Nicholas C. Deets

Nicholas C. Deets is a trial attorney and Partner at Hovde Dassow + Deets, focusing his career exclusively on representing plaintiffs in personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and product liability litigation. With over 80 jury trials taken to verdict, Nick is regarded as one of Indiana's most experienced trial lawyers. He has argued cases before both state and federal courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. He played a key role in landmark decisions including Cosme v. Erie Insurance (2024), which modified Indiana's standard on directed verdicts, and Kosarko v. Padula (2012). He is a past President of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Indiana Chapter, and holds fellowships in the American College of Trial Lawyers, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Indiana College of Trial Lawyers, and Litigation Counsel of America. He was named Best Lawyers 'Lawyer of the Year' for Medical Malpractice (Plaintiffs) in 2020 and 2026, for Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs) in 2022, and for Mass Tort Litigation (Plaintiffs) in 2017. He received the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association's Trial Lawyer of the Year award in 2010. He graduated cum laude from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 1993 and clerked for the Honorable Michael S. Kanne of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.