Practice areas: Personal Injury, Civil Rights; view more
Licensed in Indiana since: 2013
Education: Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2026 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2017 - 2025 Call today:
317-296-5294
Waldron Tate Land LLC
156 E Market St5th Floor
Indianapolis, IN 46204 Visit website
Brandon E. Tate is a trial attorney and member of Waldron Tate Land LLC, licensed to practice in both Indiana and Illinois. His practice is centered on high-stakes litigation, with an emphasis on catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, civil rights litigation under Section 1983, and complex jury trials in both state and federal court.
Brandon is particularly experienced in litigating claims involving catastrophic injuries and constitutional violations involving government misconduct, including excessive force, fatal police shootings, injuries arising from high-speed pursuits, and other serious claims against municipalities, counties, and law enforcement agencies. He represents individuals and families throughout Indiana in matters involving life-changing injuries, wrongful deaths, and significant civil rights violations.
A seasoned trial lawyer, Brandon has handled jury trials across Indiana and has argued before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He has secured numerous verdicts and recoveries exceeding applicable insurance policy limits and has obtained substantial results in both plaintiff-side injury matters and complex business disputes.
Among his most significant results, Brandon was part of the trial team that obtained a $159 million jury verdict on behalf of a catastrophically injured client rendered quadriplegic by an intoxicated driver—reported as the largest jury verdict in Indiana history. He also served as lead trial counsel in a shareholder oppression and fiduciary duty case that resulted in a $13.7 million verdict.
In federal court, Brandon served on a trial team in a police shooting wrongful death case that resulted in a $1.2 million jury verdict for the decedent’s estate.
Representative verdicts and recoveries include:
- $159 Million – Motor vehicle collision resulting in quadriplegia (Boone County)
- $13.7 Million – Corporate fiduciary duty/shareholder oppression litigation (Jackson County)
- $1.2 Million – Police shooting wrongful death verdict in federal court
- $850,000 – Premises liability/slip-and-fall (Marion County)
- $350,000 – Pedestrian injury claim (Marion County)
- $275,000 – Motor vehicle collision (Marion County)
- $161,000 plus fees and interest – Eminent domain/access easement dispute (Johnson County)
Brandon has been selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars annually from 2017 through 2025 and was named an Indiana Super Lawyer in 2026. In 2021, he received the Max Goodwin Young Lawyer Award from the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, where he currently serves on the Board of Directors. Additionally, in 2025, Brandon, along with Ann Marie Waldron and Katie Piscione of Waldron Tate Land LLC, were named Trial Lawyers of the Year by the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association.
Beyond active litigation, Brandon frequently collaborates with attorneys across Indiana as co-counsel and strategic litigation partner, particularly in cases involving serious injury, wrongful death, and evolving areas of Indiana law. His practice is driven by a focus on courtroom advocacy, accountability, and meaningful results for clients facing significant loss or injustice.
Brandon earned his J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, where he received the Norman Lefstein Award of Excellence for completing more than 200 hours of pro bono service. He earned his B.S., cum laude, in Political Science with a minor in Economics from Clemson University.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Civil RightsFocus areas
Animal Bites, Brain Injury, Construction Accident, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Police Misconduct, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Sexual Abuse - Plaintiff, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 60% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 40% Civil Rights
First Admitted: 2013, Indiana
Professional Webpage: https://indytriallawyers.com/attorneys/brandon-tate/
Bar / Professional Activity
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
- Indiana State Bar Association - Solo/Small Firm Conference Planning Committee Member, 2014 - 2023
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- Illinois
- Indiana
- ISBA Solo/Small Firm Conference - Social Committee Co-Chair, 2018 - 2019
- Indiana State Bar Association - Solo/Small Firm Conference Programming Committee Co-Chair, 2020 - 2021
- ISBA Young Lawyer Section Council Member, 2017 - 2019
- ISBA Young Lawyer Section Council Chair, 2023
- Indiana State Bar Association - Solo/Small Firm Conference Vice-Chair, 2022 - 2023
- ISBA Young Lawyer Section Committee Chair, 2022
- ISBA Young Lawyer Section Committee Secretary-Treasurer, 2021
- ISBA Young Lawyer Section Committee Member, 2020
- ISBA Young Lawyer Section Golf Scramble Committee Co-Chair, 2019
