Attorney - Donna C. Marron

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Donna C. Marron
Partner

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Contact
By Phone (317) 637-0700 x210
dmarron@psrb.com

Education

J.D., 1993, cum laude, Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington, Indiana

Ph.D., 1982 (Geology), University of California, Berkeley, California

M.A., 1979 (Geology), University of California, Berkeley, California

B.S., 1977, summa cum laude, (Geology), Tufts University, Massachusetts

Licensure

State of Indiana, 1994

United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, 1994

United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana , 1994

Donna C. Marron, Partner	Back to Attorney List

Donna Marron became a lawyer in 1994 after more than a decade of research and publication with the U.S. Geological Survey. Donna represents policyholders in coverage disputes ranging from environmental cleanups, to construction defects, to brown recluse spider infestations. She is litigating the availability of defense and indemnity coverage for massive liability claims arising from air emissions by a major public utility and overflows from the combined sewage system of a major Indiana city. Donna also represents plaintiffs and defendants in environmental and other complex litigation matters such as floodway and floodplain issues, personal injuries from toxic exposures and construction defects. She was one of the lead counsel in the class action lawsuit against Trinity Homes and Beazer arising from improperly constructed brick veneer on thousands of Indianapolis area homes. Donna was a co-author of Environmental Law Developments: Hope and Ambiguity in Achieving the Optimum Environment, Indiana Law Review, Volume 35, Issue 4 (2004). She has, three times now, been a panel member for “masters” level seminars on insurance coverage issues for the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum. Donna was listed in Indiana Best Lawyers for Environmental Law in 2009 and 2010. Donna received her B.S. (Geology), summa cum laude, from Tufts University in 1977. She received her M.A. and Ph.D., both in Geology, in 1982 from the University of California, Berkeley. She worked as a Hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, California, Lakewood, Colorado and Indianapolis from 1980 to 1990. She received her J.D., cum laude, from Indiana University, Bloomington School of Law in 1994. Donna joined the firm in 1994 and became a partner in 2000. Donna represents, on a pro-bono basis, an inmate on Alabama’s death row in his post-conviction appeals. She is co-counsel with Peter Racher in this representation, which commenced in 2002.

Practice Areas

Environmental
Insurance Coverage

Complex Litigation

Significant Cases, Administrative Matters & Transactions

Wolf Lake Terminals, Inc. v. Mut. Marine Ins. Co., 433 F. Supp. 2d 933 (N.D. Ind. 2005)

Freidline v. Shelby Ins. Co., 774 N.E.2d 37 (Ind. 2002) (amicus)

Pence v. Lightning Rod Mut. Ins. Co., 203 F.Supp.2d 1025 (S.D. Ind. 2002).

Town of Montezuma v. Downs, 685 N.E.2d 108 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997)

Nat’l Gas Odorizing, Inc. v. Downs, 685 N.E.2d 155 (Ind. Ct. App 1997)

Publications & Speaking Engagements

2009 Publication		Author and Speaker, "Downpours Deluges & Floods: Litigation After the Cataclysm," Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum Seminar, Indianapolis, Indiana

2009 Publication		Author and Speaker, "Insurance Coverage, A Master's Level Symposium," Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum Masters Series

2008 Publication		Author and Speaker, "A Walk Through a Mold Infestation Scenario," National Business Institute Seminar, Indianapolis, Indiana

2008 Publication		Author and Speaker, "Advanced Insurance Law, Construction Defect Coverage," Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum Masters Series, French Lick, Indiana

2006 Publication		Author and Speaker, "Advanced Insurance Law: Hot Environmental Coverage Topics," Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum Masters Series, Lake Monroe, Indiana

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

2003 Publication		Author and Speaker, "Air Pollution: NSR/PSD Enforcement Initiatives," Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum Seminar, Indianapolis, Indiana

2003 Publication		Speaker and Author, "Insurance Coverage for Mold Claims," Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum Seminar, Indianapolis, Indiana

2002 Publication		Speaker and Author, "Emerging Issues in Indiana Indoor Air Quality and Toxic Mold Litigation," National Business Institute Seminar, Indianapolis, Indiana

2002 Publication		Co-Author, "The Insurance Policy, Protecting Yourself Against the Unexpected," The Complete Book of Pesticide Management, Science and Regulation, Stewardship and Communication, John E. Wiley & Sons, Inc.

