Suzette V. Sims

Associate

Suzette V. Sims

Suzette Sims concentrates her practice in general civil and fiduciary litigation, estate planning, and administrative law, including public benefits law and workers’ compensation.  

A native Hoosier, Suzette practiced law in Indianapolis and Bloomington for nearly 20 years before relocating in 2008 to State College, Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. In 2009, Suzette joined McQuaide Blasko and continued her work in litigation, while developing a strong interest in estate planning, particularly for aging clients and individuals with special needs.

Suzette’s early professional work included two years of service as a deputy attorney general in the Office of the Attorney General for the State of Indiana, followed by private practice as an insurance defense litigator. Her experience in litigation covers a range of civil disputes, including personal injury, wrongful death, contract actions, property disputes, professional negligence, and employment discrimination.  She has also provided pro-bono representation as a guardian ad litem for at-risk children.

Suzette’s experience provides her significant insight into planning around life events and the need to properly prepare documents to avoid disputes. When litigation is necessary, Suzette’s ability to navigate legal actions, from discovery through trial and appeal, is an invaluable asset to the services she is able to provide.

Suzette’s estate planning practice includes development of core estate planning documents, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care advance directives.  Suzette is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association sections on Real Property, Probate & Trust Law, Elder Law, and Workers’ Compensation Law.  She is also a member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and the National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR).

 

  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Centre County Bar Association
  • National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
  • Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys (PAELA)
  • National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR)
  • Centre Safe (f/k/a Centre County Women’s Resource Center)
    • