Deborah A. Kapitan
Senior Partner
Merrillville Office
707 E. 80th Place Suite 303
Merrillville, Indiana 46410
E-mail: deborah.kapitan@qpwblaw.com
Indianapolis Office
201 N Illinois Street, South Tower, Suite 1600
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Deborah A. Kapitan is a senior partner in the Merrillville & Indianapolis Hubs of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. As a trial attorney with more than two decades of litigation and judicial experience, Ms. Kapitan has participated in over one hundred jury trials in various roles, including as defense counsel, deputy prosecutor, and Magistrate Judge. Her practice spans a spectrum of civil litigation matters, including automobile accident defense, transportation liability, dram shop litigation, premises liability, professional liability, products liability, and complex commercial insurance claims.
Ms. Kapitan represents insurance companies, third-party administrators, and insured businesses across industries such as retail, restaurants, construction, and trucking. She is experienced in defending professionals, insurance agents, real estate agents, medical professionals, and paraprofessionals, in malpractice and errors and omissions claims. She also serves as a mediator in cases involving legal and medical malpractice, product liability, and complex coverage disputes.
Before entering private practice, Ms. Kapitan served in the prosecutor's office, where she focused on prosecuting sexual abuse cases and conducting victim interviews. She collaborated closely with law enforcement and families to support survivors and bring cases to trial. Her work as a Magistrate Judge further sharpened her ability to clearly and effectively communicate complex legal principles to jurors, a skill that continues to support her trial success.
Notable cases include Person v. Shipley, where Ms. Kapitan obtained a defense verdict and successfully argued the appeal before the Indiana Supreme Court. The Court upheld the admissibility of a defense expert's testimony and praised Ms. Kapitan's thoughtful integration of relevant criminal and evidentiary rulings. In Carlson v. Estate of Ludwig, despite a $145,000 demand, she secured a jury verdict of $30,000 - less than the final defense offer, on a claim involving alleged permanent injuries and lost collegiate athletic opportunities.
Ms. Kapitan earned her Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University School of Law. She holds a bachelor's degree from Viterbo University, where she developed the foundational skills that continue to support her success in litigation and mediation.
Licensed to practice in Indiana, Ms. Kapitan is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
