John David Hoover

Partner

John David Hoover is a founding partner at Hoover Hull Turner LLP practicing in the areas of commercial litigation, professional liability defense, professional peer review, officer and director defense, fine art litigation, and fine art transactions. He represents businesses, professionals, healthcare providers, and individuals in complex disputes carrying significant financial, operational, and reputational consequences.

John brings decades of courtroom and litigation experience to each matter, approaching disputes with a strategic and trial-ready mindset. He collaborates with each client to clarify the broader business and personal considerations driving a dispute. His disciplined legal strategies are designed to withstand scrutiny in court while positioning matters for efficient resolution when appropriate. Clients value John’s credibility, sound judgment, and compelling advocacy in high stakes matters.

His practice includes business and ownership disputes, medical and legal malpractice defense, professional licensing and peer review proceedings, election litigation, and sophisticated art-related disputes involving authenticity, title, and provenance issues. John has substantial experience representing healthcare providers and law firms in sensitive matters requiring both forceful advocacy and careful reputational management.

Awards & Recognition

AV Preeminent^®, Martindale-Hubbell
The Best Lawyers in America^®, Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation (2013-23)
Indiana Super Lawyers^® (2004-2026)
“Who’s Who in Law,” Indianapolis Business Journal
Distinguished Fellow, Indianapolis Bar Foundation

Experience

Though all cases vary and none is predictive, John’s experience includes:

Business Litigation

Representing a national insurance entity in acquisition efforts involving approximately $3 billion in annuities issued by affiliated insurers involved in multistate insolvency proceedings.
Representing an individual and affiliated insurance company in a state court action challenging the validity of a $8.5 million bond issued by insurer.
Representing manufacturing and service companies, as well as their owners, in business ownership and control disputes.
Representing restaurants and restaurant partners in ownership and governance disputes.
Representing an ear plug manufacturer in trademark, trade dress, and proprietary know how litigation.

Lawyer Liability and Licensing

Defending law firms and attorneys in legal malpractice matters involving a broad range of legal disciplines.
Representing attorneys in disciplinary proceedings before state legal disciplinary commissions.

Healthcare

Defending constitutional challenges to the damages cap under the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act.
Representing healthcare providers in medical malpractice litigation, including multiple jury trials over three decades.
Representing healthcare providers in peer review, licensing, and credentialing disputes.

Election Law

Representing political candidates in election recounts and contests involving congressional, state, mayoral, and local elections.

Art Law

Serving as co-counsel in recovery of cultural patrimony removed from a European church and brought to the United States.
Defending an art dealer against intestate succession claims involving more than 100 paintings by artist Theodore Robinson, clearing title issues in favor of dealer.
Advising art purchasers regarding acquisition of valuable works of art, including issues involving provenance, authenticity, and valuation.

Credentials

Education

J.D., cum laude, IU Indianapolis Robert H. McKinney School of Law
- Associate Editor, Indiana Law Review

B.A., Biology and Chemistry, Vanderbilt University

Admissions

State of Indiana
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Clerkships

Law clerk to the Honorable Robert Lybrook, Indiana Court of Appeals
Law clerk to the Honorable Gene E. Brooks, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Professional & Community Involvement

Board service: Central Indiana Community Foundation; The Indianapolis Foundation, former president; William E. English Foundation; Indianapolis Art Center, former chair; Herron School of Art and Design Dean’s Advisory Board, former chair; The Patachou Foundation, former chair
Past board service: Park Tudor School, former chair; Park Tudor Trust; Happy Hollow Children’s Camp, former chair; The Children’s Wish Foundation; BehaviorCorp; Congregation Beth El Zedeck; Leukemia Society of Indiana; Indianapolis Museum of Art
International Network of Boutique Law Firms, chairman of the Indiana chapter
American Bar Association Tort and Insurance Practice Section, Professionals, Officers and Directors Liability Subcommittee, former co-chair
Indiana State Bar Association, member
- Ethics Committee, past chair
Indianapolis Bar Association (IndyBar)
Emeritus member, Sagamore American Inn of Court
Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, member

News & Insights

Presenter, “Tackling the Issues in 30(b)(6) Depositions,” Indianapolis Bar Association, October 2015.
Presenter, “Social Media and Legal Ethics,” Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, Business Litigation, June 2014.
Presenter, “Social Media and Legal Ethics,” Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, Business Litigation, June 2012.
Presenter, “Developments in Social Media and Ethics for Attorneys,” Indiana State Bar Association, May 2012.
Presenter, “Advertising and Solicitation Rules in Social Media,” National Business Institute, December 2011.
Presenter, “Legal Ethics and Social Media,” St. Thomas More Society, November 2011.
Presenter, “Legal Ethics in Online Social Media and Networking,” Indiana State Bar Association Annual Meeting, 2011.
Presenter, “Social Media and Legal Ethics,” Evansville Bar Association and Monroe County Bar Association, sponsored by the Indiana State Bar Association, 2011.
Author, “The Medical Malpractice Act: Is the Cap Constitutional?,” Indiana Civil Litigation Review, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2004.
Author, “Conflicts of Interest in the Defense of Medical Malpractice Cases,” Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Quarterly, Vol. 50, No. 1, 1999.