Dan's Biography

Dan has experience in the areas of media law, intellectual property and complex business litigation. He was First Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Southern District of Indiana from 1967 to 1969. Byron earned his undergraduate degree in 1959 from Indiana University, A.B., and his admission into the Indiana Bar in 1962. He served in the U.S. Army (Inf. and J.A.G.), with active duty from 1962-1966.

Dan has tried a number of jury and court trials over the years in state and federal courts, and has briefed and argued appellate cases before the Indiana Court of Appeals, the Indiana Supreme Court and the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Dan also briefed and argued the case of Fritz v. U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, a class action suit, before the Supreme Court of the United States. A number of his trials involved tobacco litigation, takeover litigation, City of Indianapolis civil rights litigation, utility litigation, and a variety of media law cases representing print and broadcast companies.

In 2007, he was selected by the International Senior Lawyers Project to lead a team of West African attorneys working in Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone to end impunity for violence against journalists, publishers and broadcasters and combat laws that limit freedom of expression in those countries (Nov. - Dec. 2007). For history of the trip and updates of the cases handled, see: www.dbyroninghana.blogspot.com.

In 2011, he was selected by Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society as an Indiana media attorney to participate in its pro bono initiative representing journalists and others in need of such help.

Through the Berkman Center he was selected by the National Domestic Violence Registry to be its counsel with special emphasis on media law issues. The mission of this organization is to compile and publish a national list of the names and photographs of convicted domestic violence abusers and to inform the public of these individuals.

He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indiana Broadcasters Association in October, 2008, for especially meritorious service and contributions in the field of broadcasting, the association’s highest honor. He is the first non-broadcaster to receive the award

Education

• A.B., Indiana University, 1959
• J.D., Indiana University Maurer School of Law, 1962

Military Service

• U.S. Army, Infantry and J.A.G., 1962-1966

Admitted to Practice

• Indiana, 1962

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

• Indianapolis Bar Association
• Indianapolis Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Indiana State Bar Association, Former Chair, BARPAC
• Indiana State Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Seventh Circuit Bar Association, Former Chair, Indiana Criminal Law Section
• American Bar Association 

Professional Leadership

• Indiana Debate Commission, 2007 - present
• Indiana Coalition for Open Government, 2006 - present
• The Indianapolis Athletic Club, 1999 - 2004
• The Commission for Downtown Indianapolis, Inc. 1991 - 1993

Civic and Charitable Involvement

• Thomas Moore Society of Indianapolis
• The Dramatic Club
• 702 Club of the Columbia Club
• Meridian Hills Country Club

Honors and Awards

• Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2007 - 2012 in the fields of First Amendment Law and Litigation - First Amendment
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Indiana Broadcasters Association, 2008
• Inaugural winner of the 2004 Indiana State Bar Association’s Civility/Professionalism Award for outstanding integrity and civility in working with judges, attorneys, parties, witnesses and the public

In The News

• 12.09.2009 • Take 2: Lights, Camera, Action?
• 06.24.2009 • "Meeting Laws in Danger?"
• 08.01.2012 • "Educating the world on media law"

Representative Cases and Achievements

• Canarx v. LIN-TV Corp et al, Case No. 1:07-cv-01482-LJM-JMS (U.S. Southern District of Indiana, Sept. 3, 2008)
• Commonwealth Edison Company of Indiana Inc. v. State Board of Tax Commissioner, Case No. 49T10-9507-TA-67, et al. (Ind. Tax Ct., 2002)
• Jean Poulard v. The News-Dispatch Publishing Co., Inc., Case No. 46D02-0004-CP-080 (Ind. Ct. of Appeals, Aug. 20, 2003)
• Eli Lilly v. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, et. al, So. District of Indiana, Case No. IP01-0443 CY/S (2001 – 2008)

Publications

• "Media Privacy and Related Law," Media Law Resource Center’s 50-State Survey (Indiana Section), 2001 - present
• "Reporter’s Privilege Compendium (Indiana Section)," co-author, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, 2006 - present