Kristy Rans, a founding partner of Gardner & Rans P.C., was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, and is a life-long resident of Northern Indiana. She has spent her entire law career litigating cases throughout the State of Indiana on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants, including catastrophic injury, first and third party insurance claims, and insurance coverage disputes.
An accomplished trial attorney, Ms. Rans has litigated hundreds of cases, trying many of them to successful jury verdicts and judgments. She has also been involved in multiple appeals heard by both the Indiana Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and has presented oral argument to the Seventh Circuit. In addition to her trial and appellate experience, Ms. Rans also has significant experience in preparing for, and submitting cases to both mediation and arbitration. Considering herself a “trial attorney” in the truest sense possible, given her extensive experience in representing both injured parties and insurance companies, she believes that she brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to all of her clients, regardless of which side they may find themselves on in any one particular case.
Areas of Practice
- Personal Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Products Liability
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Insurance Defense
- Insurance Coverage
- Appellate Practice
- General Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Indiana
- Wyoming
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana
Education
- Valparaiso University School of Law, Valparaiso, Indiana
- J.D. - 2004
- Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana - 2000
- Major: Political Science and English
Representative Cases
- Brotherhood Mutual v. Michiana Contracting, 971 N.E.2d 127 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012)
- Hathaway v. Cintas Corporate Services, 903 F.Supp.2d 669 (N.D. Ind. 2012)
- Trinity Homes v. Ohio Casualty Insurance Co. et al., 629 F.3d 653 (7th Cir. 2010)
- Mart v. Berkshire Hathaway et al., 854 F.Supp.2d 577 (N.D. Ind. 2012)
- Walters v. Austin, 968 N.E.2d 233 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012)
- Sims v. Parrett Veterinary Clinic et al., 758 F.Supp.2d 737 (N.D. Ind. 2010)
Honors and Awards
- Honored in 2015 by Sassy Magazine as a "Women to Watch"
Professional Associations and Memberships
- State Bar of Indiana, Member
- Saint Joseph County Bar Association
- Indiana Trial Lawyers Association
- Robert A. Grant Inn of Court, Prior Member