When you choose Richard P. Busse, Attorney at Law, you'll work with an experienced attorney who has honed his legal skills over a career of legal practice. He's built his practice on honesty and trustworthiness in helping people solve their legal problems. Richard Busse received his JD from the Valparaiso University School of Law in 1998 and was admitted to the State Bar of Indiana in 1999. He is licensed to practice in several area courts. Our practice is locally owned, and as a small-town attorney, Richard Busse provides you with compassionate, personalized representation and counsel.

David W. Stewart focuses his practice exclusively on plaintiff’s personal injury and wrongful death litigation. From the firm’s office in Indianapolis, Indiana, he assists clients throughout Marion County, the greater Indianapolis metropolitan area and other parts of the state. The types of cases that Mr. Stewart has handled have included big rig and other motor vehicle crashes, defective drugs, defective products, construction site accidents, and medical malpractice. During his career, Mr. Stewart has chaired more than 70 jury trials and he has been able to obtain numerous sizable awards. Outside of the courtroom, he has negotiated settlements that have been favorable to his clients. Some of the defendants that Mr. Stewart has gone up against have included the manufacturers of Reglan, Trasylol and Chantix, and he has also represented victims of transvaginal mesh complications. As an undergraduate, Mr. Stewart attended Wabash College in Crawfordsville, and he received his bachelor’s degree in 1986. Remaining in the state, he pursued his legal education at Indiana University School of Law, and he was awarded his Juris Doctor in 1989. Mr. Stewart is admitted to practice before all Indiana and Michigan state courts, and he is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Indiana and the Supreme Court of the United States. An active participant in several professional legal organizations, he is a member of the board of directors of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Stewart is also a real estate broker and a member of the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board Of Realtors.

Richard Shea graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management in 1995 and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University School of Law – Bloomington in 1998. He has concentrated his practice in the field of Consumer Bankruptcy for the past 11 years. Richard is a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, the Indiana State Bar Association and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. He has served on the Local Rules and Procedures Advisory Committee of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana and has taught at bankruptcy seminars.

Don Poynter has been a managing partner of Poynter & Bucheri since 1996. He is a lifelong resident of Indiana, having grown up in Morgantown. He is a graduate of Indiana University with a BA in Economics and IU School of Law, Indianapolis. Mr. Poynter practices personal injury law, having helped thousands of injured persons in their fights against insurance companies. As an avid motorcyclists, Don is particularly aware of the dangers cars and trucks pose to bikers. He loves to fight vigorously for their rights of riders. In his spare time, Don enjoys traveling, gaming and movies. Let Don's experience go to work for you and ensure that you are protected and compensated for your injuries and losses. Don’t hesitate to contact Don to begin assisting you right away. Contact Poynter & Bucheri to schedule a free consultation with Don or one of our other experienced personal injury attorneys by calling 1-800-265-9881 or (317) 780-8000.

