Louis Buddy Yosha

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1937, Buddy is a life-long resident of Indianapolis, graduating from Shortridge High School. He attended the University of Alabama and Indiana University for his undergraduate education and later obtained his legal education from Indiana University and University of Southern California.

Buddy has both chaired and served on the faculty of numerous Bar Association and Continuing Legal Education seminars and has lectured to countless law school classes in and outside Indiana on many topics such as Voir Dire, Jury Selection, Principles of Opening Statement and Final Argument, Proving Injury and Damages in Personal Injury Litigation, Punitive Damages, Practical Approaches to Cross-Examination, Litigation Techniques and Cross-Examination Principles. In addition, Buddy has served on the faculty of the Ann Arbor Advocacy Institute at the University of Michigan Law School several times and has taught at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.

Guest lecturer, Indiana University Law School
On civil litigation issues, 1973-1978

Faculty, Indianapolis Bar Association Mini-Seminar
Voir Dire (Selecting a Jury) “Voir Dire by Plaintiffs in Tort Cases”, August 1977

Faculty, lecturer, teacher, Indianapolis Bar Association Mini Seminar
Nuts and Bolts of a Lawsuit, February 1981

Faculty, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum
Personal Injury Trials in Indiana
“Principles of Opening Statement and Final Argument
– View from the Plaintiff”, September 1981

Chairman, Faculty, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum
Proof of Injury & Damages in Personal Injury Litigation with Trial Demonstration
“Comments and Explanations of the Cases to be Presented”, June 1982

Faculty, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association Basic Trial Advocacy Seminar
“Voir Dire and Opening Statement”, July 1982

Faculty, Institute at Ann Arbor, Michigan
34th Annual Advocacy Institute – Ann Arbor, MI
Wrongful Death of a Spouse
“Comparative Cross Examination of Defendant’s
Physician Expert”; “Closing Argument; Plaintiff’s
Rebuttal”, May 1983

Teacher, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum
Trial Advocacy Skills Workshop, May 1983

Co-Chairman, Faculty, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum and Indiana State Bar Association
Tort Litigation and Automobile Accident Reconstruction with Trial Demonstration
“Punitive Damages: Preparation and Trial Strategy”, June 1983

Faculty, Ann Arbor Advocacy Institute at the University of Michigan Law School, 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1987
Chairman, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum;
A Legal Institute in Montego Bay, Jamaica
Indiana’s New Comparative Negligence Law, March 1984

Faculty, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum
Trial Advocacy Skills Workshop, May 1984

Faculty, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association
Impact of Comparative Fault & Repeal of the Guest
Statute on Automobile Liability Cases
“Overview of Indiana’s Comparative Negligence Statute”, September 1984.

Faculty, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum
Strategies for Representing The Routine Negligence
“Initiation of the Case”, October 1984

Chairman, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association
20th Annual Institute, November 1984

Faculty, Sponsored by several prominent law firms including the Law Firm of Livingston Dildine Haynie & Yoder, Fort Wayne, IN
Comparative Fault Seminar
“Comparative Fault – A Plaintiff’s Perspective”, November 1984

Faculty, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum
Strategies for Representing The Negligence Case
“Processing the Case From Acceptance to Settlement – Plaintiff”, February 1985

Chairman, Faculty, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum Indiana
Law Update
“Practicing Comparative Fault”, April 1985

Faculty, Ann Arbor 36th Annual Advocacy Institute – Ann Arbor, MI;
The Product Liability Case Involving the Brain Damaged Child “Direct Examination of Plaintiff, Comparative Cross Examination of Defendant, Sarah Wade” opposite Gerry Spence, May 1985

Faculty, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum
Jury Selection and the Visual Trial, April 1986.

