Indianapolis law firm of Benkie & Crawford

SCOTT A. BENKIE Attorney at Law

Scott A. Benkie

Attorney at Law

Scott is a partner in the Indianapolis law firm of Benkie & Crawford where he practices in the areas of Business Litigation, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice, and Class Action Cases.

Scott earned his B.A. degree from Hanover College, Dean’s List 1979-1982 and his J.D. degree from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis, 1982-1985.

He is a member of the National Moot Court Society and has received an invitation to join Law Review,  April, 1983.

Scott is the author of several articles for the Indiana Lawyer, the Verdict and Res Gestae on the issue of punitive damages for wrongful death, including The Paradox of Punitive Damages in Wrongful Death and Punitive Damage Paradox Resolved?

He is an Adjunct Professor of Legal Writing Indiana University – Purdue University of Indianapolis.

Scott is also a sustaining member of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association.  Scott is an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, (www.martindale.com) the highest rating for quality and ethics, and is a member of the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. (2007)

Trial Practice

  • Local and State Courts in Indiana
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh District
  • Pro Hac Vice before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware

Legal Affiliations

  • American Trial Lawyers Association
  • Indiana Trial Lawyers Association
  • Martindale Hubbell, mhBarRegister.com – AV rated attorney
  • Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers 2007

Speaking Engagements and Publications

06/1999 – ITLA Verdict article: The Paradox of Punitive Damages in Wrongful Death
12/19/00 – National Business Institute: Trial Notebooks in Indiana: The Essential Trial Tool
06/2000 – ITLA Verdict article: Punitive Damages Resolved
06/05/01 – Institute of Paralegal Education: Medical Malpractice From Start to Finish
08/24/01 – Indiana Trial Lawyers Association: Elder Law from a Tort Perspective
10/23/01 – National Business Institute: Damages in Indiana Civil Trial Practice
11/19/02 – National Business Institute: Damages in Indiana Civil Trial Practice
06/03/03 – National Business Institute: Trying the Wrongful Death Case in Indiana
12/10/03 – National Business Institute: Damages in Indiana Civil Practice
10/07/04 – National Business Institute: Advanced Issues in Indiana Medical Malpractice
12/03/04 – National Business Institute: Damages in Indiana Civil Trial Practice
12/19/05 – National Business Institute: Personal Injury from Start to Finish in Indiana
05/19/06 – National Business Institute: Personal Injury Trials – Evidence
09/28/06 – National Business Institute: Tackling Medical Malpractice Issues
12/05/06 – National Business Institute: Plaintiff’s Personal Injury
04/27/07 – National Business Institute: Automobile Litigation
02/28/08 – National Business Institute:  New Litigator’s Guide to Trial Practice
04/22/08 – National Business Institute:  Rules and Procedures for Federal Court Success
08/26/08 – National Business Institute:  Auto Accident Evidence and Reconstruction
03/26/09 -National Business Institute:  Medical Malpractice A-Z
06/05/09 – National Business Institute:  Gaining the Best Settlement in Auto Injury Cases
10/29/09 – National Business Institute:  Top Six Trial Skills You Need to Know

Representative Cases

  • Durham v. U-Haul International, 722 N.E.2d 355 (Ind.App. 2000), trans. granted to Indiana Supreme Court, 745 N.E.2d 755 (Ind. 2001)
  • Barry Durham and Bill Wade v. U-Haul International, et al., 745 N.E.2d 755 (Ind. 2001)
  • Forte v. Connerwood Healthcare, Inc., et al., 745 N.E.2d 796 (Ind. 2001)
  • Kennedy v. Murphy, et. al., 640 N.E.2d 764 (Ind.App. 1994), trans. granted to Indiana Supreme Court, 659 N.E.2d 506 (Ind. 1995)
  • Widmeyer v. Faulk, Court of Appeals case # 41A01-9212-cv-416
  • Barela v. State of Indiana, 569 N.E.2d 1004 (Ind.App. 1991)
  • Henard v. State of Indiana, Court of Appeal case # 49A04-95-6-cr-00239
  • U-Haul Intern’l v. Mike Madrid, Co.. 732 N.E.2d 264 (Ind.App. 2000)
  • U-Haul Intern’l v. Nulls Mfg. Co., et al., 736 N.E.2d 271 (Ind.App.2000)
  • Ross v. Olson, 825 N.E.2d 890 (Ind.App. 2005)