Steven S. Hoar

Partner

Email: shoar@KDDK.com

Phone: (812) 423-3183, ext. 2225

Assistant:
Cindy Effinger
ceffinger@KDDK.com

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Practice Areas

About
Experience
Publications
Affiliations

Steve Hoar focuses his practice on business litigation, including disputes related to contracts, financial services, corporate governance, construction projects, manufacturing, and real estate. He uses his more than 25 years of litigation experience to gather the evidence necessary for building a case for trial while also exploring early resolution of disputes when appropriate.

Education
  • 1994: DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind., B.A. cum laude
  • 1997: Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Bloomington, Ind., J.D.
Bar Admissions
  • State of Indiana
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
Recognitions
  • Selected, The Best Lawyers in America©
    • Commercial Litigation (2024, 2025)
    • Litigation – Banking and Finance (2025)
    • Litigation – Construction (2025)
  • Recipient, The Indiana Lawyer Leadership In Law Awards, Distinguished Barrister (2020)
  • Rated, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Selected, Indiana Super Lawyers® Magazine, Rising Star (2011, 2012)
  • Recipient, Indiana District of Kiwanis Distinguished Club President Award

Experience
  • Industries Commonly Served: Banking and Financial Services, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare
  • Financial Services Litigation: Defends financial institutions in lawsuits alleging unlawful lending practices. Defends financial professionals against malpractice claims. Represents clients in cases alleging violations of consumer protection laws. Prosecuted $20 Million employee fraud claim against surety.
  • Construction Litigation: Has advocated for contractors in multi-party construction lawsuits in a variety of venues, including in oral argument before the Indiana Supreme Court. Prosecutes and defends construction defect claims against contractors, sureties, and design professionals.
  • Manufacturing Litigation: Represented clients in cases involving alleged defective equipment design and manufacture, and disputes over the terms of supply contracts and equipment leases.
  • Real Estate Litigation: Represents landlords and tenants in commercial lease disputes. Represents real estate owners in cases involving boundary and ownership disputes.
  • Corporate Litigation: Represents clients in cases involving corporate shareholder disputes.
  • Creditors’ Rights Litigation: Enforces creditors’ rights in matters involving assertion and foreclosure of mortgages and liens, replevins, receiverships, repossessions, garnishments, personal property executions, and collection of judgments.
  • Trust and Estate Litigation: Represents clients in will contests and trust challenges.
Publications
Professional Affiliations
  • Indiana Supreme Court, Innovation Committee, Online Dispute Resolution Subcommittee
  • Indiana State Bar Association
    • Chair-Elect, House of Delegates
    • Board of Governors (Current Member and Past Representative for Southwest Indiana)
    • Past ISBA Delegate to ABA House of Delegates
    • Membership Committee (Past Chair and Current Member)
    • Nominating Committee (Past Member)
    • ISBA Ambassador
    • Sustaining Member
    • Professional Legal Education, Admission and Development Section
    • Litigation Section
    • Construction & Surety Law Section
    • Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Section
  • American Bar Association
    • Indiana State Delegate to House of Delegates
    • Nominating Committee of the House of Delegates
    • Steering Committee of the House of Delegates
    • Technology and Communications Committee of the House of Delegates (Former Member)
    • Bar Leadership Institute (Graduate)
    • Litigation Section
    • Construction Law Forum
  • Evansville Bar Association
    • Past President
    • Board of Directors (Former Member)
    • Membership Committee (Past Chair)
    • Editorial Board (Past Chair)
    • Bench and Bar Committee (Past Chair)
    • Commercial Law Section (Past Chair)
  • Indiana Bar Foundation (Keystone Society)
  • American Bar Foundation (Fellow)
  • Evansville Bar Foundation
  • Brooks American Inn of Court
  • Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana
    • Construction Law Section
  • The National Creditors Bar Association
  • National Institute for Trial Advocacy’s Mid-Central Regional Trial Advocacy Program (Graduate)
Civic Affiliations
  • Vanderburgh Law Library Foundation (Past President and Current Member of Board of Directors)
  • St. John the Baptist Catholic School Council (Past President)
  • Sterling United Federal Credit Union (Former Chairman of Board of Directors)
  • Evansville Westside Kiwanis Club (Past President)
  • Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra (Former Member of Board of Directors)
  • Leadership Evansville (Program Alumnus)