Faculty, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum
Litigation of Injuries to the Head and Neck “Cross Examination of an Expert Witness in a Neck Injury Case”, June 1986

Faculty, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum
Practical Approaches to Cross Examination – Winning With Effective Cross Examination
“General Principles of Cross Examination From the
Plaintiff’s Perspective. Preparation for Cross Exam/ Specific Cross Exam Techniques”, September 1986

Faculty, teacher, Michigan ICLE, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Advanced Trial Advocacy Skills Workshop, October 1986

Faculty, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association
22nd Annual Institute
Legislative Update, “Insurance Crisis”, December 1986

Faculty, 38th Annual Advocacy Institute – Ann Arbor
Developing and Defending Wrongful Discharge Litigation, “Trial Demonstration: Comparative Cross Examination of Defendant Auto Franchiser”, May 1987

Faculty, Indiana University
Eleventh Annual Law Conference
“Introduction to the Indiana Comparative Fault Act”, September 1987

Chairman, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association 23rd Annual Institute
Comparative Fault, December 1987

Guest lecturer, Indiana University School ofLaw, Bloomington, Indiana
Practitioner in Residency, several litigation lectures, civil litigation techniques. One week, October 1987 and 1988

Faculty, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum and Indiana Bar Association
Products Liability Update
“The Effect of Comparative Fault on Products
Liability Litigation”, May 1988

Seminar Chair and Faculty, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum
Civil Litigation Strategies and Trial Tactics, June 1990

Chairman, Indiana State Bar Association Annual Meeting/Seminar
Proving Damages: How To Try The Case, October 1990

Moderator, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum seminar
One Man Program, “Litigation Techniques & Practice Pointers”, August 1991

Faculty, Indiana University at Bloomington Law School in conjunction with Law Day
“Comparative Fault Update”, September 1991

Faculty, The American Board of Trial Advocates
The Masters In Trial, Trial Demonstration “Direct And Cross-Examination Techniques Of Defendant”, June 1992

Faculty, National Education Network
Seminar
Cross-Examination principles
“Winning In Court”, August 1992

Chairman, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum
“An Evening with The Judges”, July 1994

Faculty and Seminar Chairman
“The Practice of Law Under Tort Reform”, October 1995

• Buddy is the only Indiana trial lawyer listed in all seven editions of “The Best Lawyers in America”, authored by two Harvard Law Professors since 1987, and published by Woodward White Publishing Co;
• He has served as a faculty member on three occasions at the prestigious three-day Mock Trial Institute at Ann Arbor, Michigan (attended by over a 1,000 trial lawyers from across the country);
• Res Gestae Award for best article (Res Gestae is the publication of the Indiana State Bar Association), 1984;
• Four cases featured in the American Trial Lawyers Association Reporter (which profiles three or four significant jury verdict cases of interest every other month from across the entire country):
• Successfully represented Englebert Humperdink on a breach of contract case (1986);
• Jones v. Avis Rent-A-Car, Inc., Ind., Johnson Cty. Circ. Ct., No. 28421 (November 1979); Justice v. Avis Rent-A-Car, Inc., Ind. Marion Cty. Super. Ct., No. S577-1260 (February 1980);
• Delmar Broeker et ux. v. Miller Pipeline Corp., et al., Ind. Marion Cty. Super. Ct., No. S180-0028 (January 1982);
• Stephen Hall v. Ramada Inn Motel, Ind., Marion Cty. Super. Ct., No. S 182-1260 (June 1984);
• Schmidt v. National Rental Car (punitive damages awarded in a case involving defective brakes on a truck).
• American Registry’s top 5% America’s Most Honored Professionals award (2011);
• Indiana’s Best Lawyers – Best Personal Injury Litigation Attorney (1997);
• Indianapolis Monthly: Best Civil Litigator in Indianapolis (1986);
• Martindale Hubbell listing “AV,” highest possible rating.