- ISBA Solo/Small Firm Conference - Programming Committee Co-Chair, 2019
- ISBA Young Lawyer Section Golf Scramble Committee Co-Chair, 2018
- Indiana State Bar Association - Solo/Small Firm Conference Planning (Member - 2013-Current) and Marketing Committee (Co-Vice Chair 2016-2018), 2013
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Excessive Force Verdict - $1,200,000.00. Police Action Shooting killing an individual. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officers., 2022
- Motor Vehicle Collision Jury Verdict - $275,157.47 , 2025
- Forced Sale Verdict (Bench Trial) - Client was an oppressed minority shareholder in a corporation suing the majority shareholder for breaches of fiduciary duty. Court ordered the majority shareholder to purchase the minority shareholders shares., 2024
- $13,700,000.00 Jury Verdict - Client was an oppressed minority shareholder in a corporation suing the majority shareholder for breaches of fiduciary duty., 2024
- $159,000,000.00 Jury Verdict - Client became quadriplegic as a result of being hit by a drunk driver. This is the largest reported Jury Verdict in any area of law in the State of Indiana., 2024
- Automobile Collision -$45,000.00 Motor Vehicle Collision Soft Tissue Injury (Marion County), 2023
- Eminent Domain - $161,000.00 (plus interest and attorneys fees) Value of two access easements taken by the State where properties served by the easements were taken two months after the easements – State requested Jury award $0 and $1 respectively for the Easements (Johnson County), 2022
- Slip and Fall Verdict - $510,000.00 after fault apportioned. Approximately $28k in medical bills paid., 2021
Educational Background
- Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, Bachelor of Science, cum laude, Major: Political Science, Minor: Economics, 2010
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Presented on "Cause and Origin: Timely Securing Fire Scenes and your Experts, and the Importance of Speed" at the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association Lifetime Achievement Conference., Presenter, Cause and Origin: Timely Securing Fire Scenes and your Experts, and the Importance of Speed, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association Lifetime Achievement Conference, 2023
- Brandon taught the Criminal Law (MBE) portion of the June 2019 Indianapolis Bar Association's Bar Review Course., Presenter, Criminal Law - Bar Exam Course, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2019
- Brandon taught the Criminal Law (MBE) portion of the January 2017 Indianapolis Bar Association's Bar Review Course., Presenter, Criminal Law - Bar Exam Course, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2017
- Brandon taught the Criminal Law (MBE) portion of the January 2019 Indianapolis Bar Association's Bar Review Course., Presenter, Criminal Law - Bar Exam Course, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2019
- Brandon taught the Criminal Law (MBE) portion of the June 2018 Indianapolis Bar Association's Bar Review Course., Presenter, Criminal Law - Bar Exam Course, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2018
- Brandon taught the Criminal Law (MBE) portion of the January 2018 Indianapolis Bar Association's Bar Review Course., Presenter, Criminal Law - Bar Exam Course, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2018
- Brandon taught the Criminal Law (MBE) portion of the June 2017 Indianapolis Bar Association's Bar Review Course., Presenter, Criminal Law - Bar Exam Course, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2017
Honors
- Factors to be considered include: 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., Trial Lawyer of the Year, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, 2025
- The Max Goodwin Young Lawyer Award is presented to a rising attorney who demonstrates the same passion, perseverance, and dedication that made Max Goodwin a revered figure in our profession., Max Goodwin Young Lawyer Excellence in Advocacy Award, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, 2021
- Selected to the Super Lawyers List, Super Lawyers, 2026
- Selected to Rising Star List - 2017 - 2025, Super Lawyers
- Awarded for amassing more than two hundred Pro Bono hours while a student at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law., Norman Lefstein Award for Excellence, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, 2013
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“Brandon is an excellent legal mind. He is demeanor in court is superb and his willingness to help his colleagues is unmatched.”
“Fantastic Federal 1983 attorney!”
“Brandon is a tremendous lawyer who uses his excellent statutory knowledge base to advocate for clients. ”
“Brandon is a very skilled young attorney and has a knack for understanding the Trial Rules and using them to advocate for his clients.”
“Brandon Tate is not only an excellent advocate for his clients, but is a great resource and contributor to the Indiana State and local bar associations. Brandon has served as a mentor to me and my firm, among other solo and small firm attorneys throughout Indiana. ”
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2026
- Rising Stars: 2017 - 2025
