George Plews

Practice Areas

COVID-19 Resources and Information

Environmental

Insurance Coverage

Litigation

Career

George Plews has practiced for forty-five years as a successful appellate and trial advocate. He was lead counsel in the key cases (American States v. Kiger, Hartford v. Dana, Travelers v. Summit, Allstate v. Dana, Flexdar v. State Auto, INA v. Thomson, FLM v. Cincinnati, Thomson v. XL,. and others) that have shaped Indiana insurance coverage law.

George’s environmental law work spans a range of matters, including the prosecution and defense of claims involving state and federal environmental statutes, cost recovery claims, toxic torts and governmental enforcement actions. Environmental decisions that made new law include IDNR v. United Refuse, IDEM v. Chemical Waste Management and Cooper v. City of South Bend.

George’s litigation practice includes a wide range of other complex cases, including products liability, finance, class actions, and personal injury cases. He represented the State of Indiana in successful litigation against the tobacco companies, and was co-counsel in bringing some of the first class actions in the country challenging banks’ incorrect handling of adjustable rate mortgages.

Professional Memberships

Former Member, Indiana State Bar Association Board of Governors

Former Member, Board of Directors, Indianapolis Bar Foundation

Former Member, Board of Directors, Novia Care Clinics, Inc.

Former Director, Novia Underwriters, Inc.

Former Board of Directors, Contemporary Club of Indianapolis

Fellow, Rotary Club of Indianapolis

Former Chancellor, Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, Inc.

Former Member, Board of Editors, Journal of Insurance Coverage

Former Chancellor, Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis

Senior Distinguished Fellow, Indianapolis Bar Foundation

Fellow, Indiana State Bar Foundation

Life Fellow, American Bar Association

Former Member, Board of Directors, Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic

Former Member, American Bar Association Committee on Insurance Litigation (Former Co-Chairman, Subcommittee on Environmental Coverage — Insured Rights)

Member, Trial Law Institute

Member, Diversity Law Institute

Publications

2022 | Speaking Engagement: Timeless Tips from the Bench and Bar

2021 | Author: The Indiana Lawyer: Plews and Gotwald: Contra proferentem – A bedrock of insurance coverage law

2020 | Speaking Engagement: Co-Presenter, COVID-19 Coverage Issues, Indiana RIMS

2020 | Speaking Engagement: Co-Presenter, COVID-19 Resource Roundtable Discussions: Business Interruption Coverage, Indiana State Bar Association

2019 | Co-Author: Article, Law360, 7th Circ. Decision Creates Minefield for Insurance Industry

2017 | Speaking Engagement: “Indiana Environmental Law Update, With Emphasis on Remedies,” 2017 Indiana Law Survey

2017 | Speaking Engagement: “Advanced Insurance Coverage Roundtable: Emerging Risks and Core Issues” Indianapolis Bar Association

2016 | Speaking Engagement: “Can You Use Help With Your Cleanup? Why You Need to Know the Latest About Indiana Insurance Coverage Law.” 2016 Indiana Environmental Conference

2016 | Speaking Engagement: “Lessons Learned and Practical Pointers in Insurance Coverage” Indianapolis Bar Association

2015 | Speaking Engagement: “Ensuring Effective CMHC Management,” Friends of Indiana Mental Health Centers

2013 | Speaking Engagement: “Mediating Complex Cases: Proven Tips and Strategies”, Indianapolis Bar Association

2013 | Publication: Author, “Pre-Tender Costs Should Be Recoverable Absent Prejudice,” American Bar Association Environmental Litigation Winter Newsletter, 2013

2012 | Speaking Engagement: “Advanced Environmental Law – Annual Masters Series”, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum

2011 | Speaking Engagement: “2011 Environmental Law Legislative Update”, Indiana State Bar Association

2011 | Publication: Author, “The Pollution Exclusion: Understanding the Limits of the Principal Barrier to Insurance Recovery in Contamination Cases”, a Chapter in the ABA Book, Environmental Liability and Insurance Recovery

2005 | Publication: Co-Author, “2004 Survey of Recent Developments in Indiana Law, 38 Ind. L. Rev. 1035 (2005)

2004 | Publication: Co-Author, “Environmental Law Developments: Hope and Ambiguity in Achieving the Optimum Environment, 37 Ind. L. Rev. 1055 (2004)

1999 | Publication: Co-Author, “First-Party Insurance and Inquiry Caused by Fumes: The Absolute-Pollution Exclusion Should Not Bar Coverage, 2 J. Ins. Coverage 43 (1999)

1995 | Publication: Author, “Reflections on Dispositive Motions,” Res Gestae, 1995 (selected as best article of 1995 by Res Gestae, the monthly journal of the Indiana State Bar Association)

