William G. Hussman, Jr.

Bill Hussmann is a former U.S. Magistrate Judge who joined Kightlinger & Gray’s Evansville office in 2016, after retiring from the bench. He presided over a wide range of civil cases in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, and now focuses his practice on Alternative Dispute Resolution, including handling mediations and arbitrations. Bill performs mediations and arbitrations at all Kightlinger & Gray locations. Since February 2016, he has conducted over 200 private mediations throughout all parts of Indiana.

During his nearly 28-year judicial career, Bill conducted bench and jury trials and wrote approximately 50 opinions each year. He spent most of his time conducting approximately 150 mediation-style settlement conferences annually where parties were present in person. His civil case load included Employment, Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice, Breach of Contract, ERISA and Disability, Civil Rights, Unfair Business Practices, Patent and Trademark issues, and Environmental Law. Since completing Arbitration training through the American Arbitration Association in 2016, Bill has been selected as an Arbitrator in over 160 arbitration cases through the AAA and as a private arbitrator. These matters have primarily involved employment law, personal injury claims, business disputes, and business dissolution issues.
Recently he has been involved in a number of health care payor disputes. Prior to becoming a judge, Bill worked in both the public and private sectors. He served as in-house staff attorney with Associated Insurance Companies, Inc., as Indiana Deputy Attorney General in the General Tort Section, and later as a staff attorney with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission. From 2013 to 2016, Bill served as a member of the U.S. Judicial Conference Committee on the Codes of Conduct, where he was one of 15 judges designated nationwide to advise on judicial ethics.
In June 2021, Bill became a member of the Board of Directors of the Evansville Bar Association, where he has long been active in the Diversity Outreach Committee. He has also served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Evansville’s School of Business. Bill is a frequent presenter at bar association conferences and events, often discussing issues such as bench and bar relations, employment litigation, evidence, federal civil procedure, and local rules.

Education

• Valparaiso University, B.A., 1972
• Valparaiso University, J.D., 1975

Admissions

• Indiana, 1976
• North Carolina, 1976
• United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana
• United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana
• United States Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit

Distinctions

• Indiana State Bar Association Civility Award (2012)
• The Evansville Bar Association James Bethel Gresham Freedom Award (2019)

• American Arbitration Association (AAA)
• 7th Circuit Bar Association
• Evansville Bar Association (EBA) – Board of Directors, 2021–Present
• Board Member, St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Store and St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry, 2016–Present
• Society of St. Vincent DePaul – Evansville District Council President, 2016–2019
• Society of St. Vincent DePaul – St. Theresa Conference President, 2006–2016
• North Youth Basketball Association – Former President
• North High School PTSA – Former President
• Oak Hill Middle School PTSA – Former President