2025 Trial Lawyer of the Year
Ann Marie Waldron, Waldron/Tate/Land
Ann Marie Waldron is a member at Waldron Tate Land LLC. Ann Marie focuses her practice on personal injury, medical malpractice, and business/real estate transactions and litigation. Ann Marie was selected as a Super Lawyer in 2020 and 2021.
Among her most notable successes, Ann Marie served as counsel, along with Brandon Tate and Katie Piscione, in a case involving a client who suffered catastrophic injuries from an accident caused by a drunk driver that left their client a quadriplegic. They were able to secure a jury verdict of $159 Million, which stands as the largest reported Jury Verdict in Indiana history.
Additionally, Ann Marie served as lead counsel in a case involving a client who suffered catastrophic injuries from an accident caused by a drunk driver that left the 32-year-old plaintiff a quadriplegic. Ann Marie and her team were able to secure a verdict of more than $35 million, which stands as one of the largest personal injury verdicts ever awarded in Indiana. This verdict was recognized as the 57th highest jury verdict nationwide in 2017. In addition, she has handled numerous other claims in which she recovered substantial settlements and awards for her clients.
Ann Marie Waldron received her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1991 and her J.D., magna cum laude, from Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis in 1995, where she served as the first Symposium Editor of the Indiana Law Review and was a member of the Order of the Barristers. Immediately following law school, she clerked for Hon. Robert H. Staton, Court of Appeals of Indiana.
In 2025, Ann Marie was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), an organization that has worked to advance the civil jury trial and elevate the standards of integrity, civility, and professionalism in the legal profession. The organization has more than 7,600 members including plaintiff personal injury lawyers, civil defense lawyers and judges spread among 95 Chapters in all 50 States and the District of Columbia. ABOTA is an invitation-only organization requiring members to demonstrate significant litigation experience including at least 10 civil jury trials.
Ann Marie is a member of the Indianapolis and Indiana State (Past Chair, GP, Solo & Small Firm Section; Chair, Solo & Small Firm Conference) bar associations. She has been active in the Notre Dame Club of Indianapolis and its Notre Dame Lawyers Committee.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and is an avid scuba diver, diving throughout the Caribbean, South America and on the Great Barrier Reef. When she isn’t travelling, she spends time golfing, watching sports, riding motorcycles and enjoying time with her husband as an empty nester now that their 6 children are grown.
Ann Marie and her husband are currently in the middle of completing the Great Loop on their boat MADMAKS’ Inheritance. (“MADMAK” are the initials of their children, Misty, Adam, Drew, Miles, Amelia & Katie whose inheritance is being spent on the boat!). For more information about their journeys, you can follow their blog at www.twoboatinglawyers.com
Representative Jury Verdicts:
Among her most notable successes, Ann Marie served as counsel, along with Brandon Tate and Katie Piscione, in a case involving a client who suffered catastrophic injuries from an accident caused by a drunk driver that left their client a quadriplegic. They were able to secure a jury verdict of $159 Million, which stands as the largest reported Jury Verdict in Indiana history.
Additionally, Ann Marie served as lead counsel in a case involving a client who suffered catastrophic injuries from an accident caused by a drunk driver that left the 32-year-old plaintiff a quadriplegic. Ann Marie and her team were able to secure a verdict of more than $35 million, which stands as one of the largest personal injury verdicts ever awarded in Indiana. This verdict was recognized as the 57th highest jury verdict nationwide in 2017. In addition, she has handled numerous other claims in which she recovered substantial settlements and awards for her clients.
Ann Marie Waldron received her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1991 and her J.D., magna cum laude, from Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis in 1995, where she served as the first Symposium Editor of the Indiana Law Review and was a member of the Order of the Barristers. Immediately following law school, she clerked for Hon. Robert H. Staton, Court of Appeals of Indiana.
In 2025, Ann Marie was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), an organization that has worked to advance the civil jury trial and elevate the standards of integrity, civility, and professionalism in the legal profession. The organization has more than 7,600 members including plaintiff personal injury lawyers, civil defense lawyers and judges spread among 95 Chapters in all 50 States and the District of Columbia. ABOTA is an invitation-only organization requiring members to demonstrate significant litigation experience including at least 10 civil jury trials.