Attorney Whalley is an experienced Trial Lawyer, Author, Lecturer and former Judge Pro Tempore. The secret to success for Marshall P. Whalley has been his widely varied interests and seemingly boundless energy to pursue them. Having immersed himself in such fields as physics, psychology, engineering, consumer protection and medicine, Mr. Whalley has acquired a wealth of knowledge directly applicable to the investigation and litigation of complex personal injury cases. He has over 32 years experience successfully handling multi-million dollar litigation in several states. Mr. Whalley’s father attended M.I.T., earning two engineering degrees and going on to design tanks for the government. His mother was a nurse educator with a Bachelor of Science, a Master’s degree and applied to Law School at 78! Growing up near the Motor City, Mr. Whalley spent long hours designing, building and racing cars and boats, and working on his grandfather’s farm in North Dakota. Mr. Whalley attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he studied physics and psychology, earning his B.S. in 1980. His graduate work there in psycho-physics at the Kresge Medical Hearing Research Institute involved training rare monitor lizards to respond to acoustic stimuli. His other pursuits included designing and implementing pilot programs at the Milan Federal Correctional Institute allowing inmates to obtain GED certificates and at the Maxey Boys Correctional Institute for troubled youth. During college, Mr. Whalley also worked in the Consumer Protection Division of the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office, where he mediated consumer complaints, securing the largest consumer settlement to date in the Division’s history. At the same time, he worked for a Tenant’s rights group helping educate renters regarding their rights vis a vis large corporate landlords. During the summer months, Mr. Whalley continued to attend class at the University of Michigan while working 40 to 50 hours per week on the assembly line in Detroit building cars for Chrysler and General Motors. On the line, he ran presses, welded wheels, performed manual assembly, body work, and painted cars. Thereafter, Mr. Whalley received a scholarship to Valparaiso University School of Law. He continued to work on cars and drag raced to help pay college expenses. He then took a job clerking for a well-respected personal injury firm doing medical research, legal writing and investigation. He became a lawyer at the firm, then partner. As an Associate, he used his background in physics and medicine in his first year to facilitate settlements of the two largest brain-damaged baby cases in Florida’s history. Mr. Whalley’s background in physics allowed him to employ a waveform analysis of fetal monitor strips to prove when a critical tocolytic drug had been stopped. Over the past 30 some years, Mr. Whalley’s myriad interests have helped him be an effective advocate for his clients. Designing, building, racing and repairing all types of vehicles, Mr. Whalley developed insight into crash dynamics that few lawyers have. His training in physics, medical research and litigation has provided a unique perspective on the causes of complicated crashes and their medical consequences. Marshall P. Whalley has used this unique background to prove-up millions of dollars in valid claims that might otherwise have been lost.

Edward C. Lawhead, born in Chicago, Illinois, November 21, 1974; admitted to the Bar in 2007. Education: Purdue University, Bachelor of Science-Finance 1997; Valparaiso University School of Law, Juris Doctorate 2006. Associations: Lake County Bar Association; American Bar Association; Indiana State Bar Association; National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives. Courts admitted into: All Courts in the State of Indiana; United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana. Edward C. Lawhead practices in the areas of Worker’s Compensation, Social Security Disability, and Personal Injury.

Many of Vanessa Lopez Aguilera's clients come to her when their world's are falling apart. The majority of her law practice consists of family law issues such as divorce and child custody cases where her clients are struggling with the immense stress and feelings of isolation and fear. She also helps families strengthen their relationships by performing tasks like writing wills and handling stepparent adoptions. She provides services to LGBTQ families in matters such as second parent adoptions and domestic partnership agreements. If you are looking for dedicated legal assistance with any of these issues, please do not hesitate to contact her for your free 30 minute initial consultation.

Attorney/Partner, Craig Van Schouwen concentrates his practice in plaintiffs’ Workers’ Compensation law. A former insurance defense attorney, Mr. Van Schouwen “changed sides” in 1995 when he joined the Valparaiso law firm. He has represented injured workers across the nation since that time. A passionate advocate for his clients, Mr. Van Schouwen takes pride in helping people get the medical treatment and benefits they need. He is a frequent lecturer and conducts seminars to educate workers about their rights and benefits. Understanding that the Workers’ Compensation system “isn’t perfect,” Mr. Van Schouwen participates in activities directed at strengthening that system. Committed to helping the families of injured workers, Mr. Van Schouwen serves on the board of directors of Kids’ Chance, a national organization of attorneys, insurance executives, union representatives and Workers’ Compensation Board members, that provides scholarship funding for children whose parent has been injured in a catastrophic workplace accident. A former runner and cyclist, Mr. Van Schouwen has participated in three Chicago Marathons and several hundred-mile bike rides.

Mr. Hurley is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington, and Ohio Northern University’s Claude Pettit College of Law, where he received B.A in History and Juris Doctorate Degrees respectively. Mr. Hurley is a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association and is admitted to practice in the Northern and Southern District Federal Courts in the state of Indiana. Mr. Hurley served as a public defender with the Marion County Public Defender Agency for 8 years and has spent the past 22 years in private practice with a special emphasis in criminal law defending commercial drivers charged with infractions and criminal cases throughout the state of Indiana. Mr. Hurley also handles other criminal felony and misdemeanor offenses such as drug possession, sexual offenses, driving under the influence, and licensing issues dealing with reinstatement and probationary licenses. Mr. Hurley also deals with record expungement issues and limiting access to criminal histories.