Inside Civil Rights Litigation and Personal Injury Law: A Conversation With Jason Shartzer

Jason Shartzer is a trial attorney based in Indiana with more than two decades of experience handling personal injury, civil rights, and complex litigation cases. Raised in Brownsburg on the west side of Indianapolis, Jason's passion for justice began early in life and ultimately led him to pursue a legal career. After graduating from Loyola University in New Orleans, he attended law school at Thomas Jefferson School of Law before returning to Indiana. In this episode… The path to becoming an effective trial lawyer often requires resilience, humility, and a willingness to take on the toughest cases. Jason Shartzer shares how his early legal experience working with attorney Buddy Yosha helped shape his courtroom approach, often stepping in to handle challenging cases others were hesitant to take. Those formative years taught him the importance of authenticity, preparation, and connecting with juries through honesty and humility. Jason also dives into the complexities of civil rights and police misconduct cases, explaining the legal hurdles attorneys face when pursuing claims against government entities due to sovereign immunity and other legal barriers. He discusses a recent civil rights verdict involving a police shootout at a homeowner's residence, where careful investigation and ballistic evidence played a key role in challenging the officers' account of events. Along the way, he reflects on broader issues within tort law, including the limitations of the medical malpractice system and the critical role civil litigation plays in holding powerful institutions accountable. In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes interviews Jason Shartzer about his journey from Brownsburg to building his own practice, the mentors who shaped his career, and the lessons he's learned from decades in the courtroom. Jason also shares advice for young lawyers on perseverance, humility, and pursuing meaningful work, emphasizing that despite the challenges of litigation, helping clients through difficult moments makes the profession deeply rewarding.