1990 | Publication: Co-Author, “The Best Claim is no Claim: Selecting and Contracting with a Waste Hauler, 2 Envtl. Claims J. 449 (1990)

1989 | Publication: Co-Author, “The Indiana Responsible Property Law: New Environmental Information and Responsibilities,” LXXIII Hoosier Banker 22

1988 | Publication: Co-Author, “Who Pays for Environmental Damage” Recent Developments in CERCLA Liability and Insurance Coverage Litigation,” 21 Ind. L. Rev. 109 (1988)

Personal

Community Affiliations

Member, Board of Advisors, Hummingbird Fund (ALS Research and Care Foundation)

Member, Board of Directors, St. Richards School

Former President, Board of Directors, St. Richard’s School Foundation

Head 7th and 8th grade Boys basketball coach, St. Richard’s School 1997-present

Former Member and President, Board of Trustees, WFYI Foundation

Member, Board of Directors, WFYI

Member, Board of Trustees, National Public Radio Foundation

Former Member, Indianapolis Metropolitan Air Pollution Control Board

Board of Directors, Groundwork Indy, Inc.

Former Vice President, Board of Directors, Indianapolis Rowing Center

Former Member, Board of Directors, Horizons Urban Student Enrichment Program

Former Member and Treasurer, Board of Directors, Trustee Leadership Development, Inc.

Former Member, Board of Directors, Indianapolis Rowing Center

Former Member, Board of Directors, Indiana Interchurch Center Corporation

Former President, Princeton University Indiana Alumni Association (Past Chairman, Schools Committee)

United Way of Central Indiana, Tocqueville Society Board of Directors

Former Member, Board of Directors, Waycross, Inc. (Episcopal Camp and Conference Center)

Former Member, Board of Directors, Indiana Civil Liberties Union (Former Vice President, Litigation)

Former Vestry Member, Trinity Episcopal Church, Indianapolis (two-time Senior Warden)

Former Director and President, Alpha Association of Indiana, Phi Beta Kappa

Former baseball and soccer coach, Meridian Street Methodist Sports

Volunteer, Dayspring Center and Trinity Episcopal Church Food Ministry

Twenty-year Sunday School Teacher, Trinity Episcopal Church

Expert in these Jurisdictions

United States Supreme Court, 1991

United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2021

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1981

United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, 1979

United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, 2004

State of Indiana, 1979

Languages Spoken

English

Experience

USA Gymnastics v. Liberty Ins. Underwriters, Inc., 46 F. 4th 571 (7th Cir. 2022)

In re USA Gymnastics, No. 18-09108-RLM-11; Adv. No. 19-50012 (Bankr. S.D. Ind., Oct. 24, 2019), affirmed by USA Gymnastics v. ACE American Ins. Co. f/k/a CIGNA Ins. Co. et al., No. 1:18-cv-1306-RLY-MPB (S.D. Ind. Jan. 13, 2020)

Thomson v. INA, 11 N.E.2d 982 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014)

Thomson v. XL, 22 N.E.3d 809 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014)

FLM, LLC v. The Cincinnati Ins. Co, 973 N.E.2d 1167 (Ind. App. 2012)

State Automobile Mutual Ins. Co. v. Flexdar, Inc. 964 N.E.2d 845 (Ind. 2012)

Cooper Industries, LLC v. City of South Bend, 899 N.E.2d 1274 (Ind. 2009)

Pflanz v. Foster, 888 N.E.2d 756 (Ind. 2008) (amicus curiae)

The City of South Bend, Ind. v. Century Indem. Co., 821 N.E.2d 5 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005)

PSI Energy, Inc. v. Home Ins. Co., 801 N.E.2d 705 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004)

Allstate v. Dana Corp., 759 N.E.2d 1049 (Ind. 2001)

Employers Ins. of Wausau v. Recticel Foam Co., 716 N.E.2d 1015 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999)

Travelers Indem. Corp. v. Summit Corp. of Am., 715 N.E.2d 926 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999)

Hartford Accident. & Indem. Co. v. Dana Corp., 690 N.E.2d 285 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997)

Am. States Ins. Co. v. Kiger, 662 N.E.2d 945 (Ind. 1996)

Ind. Dep’t of Natural Res. v. United Refuse Co., Inc., 615 N.E.2d 100 (Ind. 1993)

Triple G Landfill, Inc. v. Bd. of Comm’r, 774 F. Supp. 528 (S.D. Ind. 1991), 977 F.2d 287 (7th Cir. 1992)

Ind. Dep’t of Envtl. Mgmt. v. Chem. Waste Mgmt. of Ind., Inc., 604 N.E.2d 1199 (Ind. Ct. App. 1992)

McCracken v. Eli Lilly & Co., 494 N.E.2d 1289 (Ind. Ct. App. 1986)

Education

Awards