James A. Piatt - Riley Williams & Piatt, LLC

Indiana Law Firm

James A. Piatt - Riley Williams & Piatt, LLC

James A. Piatt


James is a principal member of Riley Williams & Piatt, LLC. His practice focuses on business litigation and class action and mass tort litigation. James was named an Indiana Super Lawyers’ Rising Star in the area of business litigation in 2012, 2013 and 2014. As a business litigator, James has successfully represented clients ranging from a private equity group, to a charter fishing business, to a medical device sales representative sued by his former employer. In the mass tort arena, James prepared a bellwether case for trial in the Yaz/Yasmin (Bayer Pharmaceuticals) litigation and the case was ultimately settled.


Awards, Distinctions & Honors



  • Best Lawyers, 2018

  • Indiana Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars (2012-2014);

  • Order of the Barristers, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

  • Note Development Editor, Indiana Law Review

  • Notre Dame Scholar Academic Scholarship Recipient


James graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 1999 and from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2009. He is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association and the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association. During law school, James was inducted into the Order of the Barristers and served as Note Development Editor for the Indiana Law Review. Prior to and during law school, James worked in professional sports.

In May and June of 2011, James examined and cross-examined the majority of witnesses during a 6-week jury trial, which resulted in a $14.5 million verdict for the client. (State Farm Fire & Casualty Company v. Joseph Martin Radcliff and Coastal Property Management LLC, a/k/a CPM Construction of Indiana, Hamilton County Superior Court, No. 29D01-0810-CT-1281).


Speaking Engagements



  • ITLA Annual Institute


Memberships & Associations



  • Indiana Bar Association

  • Indiana Trial Lawyers Association

  • Immaculate Heart of Mary parish

  • International Society of Primerus Law Firms

  • Notre Dame Club of Indianapolis


On May 4, 2012, James gave the closing argument in Daniel E. Sparks v. Vincennes University, Knox County Superior Court, No. 42D01-0705-PL-022 - the Knox County jury awarded former VU head basketball coach Dan Sparks $230,000 for his breach of contract claim against Vincennes University.

On February 25, 2013, James achieved summary judgment in the amount of $935,005.61 on behalf of a private equity client for fraud claims against a promoter (WDC Capital v. Damean Clinton, Hamilton County Superior Court, No. 19C01-1109-CT-09440).

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Grounds for Divorce in Ohio - Sylkatis Law, LLC

A divorce in Ohio is filed when there is typically “fault” by one of the parties and party not at “fault” seeks to end the marriage. A court in Ohio may grant a divorce for the following reasons:
• Willful absence of the adverse party for one year
• Adultery
• Extreme cruelty
• Fraudulent contract
• Any gross neglect of duty
• Habitual drunkenness
• Imprisonment in a correctional institution at the time of filing the complaint
• Procurement of a divorce outside this state by the other party

Additionally, there are two “no-fault” basis for which a court may grant a divorce:
• When the parties have, without interruption for one year, lived separate and apart without cohabitation
• Incompatibility, unless denied by either party

However, whether or not the the court grants the divorce for “fault” or not, in Ohio the party not at “fault” will not get a bigger slice of the marital property.