Over the past 55 years, one Seymour lawyer has raised the standard for practicing law across the country.
While his work has left a lasting impact inside and outside Jackson County, with the New Year came the end of an era Wednesday.
Roger Pardieck closed the doors for good at The Pardieck Law Firm, located at 100 N. Chestnut St.
Pardieck, who was born in Seymour in 1937, graduated from Shields High School in 1955 before getting his undergraduate degree at Indiana University in 1959.
He then attended International Graduate School in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1960 before finishing up his law degree in Bloomington in 1963.
After receiving his final diploma, Pardieck’s career took a turn he didn’t expect.
"I had intended to teach, and I had an assistantship at IU," Pardieck said. "I was contacted by the local judge at that time, John M. Lewis, who asked if I would consider serving as special prosecutor. The elected prosecutor had been held incapable of fulfilling his duties in or out of court. I really was not interested in that."
Pardieck declined at the time, but Lewis was persistent in giving the recent grad a job.
"Six months later, (Lewis) contacted me again and said that all of the local attorneys that had been serving as special prosecutors for nothing were tired of doing that and asked if I would consider it again if they could come up with some money," Pardieck said. "He said it would only be six months to a year, so I thought that could fit and agreed to do it and was sworn in on Jan. 1, 1964."
Lewis threw Pardieck into a trial-by-fire situation, as he tried a case nine days after starting.
"I was totally incompetent to try a case," Pardieck admitted. "I tried it, and the jury was out in 20 minutes and the guy was acquitted."
Pardieck didn’t have much time to study up, as he tried another case Jan. 20.
While he was learning a lot on the fly, it was after that case that he knew where his future was heading.
"I was hooked," Pardieck said. "The second trial lasted two weeks, and the jury was out 13 hours. I decided that’s what I wanted to do. I enjoyed the prosecution side of it. I enjoyed working with the sheriff’s department and state troopers. It was like a team, and it was a good team. We hadn’t tried a criminal case in this county for quite some time because of the difficulties with the elected prosecutor."
Once Pardieck’s time as special prosecutor came to an end, three men created a firm in Seymour.
Montgomery, Elsner and Pardieck began as a merger of two law firms, the Montgomery firm and the Pardieck firm, in 1964. Edward P. Elsner Jr. joined the Montgomery and Pardieck firm in 1971, creating what is now Montgomery, Elsner and Pardieck.
"Ed Elsner and Richard Montgomery were both excellent attorneys," Pardieck said. "The were top-rated. They were willing to take a young lawyer in who didn’t know anything and tutor him a little bit. I liked to try cases, and they didn’t. Things turned out, and we did pretty well. The trial aspect of the firm sort of took over as far as gross income and client draw."
Pardieck was with the firm until 1985 when he opened his own separate firm. That firm is the one that just closed shop.
Pardieck Law Firm’s practice limited to the areas of product liability and environmental litigation as well as medical malpractice, general personal injury and business litigation.
Over the years, Pardieck tried some major cases in the state.
He is one of only two Indiana lawyers to be invited by his peers to join The Inner Circle of Advocates. Membership is limited to 100 lawyers in the United States who have been lead counsel in more than 50 jury trials and obtained two or more million-dollar verdicts.
Pardieck was named Indiana Trial Lawyer of the Year in 1996 and 2011.
To receive the award, a lawyer must work to protect the rights of injured victims and consumers as well as earn the respect of his peers. In addition, the recipient must have successfully handled a case of significant public impact.
The Inner Circle described Pardieck’s 2011 case, which awarded a family in New Albany millions, an important one.
Tried in New Albany in August and September 2010, Pardieck tried a case that was a culmination of 16 years of work that included hundreds of depositions, appeals to the Indiana Court of Appeals and Indiana Supreme Court and finally, a five-week jury trial.
Along the way, expert witnesses died, the original presiding judge retired and the Ebling children, who were infants when the case began, were teenagers when it ended.
