The Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, 2016-2021
• Top 25 Female Indiana Super Lawyers®, 2004-2025
• National Registry of Who’s Who, Life Member
• Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series, Graduate
• National Institute for Trial Advocacy Advanced Litigation Series, Graduate

Memberships & Affiliations

• Indiana State Bar Association, Environmental Section; Healthcare and Medical Section
• Indianapolis Bar Association, Environmental Section, former Chair; Health Care; and Chair (2017) of the ADR Section
• Seventh Circuit Bar Association, Past President
• Defense Research Institute (DRI), Member of Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Toxic Torts and Environmental, and ADR Committees. Chair of the DRI IP Publications Committee
• Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana, Indiana Civil Litigation Review, Board of Editors; Business Litigation Section, Chair (2015-2017). Publications Committee (2017-2018)
• IU McKinney School of Law, Honorable Cale J. Holder Scholarship Committee, Chair
• Japan America Society of Indiana
• NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) – Active Member

Civic & Charitable Organizations

• Salvation Army Advisory Board (2022 to present)
• United Way of Central Indiana Capital Projects Fund Committee; Women United; Past Chair
• Member of St. Simon The Apostle Church, (and member of Women’s Group)
• Former Member and Secretary of Indianapolis Regional Board of the Franciscan Alliance Foundation,
• St. Francis Health
• University of Indianapolis, Board of Directors 1999-2016.  Academic Affairs and Campus Life Committees (2015-2016)
• Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County Audit Committee for the Administration and Finance Committee (2012-2016) (Mayors Ballard and Hogsett)
• Indianapolis Kiwanis Club, President (2011-2012)
• Kiwanis Foundation of Indianapolis, Inc., President (2013) (Over Six Million Dollars in Assets)
• Community Hospital East Reinvestment Initiative, Cabinet Member (2013/2014)
• Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House, Past President
• Catholic Social Services of Indianapolis, Past President
• St. Thomas More Society, Past President
• Columbia Club – Board of Directors (2017-2020)

Publications

• Dealings with Expert Witnesses: A Comparison of the Federal and Indiana Rules Regarding Expert Witness Discovery and Testimony. Indiana Civil Litigation Review, Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana (Vol. IX, 2012)
• Changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Emphasis on Proportionality. Indiana Civil Litigation Review, Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana (Vol, XII, 2015)

Speaker and Panelist

• Keys to Mediation: Dealing with Government Agencies, Commercial Enterprises and Insurance Companies, Indianapolis Bar Association (November 2016)
• Chair of DRI Intellectual Property Seminar (May 7-8, 2015) and Program Vice Chair of DRI Intellectual Property Seminar (May 8-9, 2014)
• Instructor and Lecturer at Indiana Department of Environmental Management Qualified Inspector Training, January 28, 2015 |2016 | 2017
• NBI Sophisticated Deposition Strategies, December 11, 2014
• “Economic Damages in Commercial Litigation: Federal vs. State Discoverability of Expert Reports,” ICLEF, January 2013
• “Representing Your Client in Federal Courts,” NBI, April 2016, December 2013, December 2012 and October 2010
• Chair of Business Litigation Seminar (June 13, 2012 ICLEF)
• “Women’s Leadership Conference:  Connect-Mentor-Inspire,” Integrating Women Leaders, Inc., August 2011
• Accountable Care Organizations Seminar – Indianapolis, June 30, 2011
• “Non-Compliance with Environmental Laws and Regulations,” presented at the 75th Anniversary Annual Meeting of the Indiana Mineral Aggregates Association, February 2009
• “Business Valuation Litigation – Utilizing Expert Witnesses,” Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana, September 2008
• “Fundamentals of Hazardous Waste Law,” NBI seminar, December 2007
• “D & O Liability in a Softening Marketplace,” 2nd Annual Executive Liability Panel Discussion, Panelist, October 2007
• “Hot Topics in Civil Law and Procedures,” Seventh Circuit Bar Association and Judicial Conference, Panel Participant, 2006
• “Health Care: A State and Federal Perspective,” seminar chair, 2004
• “Nursing Home Malpractice in Indiana: Successful Case Management from Investigation to Trial,” National Business Institute, 2002
• “So You Have a Chemical Spill or Release – Now What?,” National Communication Association, Environmental Division, 2002
• Contact with Employees by Opposing Counsel,” Seventh Circuit Bar Association and Chair for Judicial Conference, 2001
• “The Role of Medical Records and Personnel in Indiana Civil Litigation,” National Business Institute, 2000
• “Long Term Care and Nursing Home Litigation in the State of Indiana, presenter, Indiana Continuing Education Seminar, Ixtapa, Mexico, 1999

Banking Law Articles and Blogs

• Indiana Court of Appeals Unfolds Dragnet clauses and Affirms Summary Judgment for National City against Wells Fargo Under the Doctrine of Res Judicata published in Lexology in cooperation with the Association of Corporate Counsel (July 2012)
• Good Practice Guide for Lawyers to Detect and Combat Money Laundry – the Business Litigation Impact (ICLEF, November 30, 2011)
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Weights Into Rescission Argument Under the Truth in Lending Act, April 2012
• Advisory to Financial Institutions on Filing Suspicious Activity Reports Regarding Elder Financial Exploitation, April 2011
• New Rule Adopted as of January 30, 2010 for the Bank Secrecy Act by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, December 2010
• Indiana Court of Appeals Holds That Claim Under The Fair Credit Reporting Act Survives Bankruptcy and Must Be Arbitrated, August 2010