Rudy Longman is a Senior Associate Attorney at McCready Law, a personal injury law firm serving the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana area since 1999. A seasoned civil litigation lawyer, Rudy is renowned for his relentless fight against injustice, specializing in car accidents, premises liability, and catastrophic injury cases. His academic and career background boasts a degree in psychology from Butler University, a JD from Valparaiso University Law School, and litigation experience from his previous role at Hensley Legal Group. An esteemed Indiana Trial Lawyers Association member and a Super Lawyers Rising Star, Rudy is licensed to practice law in Indiana and Michigan.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• [0:55] How a middle school chant inspired Rudy Longman’s law career
• [2:06] Rudy’s experiences growing up in Fishers, Indiana
• [6:38] Rudy’s transition from mass tort to personal injury law 
• [10:33] The challenges and triumphs of premises liability cases 
• [16:06] Leveraging Trial Rule 30(b)(6) for depositions in premises liability cases
• [20:12] Memorable litigations that impacted Rudy’s career and client relationships
• [24:55] The highs and lows of a trial lawyer’s experience in the courtroom
• [28:41] How is AI changing the game in personal injury litigation?
• [32:04] Benefits of collaborative legal communities like the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association 

In this episode…

Practicing law can be one of the most rewarding jobs. However, the constant high pressure of the industry can be daunting, even for the most dedicated attorneys. How do thriving lawyers rise to the challenge and become a beacon of hope for victims of injustice?

Personal injury attorney Rudy Longman delves into his inspiring background growing up in Indiana, his pivot from a psychology student to a passionate attorney, and his experience transitioning from mass tort to personal injury law. Drawing from experiences with trial victories and setbacks, including a significant premises case that went to the Court of Appeals, he shares his motivation for taking on challenging cases. To maximize the chances of winning injury cases, resilience and thorough trial preparation are crucial, especially in premise liability cases. Rudy reveals his favorite and least favorite parts of a trial, emphasizing the adrenaline rush of delivering impactful closing arguments and the challenges of observing a client’s cross-examination. With insights into AI’s influence on the legal field and the supportive network provided by the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, he offers a candid look into the world of a trial lawyer committed to justice.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes hosts Rudy Longman, Senior Associate Attorney at McCready Law, to discuss his journey as a trial lawyer and advocate for the injured. Rudy explores the importance of tenacity, robust client relationships, and technological advancements in law. With insights on aligning personal values with a career in law, he narrates tales from the trenches of jury trials and highlights the value of maintaining a work-life balance for attorneys. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Alex Limontes: LinkedIn | Bio | Facebook 
• Hurst Limontes LLC
• Rudy Longman on LinkedIn
• McCready Law 
• Indiana Trial Lawyers Association

Quotable Moments:

• “Being a personal injury attorney is about negotiating every single day on God knows how many cases, and it’s exciting.” 
• “Going to bat for clients, whether it’s for a verdict of $20,000 or $200,000, gave me the room to learn how to be a trial lawyer.” 
• “Even after trying quite a few cases as first and second chair, it’s the prep work that really shapes the outcome.” 
• “It’s about keeping them honest. When they know you’ve tried a case and won, you don’t need to say anything, just smile and move on.” 
• “No better testament than having clients refer people to you because it shows they trust you to handle cases for people they care about.”

Action Steps:

1. Seek mentorship or work with experienced colleagues to learn the intricacies of trial law: Gaining insight from seasoned lawyers strengthens legal strategies and builds courtroom confidence.
2. Cultivate a robust attorney-client relationship through regular communication and thorough case preparation: These relationships improve case outcomes and generate trust and referrals.
3. Stay current with legal technology to streamline processes like creating demand letters and case management: Leveraging AI and other technologies allows for more efficient use of time and can lead to better case organization.
4. Be prepared to defend your clients’ positions vigorously, even in smaller cases, to maintain integrity and credibility: Demonstrating a willingness to go to trial and fight for every client deters low settlement offers and establishes a reputation for tenacity.
5. Embrace a variety of cases, including the challenging ones, to grow as a trial lawyer and better serve clients: Engaging with different cases, especially those with complexity like premises liability, enhances legal acumen and results in broader expertise.

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Hurst Limontes LLC — a personal injury law firm based in Indiana.

Founded in 1981, Hurst Limontes LLC is one of the few firms whose practice focuses exclusively on victims of negligence and their families.

With more than 116 years of combined experience among our attorneys, you can trust us to handle your cases with valuable and extensive expertise. We have the knowledge to handle any case — from automobile accidents to construction site accidents, firearm discharge accidents, slips and falls, and more.

No matter how complex the case or how significant the injury is, we aim to make the process as stress-free as possible for clients.

Our attorneys have represented thousands of injured clients and obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.

Have you or a family member been a personal injury victim in Indiana? Contact our dedicated team of personal injury lawyers at hurstlimontes.com or email alimontes@hurstlimontes.com.