"The result was a $23.5 million dollar jury verdict awarded to the Ebling children for neurological injuries due to pesticides that were sprayed in their apartment," The Inner Circle wrote in a news release in 2011. "But more importantly, the case contributed to the removal of dangerous chemicals from the marketplace and discourages the misuse and misapplication of the pesticides that are used so frequently in our schools and homes."
Since 1983, Pardieck has been listed as one of the Best Lawyers in America. He also has been listed in Who’s Who in American Law since 1989 and as a Top 50 Lawyer in Indiana Super Lawyers Magazine from 2005 to the present.
Pardieck is a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, which has a membership limited to 500 active U.S. members.
Pardieck was president of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association in 1975 and 1976 and a member of the board of directors from 1970 to the present. He served on the board of governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America from 1985 to 1987.
The Indiana Trial Lawyers Association presented him a lifetime achievement award in 2001.
He was inducted into the Indiana University School of Law Academy of Law Alumni Fellows in 2008.
While he takes pride in his work, Pardieck also said he is proud of how the firm has given back to the community in different ways over the years.
One of the biggest events Pardieck is a part of every year is Kids Fest. He and his staff have been a mainstay at the annual event that provides resources and a day of fun to children and their families.
The firm educates children about bicycle safety, how to implement what they learn through a bicycle rodeo and get fitted for a new helmet.
The first 100 children who complete the program receive a free helmet courtesy of the firm.
While Pardieck could have moved to another community to work, he said he never thought about leaving Seymour.
"You get up every morning and try to do your best," he said. "You just have to follow your instincts on where you fit. I liked Seymour and the people. I could’ve made a living other places, but I don’t think I would have been as happy. It’s a great place to raise kids, and if you have relatives all around you, it’s a comfortable place to be."
Pardieck said he has a simple message for future lawyers.
"Follow your bliss," he said. "If you happen to like litigation, get into the prosecutor’s office. Try as many cases as you can. Don’t worry about being totally incompetent to do that. That’s how you learn. If you can get associated with an experienced lawyer like I did, all the better."
While his office is closed, Pardieck said he will be finishing up cases for the next two to three years.
He said he plans on traveling with his wife, Mary Ann, in retirement.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Leaving a legacy” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Roger Pardieck has left a lasting legacy for his work as an attorney in southern Indiana.
Professional work
1985 to 2019: The Pardieck Law Firm in Seymour. Practice limited to product liability and environmental litigation as well as medical malpractice, general personal injury and business litigation.
1965 to 1984: Montgomery, Elsner and Pardieck in Seymour
1964 to 1965: Special prosecuting attorney of Jackson County
Memberships and affiliations
International Academy of Trial Lawyers
Indiana University School of Law Academy of Law Alumni Fellows
The Inner Circle of Advocates
Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, president 1975 to 1976, board of directors 1970 to present
Association of Trial Lawyers of America board of governors, 1985to 1987
American Board of Trial Advocates Public Justice
Indiana College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
Roscoe Pound Foundation, Fellow
National Board of Trial Advocacy, civil trial advocate
Indiana State Bar Association, board of governors 1980 to 1982, chairman, trial lawyers section 1980 to 1981
Indiana Bar Foundation, Fellow
Jackson County Bar Association, president 1969
Publications
“The Impact of Comparative Fault in Indiana,” 17 Indiana Law Review 925, 1984
“Is the Danger Really Open and Obvious?” 19 Indiana Law Review 383, 1986
“The Disappearing Rights of Plaintiffs Under a Legal Disability,” 20 Indiana Law Review 385, 1987
Numerous publications and presentations at trial lawyers associations in the United States and Austria as well as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
Other
Indiana Trial Lawyer of the Year, 1996 and 2011
Indiana Trial Lawyers Association’s lifetime achievement award, 2001
Indiana Super Lawyer, 2004 to present
National Trial Lawyers Top 100, 2011 to present
[sc:pullout-text-end]