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Our Purpose

The Gerling Firm exists for one reason: to pursue justice for you, no matter what. Every member of our legal team will work hard and make every effort to seek just and fair settlement or compensation for you. This is as vital and important to me as it is to you.

I know your rights and I know the law.

Others may want you to settle for what they say is fair — but I know better. The attorneys of the Gerling Law Firm have the resources and experience to offer sound legal advice, and are committed to fighting aggressively for the best outcome for you.

Why do lawyers have a bad reputation?

If you’ve been looking through law firm websites and watching television ads, you’ve probably seen a lot of chest-pounding and proclamations about being hard-hitting. You probably think that all lawyers are focused solely on fighting and winning cases at any cost, and aren’t too concerned about ordinary people. But that just isn’t true. The Gerling Law Firm is all about obtaining justice and fairness for people who are suffering. Whether they have suffered a loss because of an injury or negligence on the part of someone else … or are struggling to make ends meet because of a disability that keeps them from working … our lawyers are focused on helping them receive the fair compensation they deserve. All lawyers, including the team at Gerling Law, have sworn an oath that says, “I will abstain from offensive [behavior]…” and “I will preserve […] the secrets of my client at every peril to myself.” We take that oath to heart, believing that a caring, people-focused philosophy is a critical and valuable element of strong and effective legal representation. My position is to be hardline against your opponents, yet I’ll always take the high road in my dealings with my clients. I am Gayle Gerling Pettinga. Along with my fellow attorneys at Gerling Law, I will stand up confidently and assertively on your behalf, but treat you with the compassion, respect, and integrity you deserve.

Our Values

Gerling Law Core Values:

A person’s core values tell us about their character and what we can expect in our interactions with them. The same holds true for a law firm. For example, the attorneys and staff of Gerling Law hold to the same honest values we’ve followed for over five decades of service to our clients and our communities. Our Core Values statement describes exactly how we will act in our work communication with you, our client, and in our community.

Better Than Yesterday
If you can't commit to being better today than yesterday, you're ok with being average. The same actions day in and day out don't deliver and improve results. True growth requires always pushing past new levels of discomfort. G is for Growth!
Client Success
Our clients give us the opportunity to do the things we love on a daily basis. When our clients succeed, we succeed. So we champion them to achieve extraordinary results. G is for Going for Gold!
Happy Office
We believe in creating a happy and inclusive workplace where we treat each other with respect, kindness, and professionalism. We are at our best when we support and are accountable to one another. G is for Good Times!
Results Driven
We are results-driven, not effort driven. While effort is key to success, it's not a substitute for tangible results. Hours and effort are secondary to the outcome and its impact on a need or problem. G is for Get it Done!
Community
We ❤️ our community! We want to make a difference in the communities where we live and work. With a helpful spirit, we do what's right and then add more! G is for Good Works!
Integrity
We believe that nothing is more important than our reputation, and behaving with the highest level of integrity is fundamental to who we are. We're committed to the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and civility. G is for Good Citizen!
Team First
You can't succeed alone! Your team is what supports you, and your combined skills and efforts are what make greatness possible. G is for Greatness!
Solution Focused
When problems come up, it's easy to focus on the negative. Our team, instead, seeks solutions and identifies the actions needed to keep moving forward. G is for Genius!
Take Ownership
To truly engage in your work, you must own it. There's no cutting corners. You must hold yourself accountable for quality and timeliness, even when the outcome doesn't bring *you* direct benefits. G is for Gumption!

The Importance Of Integrity

We understand that every individual who comes to Gerling Law is looking for sound legal advice from a lawyer who will be honest and fair, and who will work hard for him or her. At Gerling Law, we are inspired by this, and by your faith in us. Our entire legal team offers our clients a supportive and protective environment where you can feel welcomed and know you’ll be heard. We will always do our best and, no matter what, you’ll know that you’re being treated fairly and with integrity.

In fact, when we first became attorneys, we made this promise to you and all of our clients:
“[…] I will not counsel or maintain any action, proceeding, or defense which shall appear to me to be unjust, but this obligation shall not prevent me from defending a person charged with crime in any case; […] I will employ for the purpose of maintaining the causes confided to me, such means only as are consistent with truth; […] I will maintain the confidence and preserve inviolate the secrets of my client at every peril to myself; I will abstain from offensive personality and advance no fact prejudicial to the honor or reputation of a party or witness, unless required by the justice of the cause with which I am charged; I will not encourage either the commencement or the continuance of any action or proceeding from any motive of passion or interest; I will never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless, the oppressed or those who cannot afford adequate legal assistance; so help me God.” — From the Indiana Rules of Court Rules for Admission to the Bar and the Discipline of Attorneys, Rule 22, Oath of Attorneys

The attorneys of Gerling Law believe that earning your trust is important, and we promise to serve you and your legal needs with integrity.

Our Giving Pledge

Gerling Law Office

In addition to serving people who have suffered a loss because of an injury or negligence on the part of someone else, or who are struggling to make ends meet because of a disability that keeps them from working, Gerling Law is deeply committed to the communities in which we live and work. We connect to the community through our programs that enhance safety, through the volunteer services and donations we provide to persons of limited means, through the public service activities we undertake to build and strengthen the communities we serve, and through the generous financial support we provide to a wide range of charitable and cultural organizations.

As part of our ongoing commitment to the community, Gerling Law and its team of professionals have contributed time or treasure to more than a hundred community organizations. Through the Gerling Law Great Helmet Giveaway initiative, we have provided over 7,000 bicycle helmets free of charge to children in our communities alone and in partnership with multiple civic organizations, including Boy Scouts, the Evansville School Corporation and the Evansville Police Department. We also have provided over 23,000 recycle bags to individuals in our communities alone and in partnership with multiple civic organizations, including the Tri-State Food Bank, Evansville Christian Life Center and Evansville Ministers’ Wives Council.

The Importance Of Integrity

Because we recognize the importance of providing nonlegal community service to strengthen our communities, we strongly encourage our lawyers and staff to participate in community activities, including volunteering with legal service, social service, environmental, educational, civic, religious and other community organizations.

At the heart of Gerling Law’s giving pledge is a genuine desire to make an impact where the needs are most critical in our communities. The firm’s lawyers and staff have given back in time and treasure to nurture and grow the places we call home. We believe that’s the right thing to do.

If you would like to know more about the Gerling Law Great Helmet Giveaway or our other service efforts, call Gerling Law at 1-888-GERLING (866-651-2195) or contact us online for a free consultation.

See Our Community Efforts

Go with Experience. Go with Gerling.™