Ann Marie is a member of the Indianapolis and Indiana State (Past Chair, GP, Solo & Small Firm Section; Chair, Solo & Small Firm Conference) bar associations. She has been active in the Notre Dame Club of Indianapolis and its Notre Dame Lawyers Committee.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and is an avid scuba diver, diving throughout the Caribbean, South America and on the Great Barrier Reef. When she isn’t travelling, she spends time golfing, watching sports, riding motorcycles and enjoying time with her husband as an empty nester now that their 6 children are grown.
Ann Marie and her husband are currently in the middle of completing the Great Loop on their boat MADMAKS’ Inheritance. (“MADMAK” are the initials of their children, Misty, Adam, Drew, Miles, Amelia & Katie whose inheritance is being spent on the boat!). For more information about their journeys, you can follow their blog at www.twoboatinglawyers.com
Representative Jury Verdicts:
- $159,000,000.00 Motor Vehicle Collision – Quadriplegia (Boone County) – Largest reported Jury Verdict in Indiana History
- $35,000,000.00 Motor Vehicle Collision – Quadriplegia (Marion County)
- $1,500,000.00 Motor Vehicle Collision involving Tractor-Trailer (Kosciusko County)
- $850,000.00 Slip and Fall (Marion County)
- $3,300,000.00 Crane Wrongful Death Settlement
- $1,250,000.00 – Traumatic Injuries – Motor Vehicle Collision
- Personal Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Medical Malpractice
- Business and Real Estate Transactions and Litigation
- Arbitration, Mediation, and Dispute Resolution
Trial Lawyer of the Year Award Criteria
A lawyer who upholds the honor of the legal profession and is a true defender of the people; a lawyer who works to protect the rights of injured victims and consumers; a lawyer who successfully handles a case of major public importance in state or federal court, including appellate courts; a lawyer who assists ITLA in their efforts to protect the rights of consumers and injured victims at the state legislature and the U.S. Congress; a lawyer who devotes substantial time and effort to further the mission of ITLA by serving as a member; a lawyer who frequently publishes articles and gives presentations in support of the rights of injured victims and consumer rights; and lastly, a lawyer who earns admiration and respect for trial lawyers as a result of noteworthy activities.
Anne Marie, Brandon Tate, and Katie Piscione's Nomination
Submitted by Sarah Graziano
In 2023-2025 Ann Marie, Brandon Tate & Katie Piscione have teamed up and obtained tremendous results in trial for deserving clients as well as a devasting loss. They are fighting every single day for the clients as evidenced by both their wins and their willingness to try difficult cases. Here are dome of the results:
Rodney Napier v. Justin Davis Verdict: $350,000.00 - Client was driving his motorized wheelchair across the road at an intersection when he was struck by a vehicle turning left. There was no marked crosswalk or sidewalks on either side of the intersection and it was dark outside around 5:30 a.m. Renal tear that healed and broken ribs. Treatment done after around 6 months mostly just PT. Stanley number of $38,000.00.
Case 2 (Ann Marie and Katie): Verdict: $146,430.00 - Individual walking out of a City Barbeque. Tripped and fell on a mat that was out on the floor just on the exterior side of the doors. Fractured her shoulder. Stanley number of $2,300.00.
Case 3 (Ann Marie, Brandon and Katie): Sherry Schnee, David Mark Schnee v Ryann Early Verdict: $159,000,000.00 - Drunk driver hit Mrs. Schnee's vehicle head-on after Mrs. Schnee had dropped her son off at work. As a result, she became quadriplegic. Were not allowed to inform the jury that the Defendant was drunk. Stanley number of $914,000.00. Verdict was $84,000,000.00 to Mrs. Schnee and $75,000,000.00 to Mr. Schnee for his loss of consortium claim.
