John F. Kautzman - an Indianapolis, Indiana (IN) Civil Litigation Lawyer

Indianapolis Civil Litigation Lawyer

Updated: 03/10/2026

Areas of Practice

Civil Litigation
Personal Injury & Wrongful Death
Police & Fire Representation
Criminal Defense
Administrative & Disciplinary Hearings
Business Transactions
Appellate Practice

Attorney Information

Overview

John F. Kautzman is a lifelong Indianapolis resident and attended North Central High School. John graduated from Indiana University in 1981 and the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1984. He joined the 3522400 in 1985 and also served as a Circuit Court Commissioner for several years.

Mr. Kautzman was elected as the 2005 President of the Indianapolis Bar Association and remains on the IBA Board of Directors. He is a Past President of the Metropolitan Bar Caucus and now serves on the Executive Council of the National Conference of Bar Presidents. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation. He maintains several professional affiliations, including the Indianapolis Bar Association, the Indiana State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is a past President of the Indiana University Foundation Board of Associates and is a Life Member of the Indiana University Alumni Association. Mr. Kautzman is also a past Chair of the McKinney School of Law Board of Visitors.

John is admitted to practice in all Indiana State and Federal Courts. His practice includes both civil and criminal litigation, and he has served as lead counsel on a number of high-profile State and Federal Court jury trials, including the first televised Federal Court jury trial in State history. He has also successfully appeared before both the Indiana Court of Appeals and the Indiana Supreme Court for Oral Argument. Mr. Kautzman is listed in Who's Who, is a frequent seminar speaker, and teaches on the faculty of the ICLEF Trial Advocacy Skills College.

He regularly appears on the Indiana Super Lawyers list for achieving peer recognition as one of the top five percent of attorneys in Indiana. Mr. Kautzman was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a nation-wide invitation only honor limited to one percent of the lawyers in any state. He is also listed in the prestigious "Best Lawyers in America."

John represents individuals and organizations on a broad range of legal matters, and focuses primarily in general litigation, criminal defense, personal injury, and law enforcement discipline and liability defense.

Education

Legal Education
- Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1984
  J.D.
Non Legal Education
- Indiana University, 1981
  B.A.

Current Employment Position(s)

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Partner
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Classes and Seminars

ICLEF Trial Advocacy College, Faculty, Annual Instructor
ICLEF Top 10 Practical Tips for State and Federal Litigators
Trial Advocacy Skills College Lectures, including “Examining the Expert Witness at Trial”, “Closing Arguments”, “Mechanics and Foundations of Introducing Exhibits”, “Basics of Cross Examination”, “Controlling the Difficult Witness”
Numerous Officer and Attorney "Police Liability," "Crisis Intervention Training," and "Critical Incident" Presentations
Indianapolis Bar Association CLE Presentations, including “Winning Strategies for Direct and Cross Examination”; and “Dealing with the Unexpected at Trial”
Professional Firefighters Conference Seminar Presenter, 2013 Protecting your Rights in Civil and Criminal Investigations, 2012 Public Employee Freedom of Speech

Representative Cases

Served as lead counsel in more than 100 State and Federal Jury Trials including 1st televised Federal Court Jury Trial in State history; a $42 Million class action trial court judgment; and several other high profile civil & criminal trials and administrative disciplinary hearings, including Barnett v. Haslar; McKinney v. Duplain; and In Re: Dinnsen & Howard
Reported appellate cases include more than 50 decisions & opinions, including Criswell v. State of Indiana, Littleton v. State of Indiana, State of Indiana v. Fettig, Ingram v. City of Indianapolis, Arden v. State Employees Appeals Commission, and City of Indianapolis v. Fields.

Bar Admissions

Indiana, 1985
U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana, 1985
U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana, 1985
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1985

Other Affiliations

Indianapolis Bar Association, Past President 2005; Current Member of Board of Directors
Indianapolis Bar Association, President’s Award for Service to the Profession, 2013
Indianapolis Bar Association Bar Leader Series, Chairman/Moderator, 2010
Indianapolis Bar Association Justice Center Task Force, Current Chair
Indianapolis Bar Association, Judicial Selection Task Force, Past Chair
Indianapolis Bar Foundation, Distinguished Fellow
Indiana State Bar Association
American Bar Association
National Conference of Bar Presidents, Executive Council
Metropolitan Bar Caucus, President 2015 & 2016
IU Student Foundation Board of Associates, Past President
IU Foundation, President’s Award, 2003
IU Alumni Association, Life Member
American College of Trial Lawyers – Elected/Inducted 2012
Listed In: Best Lawyers in America; Super Lawyers; Who’s Who in America

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Contact

Indianapolis, IN

135 N. Pennsylvania Street
Suite 1600
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Directions

Phone: 317-455-8682

Fax: 317-634-8635

Email: Send a message

Website: https://www.rkblegalgroup.com

Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:30am - 5:00pm, Saturday-Sunday: Closed

Credit Cards Accepted

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John F. Kautzman - Indianapolis, IN