Elisabeth M. Cheatham
Elisabeth Cheatham is a civil litigation attorney who has practiced at Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP since 2007. She is licensed in the states of Indiana, Georgia, and South Carolina. Elisabeth represents clients before federal and state trial courts. Elisabeth focuses her practice on litigation and counseling on matters involving products liability, premises liability, and professional negligence as well as domestic relations matters. She is also a member of the firm’s toxic tort and environmental group in which she represents national corporations in multi-jurisdictional litigation. She also defends churches, private schools, and not-for-profit organizations in claims involving allegations of negligent hiring and supervision.
Elisabeth has been involved in all phases of litigation, including pre-trial dispute resolution, responding to complaints, written discovery, settlement negotiations, dispositive motions, trials, and appeals. She actively writes and has successfully argued motions for summary judgment. Her ability to conduct extensive research has aided in securing favorable rulings for the Firm’s clients. She has deposed witnesses regarding sensitive matters such as suicide, sexual misconduct, and terminal illnesses.
Prior to joining the Firm, Elisabeth worked as a law clerk for the Office of the Indiana Attorney General. She also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Mary Willis in the Circuit Court of Henry County, Indiana. Elisabeth was certified as a civil mediator through the Indiana Commission for Continued Legal Education.
Before becoming an attorney, Elisabeth had a successful career as a proposal writer and proposal manager for a major corporation. Her corporate background has resulted in an understanding of the needs and culture of the Firm’s business clients.
Professional affiliations
- Defense Research Institute
- Indiana Bar Association
- American Bar Association
Community involvement
- Mentor, Everybody Wins Reading Program
- Volunteer/Evaluator, Georgia Mock Trial Competition
Practice areas
Education
J.D., Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis (2007)
- Fellowship recipient, Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity
- Recipient, Pro Bono Program award
- President, the Black Law Student Association
- Moot court participant
B.S., Indiana State University (1999)
- President, Black Student Union
- Scholarship Recipient, Warren M. Anderson
- Planning and Development Chair, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
- Programming Chair, Habit for Humanity
- Student Ambassador/Peer Counsel
- Resident Assistant, Residential Life
Bar admissions
- Georgia
- Indiana
- South Carolina
Courts
- All Indiana Courts
- All South Carolina Courts
- All Superior and State Courts in the State of Georgia
- Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Georgia
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana