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.

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.

Brian Custy is no stranger to hard work, securing his first paying job in rural Colorado after 2nd grade working in grain elevators and maintaining physical jobs through college including drilling water wells, maintaining government wildlife property, and fencing acreage throughout the Rocky Mountains. He carried this work ethic through undergrad where he studied Civil Engineering while starting all 4 years on the varsity football team. Brian then attended law school where he earned scholarships based on his academic performance and graduated among the top 10 students in his law class. Following law school, Brian secured a position with a well-known Indiana and Illinois personal injury firm, where he was closely mentored and assisted the firm founder in obtaining a significant verdict in his first jury trial. Brian then accepted a position with Sidley Austin in Chicago, one of the largest and most prestigious international law firms in the world, where he represented major institutional clients including Wall Street investment banks. Desiring to be closer to his growing family and help people, Brian began representing one of Indiana’s most successful entrepreneurs and his business and personal interests before he founded Custy Law Firm. Brian was accepted to and attended the prestigious Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College in 2016. The Trial Lawyers College was established by legendary trial lawyer Gerry Spence to train attorneys who represent people and not insurance companies, the government or large corporations. He enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 boys, the outdoors, coaching his sons’ sports teams and working out. Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference. We’ve recently helped Clients obtain successful results in cases that other attorneys previously handled, referred over or brought us into including: - $550,000 recovered for client injured in car wreck in a case referred in by a local injury attorney; - $500,000 recovered for client hit by commercial motor vehicle after attorneys who filed the case quit and many others refused to get involved; and - $300,000 jury verdict for injured railroad worker after original union designated counsel quit the case. How did you build a successful practice? We provide the harmed with real, honest representation built on human interaction and trust. By always striving to adhere to these core principles, our Clients will be served well and our practice will benefit. What should clients look for in a lawyer? Clients should listen to their gut when selecting a lawyer to entrust with their case and lives. Clients come to us with difficult and life-changing problems that they did not create and have suffered financial losses and have often had valuable health and freedom to enjoy their lives taken from them.  Clients should ask themselves: Do I trust the lawyer? Does the lawyer listen to me? Can I communicate freely and openly with the lawyer? Does the lawyer care? If the answers to these questions are all “yes”, then the lawyer is likely one that will serve the Client’s best interests first and foremost.  Oftentimes, legal matters can take time to resolve, especially if a trial is needed to obtain a fair outcome. The strong Client and lawyer relationship is a close personal one. What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community? We focus on the Client and understanding the impact of the event at issue on the lives of them and their Family. By working to understand the true story of their situation, we are able to provide powerful and effective representation by sharing the truth with a jury or the other side.   What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? Helping people who cannot help themselves through trying situations is a reward in and of itself. We often come to know our clients as friends, we spend time with them and their Families. These relationships allow us to learn and effectively share the truth of their case with jurors, judges or insurance companies as if we were telling the story of a close family member who has been harmed. Gerry Spence teaches that we cannot ask a juror to do something we will not. If we do not care about our Client and what has happened to them, we cannot ask a juror to do so. What are your other interests in addition to law? I enjoy the outdoors, being physically active, and spending time with my wife, our 3 boys and our family dog “Bandit.” Are you involved in your community? I’m an active coach of my son’s pop warner and flag football teams and a board member of Our Greater Good which focuses its efforts on improving opportunities for disadvantaged youth and strengthening family relationships.

Aggressive legal representation NW IN Family Law, W Comp, P Injury & General Practice-Wills, PO etc.