Case 4 (Brandon): In Re: Docketing of Ralph Pardieck Trust Trial: $13,700,000.00 - Two week jury trial on breach of fiduciary duties primarily between the two sons of Ralph Pardieck who owned a large scale mobile home park down in Seymour with a claim existing by our Client against the mother of the two sons passed away prior to trial. We represented the oppressed minority shareholder against the majority shareholder who had the control of the company. The Jury entered their verdict for the breaches of fiduciary duty at $13,700,000.00. Additionally, the Court granted our request for a Forced Sale requiring the majority shareholder to buy out the oppressed minority shareholders. The jury also set aside the Trust of Ralph Pardieck at our request for undue influence. Intertwined issues of Trust and corporate disputes.
Case 5 (Brandon and Katie): Hollett v. Favors Trial: $275,000.47 (excess verdict) -It was a Rear-End Collision admitted fault case in Marion County that happened over 4 years ago. Fair amount of damage to the trunk area of our client's car, but our client's vehicle was operable, not much damage to the Defendant's vehicle, and the Defendant characterized herself as going 5-10 mph.
Case 6 (Brandon and Katie): Gregory v. Phares Trial: $15,000 -14 year old back seat passenger in a car. Driver failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck by another driver. Cuts from broken glass and other injuries.
Case 7 (Ann Marie, Brandon and Katie) Miller v. Tran Cause No. 29D05-1906-CT-005920 (Hamilton) Trial: April 2024 Trial: Defense Verdict -Medical Malpractice case where misdiagnosed with Lupus and several autoimmune diseases. Medical review panel found malpractice but no causation.
Rodney Napier v. Justin Davis Verdict: $350,000.00 - Client was driving his motorized wheelchair across the road at an intersection when he was struck by a vehicle turning left. There was no marked crosswalk or sidewalks on either side of the intersection and it was dark outside around 5:30 a.m. Renal tear that healed and broken ribs. Treatment done after around 6 months mostly just PT. Stanley number of $38,000.00.
Case 2 (Ann Marie and Katie): Verdict: $146,430.00 - Individual walking out of a City Barbeque. Tripped and fell on a mat that was out on the floor just on the exterior side of the doors. Fractured her shoulder. Stanley number of $2,300.00.
Case 3 (Ann Marie, Brandon and Katie): Sherry Schnee, David Mark Schnee v Ryann Early Verdict: $159,000,000.00 - Drunk driver hit Mrs. Schnee's vehicle head-on after Mrs. Schnee had dropped her son off at work. As a result, she became quadriplegic. Were not allowed to inform the jury that the Defendant was drunk. Stanley number of $914,000.00. Verdict was $84,000,000.00 to Mrs. Schnee and $75,000,000.00 to Mr. Schnee for his loss of consortium claim.
Case 4 (Brandon): In Re: Docketing of Ralph Pardieck Trust Trial: $13,700,000.00 - Two week jury trial on breach of fiduciary duties primarily between the two sons of Ralph Pardieck who owned a large scale mobile home park down in Seymour with a claim existing by our Client against the mother of the two sons passed away prior to trial. We represented the oppressed minority shareholder against the majority shareholder who had the control of the company. The Jury entered their verdict for the breaches of fiduciary duty at $13,700,000.00. Additionally, the Court granted our request for a Forced Sale requiring the majority shareholder to buy out the oppressed minority shareholders. The jury also set aside the Trust of Ralph Pardieck at our request for undue influence. Intertwined issues of Trust and corporate disputes.
Case 5 (Brandon and Katie): Hollett v. Favors Trial: $275,000.47 (excess verdict) -It was a Rear-End Collision admitted fault case in Marion County that happened over 4 years ago. Fair amount of damage to the trunk area of our client's car, but our client's vehicle was operable, not much damage to the Defendant's vehicle, and the Defendant characterized herself as going 5-10 mph.
Case 6 (Brandon and Katie): Gregory v. Phares Trial: $15,000 -14 year old back seat passenger in a car. Driver failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck by another driver. Cuts from broken glass and other injuries.
Case 7 (Ann Marie, Brandon and Katie) Miller v. Tran Cause No. 29D05-1906-CT-005920 (Hamilton) Trial: April 2024 Trial: Defense Verdict -Medical Malpractice case where misdiagnosed with Lupus and several autoimmune diseases. Medical review panel found malpractice but no causation.