Ronald J. Waicukauski
Top rated Personal Injury attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana
Johnson Jensen Williams
Practice areas: Personal Injury, Civil Rights, Professional Liability; view more
Licensed in Indiana since: 1973
Education: Harvard Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2004 - 2026 Call today:
317-269-7799
Johnson Jensen Williams
1101 N. Delaware StreetSuite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46202 Visit website
From the law office of Johnson Jensen Williams in Indianapolis, Indiana, Ronald J. Waicukauski takes on every case with the fervent passion required to achieve his clients’ goals with grace and poise. With well over a half-century of experience, he has judiciously handled cases involving personal injury law, civil and business litigation, legal malpractice, and business and commercial law, as well as class actions and mass torts.
Mr. Waicukauski completed his undergraduate studies in 1970, graduating with his Bachelor of Science degree in speech from Northwestern University. He went on to attendHarvard University Law School, where his shrewd legal acumen and talents were strengthened through his involvement in myriad on-campus activities. After receiving his Juris Doctor in 1973, as well as his license to practice law in Indiana, he pursued his LL.M. degree at The George Washington University Law School, graduating summa cum laude two years later.
A prominent legal advocate within his legal community, Mr. Waicukauski utilizes his expansive legal and practical knowledge at his clients’ behest, emphasizing personalized attention, meticulous focus and an unwavering work ethic. For his many contributions, he has been peer-review rated AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell, the organization’s highest rating, and holds a perfect score of “10.0” on Avvo. Furthermore, he was named Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers for recognition in bet-the-company litigation, and acknowledged by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in commercial litigation.
Outside his law practice, Mr. Waicukauski holds close affiliations with myriad legal organizations of prominence, such as the Indianapolis Bar Association, the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association and the Indianapolis Law Club. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Civil Rights, Professional Liability: Plaintiff, Business Litigation, Business/Corporate, Civil Litigation: PlaintiffFocus areas
Legal Malpractice, Personal Injury - Plaintiff
- 30% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 20% Civil Rights
- 20% Professional Liability: Plaintiff
- 10% Business Litigation
- 10% Business/Corporate
- 10% Civil Litigation: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 1973, Indiana
Bar / Professional Activity
- Indiana State, 1973
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, 1977
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, 1977
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- Indianapolis American Inn of Court (President, 1997–1999)
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section (Co-Chair, Training the Advocate Committee, 1996–1999)
- Indiana State Bar Association (Chair, Pre-Suit Mediation Committee, 1994–1997)
- International Association of Defense Counsel (Chair, CLE Board, 1998–2000)
- Indianapolis Bar Association
- Indiana Trial Lawyers Association
- Indianapolis Law Club
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Lite Machines v. Clary (2006): Represented small business in legal malpractice case; jury trial resulted in $3.6 million verdict for plaintiff; affirmed on appeal.
- In Re: The Matter of A.Y. (2024): Represented parents in CHINS fact-finding trial involving allegation of Medical Child Abuse, resulting in denial of CHINS petition and return of child to her family.
- DCS Administrative Appeal (2022): Represented Dr. Erika Mabes on appeal of substantiation of child abuse and neglect, resulting in unsubstantiation and Dr. Mabes returning to practice of medicine.
- Ping v. Ramey (2021): Represented plaintiff in suit against ex-husband and his girlfriend on claim for false reporting to DCS; jury trial resulted in verdict totaling $201,500; affirmed on appeal.
- Gumwood v. Simon Property Group (2018): Represented shopping center developer in antitrust suit; jury trial resulted in verdict for plaintiff which was followed by confidential settlement.
- Barfield v. Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative (2018): Represented a class of Missouri landowners against trespassing electric company; first jury trial resulted in a verdict of $79 million; after reversal by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, retrial resulted in a jury verdict of $130.5 million which was also reversed, followed by $25 million settlement.
- Wine and Canvas v. Muylle (2015): Represented defendant Muylle in suit for trademark infringement; jury trial resulted in verdict for Muylle on Wine & Canvas’ trademark claims and in favor of Muylle on counterclaim for abuse of process; as a result of verdict, Muylle now owns Wine & Canvas.
- Finnegan v. Myers (2015): Represented family in civil rights case against DCS personnel, child abuse pediatrician and Indiana State Police officer; jury trial resulted in $31 million verdict for plaintiffs.
- Hayes Lemmerz Intern., Inc. v. Law Firm (2011): Represented plaintiff in legal malpractice case, resulting in judgment for substantial damages following bench trial; matter settled on appeal for confidential amount.
Educational Background
- The George Washington University Law School, LL.M., Law, Honors: summa cum laude, 1975
- Northwestern University, Bachelor of Science, Major: Speech, Honors: with distinction, 1970
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Trial Advocacy Skills Workshop, NITA, 1986–1989
- Trial Advocacy, I.U. School of Law – Indianapolis (Adjunct Faculty), 1987–1990
- The Art of Argument, ABA, 1998
- Battle of the Titans: Daubert Hearing, DTCI, 2000
- Trying the Catastrophic Injury Case (Seminar Chair), ICLEF, 2003
- Updates on Indiana Law, Indianapolis Law Club, 2004–2025
- Class Actions: New Rules, New Decisions and Their Implications for Indiana Lawyers, Bench Bar Conference of the Indianapolis Bar Association, 2004
- Served on the faculties of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and the Defense Counsel Trial Academy.
- Taught trial and appellate advocacy at the Indiana University Schools of Law in Bloomington and Indianapolis.
- The Winning Argument, Co-Author, ABA, 2001
- The Twelve Secrets of Persuasive Argument, Co-Author, ABA, Law, 2009
- Classical Rhetoric and the Modern Trial Lawyer, Litigation, Co-Author, 2010
- Ethos and the Art of Argument, Litigation, Co-Author, 1999
- Learning the Craft, Litigation, Writer, 1998
- Law and Amateur Sports, Editor & Contributing Author, Ind. Univ. Press, 1982
Honors
- Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Indiana Super Lawyers (2004–2025)
- Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers for recognition in bet-the-company litigation.
- Holds a perfect score of “10.0” on Avvo
- Distinguished Barrister, Indiana Lawyer Leadership in Law Award, 2016
- Best Oralist, Harvard Law School, Ames Moot Court Competition, 1972
- Clarion DeWitt Hardy Scholarship Award for Forensic Attainment, Northwestern University
- Best Lawyers in America (2006–2025)
- AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
Office location for Ronald J. Waicukauski
1101 N. Delaware Street
Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Phone: 317-269-7799
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2004 - 2026