2001 Publication		Author and Speaker, "Insurance Coverage for Mold Claims," Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum Seminar, Indianapolis, Indiana

2001 Speaking Engagement		Speaker, "Panel Discussion of Indiana Environmental Insurance Law," Indiana Bar Association, Environmental Section Seminar, Indianapolis, Indiana

2001 Speaking Engagement		Participant, "Whitford v. Chuck Wood Services, Inc." Mock Trial, Annual Meeting of the Indiana Arborists Association, Indianapolis, Indiana

2001 Publication		Author, "Recent Developments in the Seventh Circuit Impacting the Litigation and Funding of Complex Environmental Matters," ICLEF Seventh Circuit Roundup

2000 Publication		Co-Author, "The Insurance Policy, Protecting Your Business by Understanding Your Insurance," Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Publication PPP-49

2000 Publication		Author and Speaker, "Environmental Issues in Property Development," National Business Institute, Inc., Seminar, Indianapolis, Indiana

2000 Publication		Author and Speaker, "Ethical Considerations," National Business Institute, Inc., Seminar, Indianapolis, Indiana

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)

1999 Publication		Co-Author and Speaker, "Pre-Suit Investigation: Getting Your Ducks in a Row," Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum on "Complex Litigation," Indianapolis, Indiana

1998 Speaking Engagement		Speaker, "Environmental Law -- The Scientist's Role," IUPUI Geology Department Seminar, Indianapolis, Indiana

1997 Speaking Engagement		Speaker, "American Environmental Law," University of Canterbury, School of Engineering Seminar, Christchurch, New Zealand

1997 Publication		Author and Speaker, "Complying with Environmental and Special Use Regulations," National Business Institute Seminar, Indianapolis, Indiana

1996 Publication		Author and Speaker, "A Paralegal's Guide to Case Organization", National Business Institute Seminar, Indianapolis, Indiana

1995 Publication		Co-Editor, "Geomorphic Processes and Aquatic Habitat in the Redwood Creek Basin," Northwestern California, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1454

1995 Publication		Co-Author, "Summary of Research in the Redwood Creek Basin, 1973-83," U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1454, Chapter A

1995 Publication		Co-Author, "History, Causes and Significance of Changes in the Channel Geometry of Redwood Creek, Northwestern California, 1926-82," U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1454, Chapter N

1995 Publication		Author, "Surface Erosion by Overland Flow in the Redwood Creek Basin, Northern California, Effects of Logging & Rock Type," U.S. Geographical Survey Professional Paper 1454, Chapter H

1992 Publication		Author, "Floodplain Storage of Mine Tailings in the Belle Fourche River System: A Sediment Budget Approach," 17 Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 675

1991 Publication		Co-Author, "Neotectonic Effects on Sinuosity and Meander Migration, Belle Fourche River, Western South Dakota," 16 Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 227

1989 Publication		Author and Speaker, "The Transport of Mine Tailings as Suspended Sediment in the Belle Fourche River, West-Central South Dakota, USA," International Association of Hydrologic Sciences Symposium on Sediment and the Environment, Baltimore, MD

1989 Publication		Author, "Physical and Chemical Characteristics of a Metal-Contaminated Overbank Deposit, West Central South Dakota, USA," 14 Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 419

1988 Speaking Engagement		Speaker, "Effects of Watershed Dynamics on Arsenic Concentration in a Metal-Contaminated Floodplain Deposit," American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD

1986 Publication		Co-Author, "Contrasts in Stream-Channel Response to Major Storms in Two Mountainous Areas of California," 13 Geology 135

1986 Publication		Co-Author, "A Soil Catena on Schist in Northwestern California," 37 Geoderma 307

1985 Publication		Author, "Colluvium in Bedrock Hollows on Steep Slopes, Redwood Creek Drainage, Northwestern California," 6 Catena Supplement 59

1985 Speaking Engagement		Speaker, "Soils, Colluvium and Erosional History in Redwood National Park, Northwestern California," First International Conference on Geomorphology, Manchester, England

Associations & Memberships

Member, Indiana Water Resources Association

Member, Indiana Geologists

Member, Indiana State Bar Association, Environmental Law Section

Member, Indianapolis Bar Association, Environmental Law Section

Honors

2010		Listed in Best Lawyers in America®

2009		Listed in Best Lawyers in America®

1977		Phi Beta Kappa

1977		Sigma Xi

Employment History

2000- present Partner, Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP

1994- 1999 Associate, Plews Shadley Racher & Braun

1988- 1990   Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Indianapolis, Indiana

1984- 1988 Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Lakewood, Colorado

1982-1984   Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California

1981 Instructor, Department of Geology, University of California, Berkeley

1980-1981    Consulting Geologist, Federal Emergency Management Agency

1977-1981   Teaching Assistant, Department of Geology, University of California, Berkeley

Volunteer Activities

Member, Board of Directors, Indiana Coalition Action to Suspend Executions (Treasurer)

Client Alerts

January 19, 2010		Indiana Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument in Construction Defect Coverage Case By Donna C. Marron

December 2, 2009		Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP Participates in the First Delegation to Visit and Support the Legal Aid Centre of Eldoret, Kenya ("LACE") By Donna C. Marron and Theresa M. Willard

November 30, 2009		Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP Obtains Coverage Under Homeowners' Insurance Policies for Two Families Facing Severe Brown Recluse Spider Infestations By Donna Marron and Greg Gotwald

July 25, 2009		Firm Settles Toxic Tort Action By Donna C. Marron

June 1, 2009		Donna Marron has been elected Treasurer of a non-profit organization started in 2007 called The Indiana Coalition Acting to Suspend Executions (“INCASE”). By Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP