Joseph M. Forte received his Juris Doctor degree from Indiana University. He completed his undergraduate studies at Purdue University at the Krannert School of Business. Prior to joining the firm of Kopka, Pinkus, Dolin & Eads, Mr. Forte was a shareholder for many years with the professional corporation of Kalamaros & Associates in South Bend. Mr. Forte has extensive experience in employers' workers' compensation defense, with hundreds of trials and appeals at all levels, including the Indiana Supreme Court. Mr. Forte also has extensive civil litigation experience handling cases in many areas, including medical malpractice, attorney malpractice, products liability and general liability. Mr. Forte also handles employment law, corporate, business and contract matters. Mr. Forte is a leading expert on workers' compensation in the State of Indiana and is a frequent lecturer at seminars and symposia on the topics of workers' compensation and employment law. Recent presentations include: "Brief Overview of Indiana Workers' Compensation" presented 2/29/96 at South Bend, Indiana; educational seminar for Lorman Educational Services; "Litigation Techniques for the Difficult Workers' Compensation Case"; in Workers' Compensation in Indiana, copyright 1996, National Business Institute, Inc.; "Procedural Steps in Handling a Workers' Compensation Claim - The ABC's That Every Employer Should Know" in Workers' Compensation in Indiana, copyright 1996; "Cutting Edge Topics," "Repetitive Trauma Injuries," copyright 1997; presented in South Bend, Indiana on 6/19/97; "Handling Cases Before The Workers' Compensation Board, "Dealing With Insurance Carriers" - Indiana Labor And Employment Law, copyrighted 1997 - National Business Institute, presented in South Bend, Indiana on 9/11/97. Mr. Forte has defended obstetrical, anesthesia, orthopedic, neurosurgical, and psychiatric cases involving alleged misdiagnosis, alleged improper treatment and care. He was involved in the successful defense of Indiana's Medical Malpractice Act on constitutional challenge of the law when first enacted. He has also defended hospitals, nurses, and nursing homes in medical malpractice claims as well. He also has served physicians and medical laboratories as general corporate counsel in contractual, business, and employment law matters, as well as in business litigation. Mr. Forte is licensed to practice in the State of Indiana and is a member of the trial bar for both state and federal courts, including both the Northern and Southern Federal Districts. Mr. Forte is a state certified mediator and a member of numerous bar associates, including the Indiana State Bar Association, the Seventh Circuit federal Bar Association, and the Indiana Defense Lawyers Association.