• “Trial Report: Defending a Celebrity in a Breach of Employment Contract Case”, 37 Am Jur Trials, pages 597 to 638, 1988. Article analyzing the successful defense of Engelbert Humperdink in a trial for breach of contract after Mr. Humperdink was unable to perform due to a throat illness.
• “Processing The Case From Acceptance To Settlement, From the Plaintiff’s View”, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Manual; Strategies for Representing a Plaintiff in the Routine Negligence Case, 1984
• “Practicing Tort Law Under Indiana’s Comparative Fault Statute & New Guest Act”, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Manual; Indiana Law Update, 1985
• “Sample Cross Examination of Defendant’s Expert in Soft Tissue Damage and/or Herniated Disc Case; Hypothetical Fact Statement – Suspected Herniated Disc; Hypothetical Case in a Fact Statement/Brain Damage Case”, Proof Of Injury & Damages in Personal Injury Litigation; Indiana Continuing Legal Education Manual, 1982
• “Cross Examination of Defendant’s Expert in Soft Tissue Damage and/or Herniated Disc Case”, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Manual; Litigation of Injuries & Diseases of the Head & Neck, 1986
• “General Principles of Cross Examination From The Plaintiff’s Perspective, Preparation for Cross Exam, Specific Cross Exam Techniques”, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Manual; Civil Litigation Strategies and Trial Tactics, 1990
• “The Role Of Professional Courtesy Among Litigators” The Indiana Lawyer
• “Principles of Opening Statement & Final Argument; View From the Plaintiff”, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Manual; Personal Injury Trials In Indiana, 1981
• “Punitive Damages In Indiana”, Tort Litigation and Automobile Accident Reconstruction With Trial Demonstration; Indiana Continuing Legal Education Manual, 1983
• “Overview and Analysis of Comparative Fault in Indiana”, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Manual; Indiana Comparative Fault Act, 1984
• “Trial Report: Defending a Celebrity in a Breach of Employment Contract Case”, 37 Am Jur Trials, 597-638, 1988 and Trial Diplomacy Journal, Spring 1987
• “Indiana’s Comparative Fault Act”, 1984 Res Gestae award for most outstanding article published in the Indiana State Bar Association’s monthly magazine
• “Is Product Liability Reform Necessary?”, Res Gestae, June 1991
• “The Contingent Fee System Under Attack”, at The Indiana Lawyer, a bi-weekly publication
• “Frivolous Litigation And Obdurate Behavior: A Plaintiff’s Perspective” at The Indiana Lawyer, a bi-weekly publication
• “Alleviating Congested Court Dockets Through The Use Of Accelerated Dispute Resolution” at The Indiana Lawyer, a bi-weekly publication
• “Tactics, Strategy & Overview of Representing the Elderly Plaintiff; The Plaintiff With Pre-Existing or Subsequent Injuries”, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Manual; Proving Damages: How To Try The Case, 1984
• “General Principles of Cross Examination From the Plaintiff’s Perspective, Preparation for Cross Exam, Specific Cross Exam Techniques”, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Manual; Winning With Effective Cross Examination, 1986
• “Comparative Negligence in Indiana”, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Manual; Practicing Comparative Fault, 1987
• “Consumer Choice was Consumer Con”, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, Corp.; Verdict Magazine, 1990
• “Frivolous Litigation and Obdurate Behavior: A Plaintiff’s Viewpoint”, The Indiana Lawyer; 1991
• “Defusing The Attack On Punitive Damages And The Civil Justice System”, The Aldelphia Law Journal, Volume 8, Indiana University School of Law at Bloomington, Indiana, 1992
• “The Criminal Justice System And The Need For Reform”, The Indiana Lawyer, August 11-24, 1993

• Indiana Trial Lawyers Association (President: 1990);
• Indiana University Law School Alumni (Board of Directors, 1990 – 1992);
• American Board of Trial Advocates (Past Vice President: Indiana Chapter);
• International Society of Barristers (Fellow, one of only 17 from Indiana);
• Indiana State Bar Association (Written Publications Committee for the ISBA monthly magazine, Res Gestae, (1985 – 1992);
• State Delegate, American Trial Lawyers Association (1988 – 1990);
• Faculty, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, litigation techniques;
• Past American Bar Association representative (Legislative Committee representative from Indiana for Civil Litigation);
• Member of the Board at the Indianapolis Bar Association, the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, Indiana Bar Association, American Judicature Society.