Theresa has over 10 years of experience as a construction law attorney and is on the roster of construction law arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Before joining Easter & Cavosie, Theresa was a partner at Bose McKinney & Evans, LLP in the construction, litigation and appellate practice groups. Prior to her legal career, Theresa obtained her license as an Architect in the State of Indiana and she worked for one of Indiana’s largest Architecture/Engineering firms. Theresa is well versed in construction contract drafting and negotiations for contractors, designers, private owners and public entities (including townships and school corporations) utilizing The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and other construction industry standard form contracts.
Theresa’s construction litigation practice includes defective workmanship, professional malpractice and architectural and engineering design issues, mold litigation, public bidding disputes, building code issues, performance and payment bond claims, contractor default, takeover agreements, development impact fee and plat approval matters, mechanic’s liens, differing site condition issues, delay claims and other construction and design disputes.
Theresa’s litigation experience includes: jury trial and bench trial defense verdicts. Theresa’s practice has included commercial litigation disputes relating to first party and third-party insurance coverage issues (including bad faith), environmental contamination matters (including third-party insurance coverage issues), mortgage fraud, Article 7 special education appeals, failed business transactions and acquisitions, including director/officer claims and shareholder/ownership. Theresa is admitted to practice in Indiana and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Representative appellate opinions include: Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. v. John Hancock Life Insurance Co., 582 F.3d 721 (7th Cir. 2009); Brown v. Bartholomew Consol. Sch. Corp., 442 F.3d 588 (7th Cir. Ind. 2006); Farzana K. v. Ind. Dep’t of Educ., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 101331 (N.D. Ind. Oct. 30, 2009) (notice of appeal filed); Pabey v. Pastrick, 816 N.E.2d 1138 (Ind. 2004); Bigley v. MSD of Wayne Twp. Schs, 823 N.E.2d 278 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004); Sequa Coatings Corp. v. N. Ind. Commuter Transp. Dist., 796 N.E.2d 1216 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). Theresa is a member of the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation and its Woman Advocate Committee, the Construction Litigation Committee and the Forum on the Construction Industry. Theresa is a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association’s Diversity Task Force (2007-present) and is a graduate of the Indianapolis Bar Leader Series (2008). Theresa is a former member of the Julian Center guild (2000-2001), a former member of the Indianapolis Art Center Grand Opening Steering Committee (1996-1997), a former Explorer Post Leader member for the Boy Scouts of America (1996-1997), a former member of the Indiana Architecture Foundation Board (1996-1998) and a former co-chair of the Indianapolis Women in Architecture (1996). Theresa was a contributing author to ALFA International’s (a Global Legal Network) 2008 and 2009 Fifty State Compendium of Construction Law Issues.
Theresa received her law degree from Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis in 1999 and her bachelor of architecture and bachelor of environmental science degrees from Ball State University in 1993. While in law school, she served as the executive articles director for the Indiana Law Review, she received Dean’s List honors and was a member of the Moot Court Order of Barristers, the Women’s Caucus and Phi Delta Phi.
Theresa and her husband, Jeff, and their two children reside in Carmel, Indiana.
