James M. Portelli

Jim is a partner at Spangler, Jennings & Dougherty, P.C. He concentrates his practice in civil tort and trial litigation. Jim's practice focuses on personal injury, medical/dental malpractice, insurance defense, product liability and complex litigation matters. Jim's practice also includes resolving insurance coverage disputes, as well as business and construction disputes. As a Registered Civil Mediator in Indiana, Jim is available to help opposing parties fairly and efficiently settle their cases. Jim has been awarded the Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating of AV(r) Preeminent (TM) which is the highest rating for professional excellence available from Martindale-Hubbell.

Education

Detroit Catholic Central High School (1986)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
B.A. Philosophy, with distinction (1990)
President, Delta Chi Fraternity, Michigan Chapter (1988-1989)
Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington, IN
Juris Doctorate (1993)
Associate Editor, Adelphia Law Journal (1991 - 1992)

Professional

Admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1993
United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 1993
United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana, 1993
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1993
Member, Indiana State Bar Association
Presenter, Advanced Expert Witness Deposition Tactics in Indiana
Vice President of Spangler, Jennings & Dougherty, P.C. 2009 - 2011

Biographical Description

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Jim attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he graduated with distinction in 1990. He graduated from the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington, Indiana in 1993. Since 1993, Jim has lived in Northwest Indiana and has practiced law with Spangler, Jennings & Dougherty, P.C. Jim specializes as a civil trial lawyer and litigator. With over fifty (50) jury and bench trials to his credit, Jim's extensive litigation experience encompasses a wide variety of practice areas including personal injury, medical malpractice, insurance defense, products liability, and mass tort litigation, as well as the litigation of business disputes, insurance coverage disputes, and construction issues and injuries. He effectively counsels a number of healthcare providers in medical malpractice, risk management and licensing issues. Additionally, Jim is a Registered Civil Mediator in Indiana and can utilize his experience to help parties resovle their disputes and efficiently settle their cases. Jim also represents residential property owners associations, assisting them in covenant compliance and other issues. Jim and his family live in Valparaiso, Indiana and are active in the Valparaiso Lions Club, helping to serve the needs of the visually impaired, hearing impaired and diabetic in the community.