2023 Max Goodwin Young Lawyer of the Year - Alexander Craig
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Alexander R. Craig is a partner at Craig, Kelley and Faultless LLC, a personal injury law firm with lawyers licensed in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri. The firm is headquartered in Indianapolis with multiple office locations in Indiana, and one in St. Louis, Missouri. Alex obtained his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from St. Louis University’s John Cook School of Business in 2011 and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2013. Alex has been chosen every year as Top 40 Under 40 by The National Trial Lawyers since 2015. He has also been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star Honoree since 2021. He has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 29th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® in the practice area of: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. Alex has successfully handled several jury trials. Alex focuses his legal practice on representing people who have been injured by others’ negligence or disregard for safety. He handles commercial motor vehicle cases, serious injury cases, wrongful death, and other types of personal injury accidents. He has handled pro-bono civil rights cases and participates in many community service events sponsored by the firm.
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"For distinguished service to the citizens of Indiana and the United States as an outstanding young lawyer dedicated to protecting the rights of the injured under the laws of the State of Indiana and the United States of America"
Alex was nominated for the Max Goodwin Young Lawyer Award
by Samantha Craig Stevens.
The text of his nomination is below.
Alex has spent his entire career helping injured people. He started at Craig, Kelley and Faultless as a courier in high school and worked as a law clerk for several years before becoming an attorney. Since becoming licensed as an attorney, he has tried a total of 7 jury trials (4 as first chair). Just in this last year, he has tried a personal injury case to a jury, won an appeal, and briefed a case for the Indiana Supreme Court (which has yet to be decided).
In September of 2022, he was first chair in the trial Yun v. the Estate of Fitting in Marion County in which his client suffered injuries to the facet joints in her neck and back and liability was contested. Defense counsel argued the jury should not award more than $30,000. After more than eleven (11) hours of deliberation, the jury awarded $702,613.39 which was significantly more than the last demand before trial. Alex successfully obtained pre-judgment interest and $1,000 of attorneys’ fees added postverdict.
Also, in September of 2022, Alex was the lead attorney on a favorable appellate decision for victims of dog bites throughout Indiana in the published decision of Daniels v. Drake, 195 N.E.3d 866 (Ind. Ct. App. 2022). The appellate decision acts as a road map in overcoming summary judgment in a case where there is no evidence that the dog owner had actual knowledge of the dog’s dangerous propensities. The Appellees have since filed a Petition to Transfer this case to the Indiana Supreme Court. The case has been fully briefed and is just waiting for a decision from the Supreme Court. DTCI and ITLA have both field amicus briefs before the Supreme Court.
Alex is a great example of a young lawyer helping injured Hoosiers.
In September of 2022, he was first chair in the trial Yun v. the Estate of Fitting in Marion County in which his client suffered injuries to the facet joints in her neck and back and liability was contested. Defense counsel argued the jury should not award more than $30,000. After more than eleven (11) hours of deliberation, the jury awarded $702,613.39 which was significantly more than the last demand before trial. Alex successfully obtained pre-judgment interest and $1,000 of attorneys’ fees added postverdict.
Also, in September of 2022, Alex was the lead attorney on a favorable appellate decision for victims of dog bites throughout Indiana in the published decision of Daniels v. Drake, 195 N.E.3d 866 (Ind. Ct. App. 2022). The appellate decision acts as a road map in overcoming summary judgment in a case where there is no evidence that the dog owner had actual knowledge of the dog’s dangerous propensities. The Appellees have since filed a Petition to Transfer this case to the Indiana Supreme Court. The case has been fully briefed and is just waiting for a decision from the Supreme Court. DTCI and ITLA have both field amicus briefs before the Supreme Court.
Alex is a great example of a young lawyer helping injured Hoosiers.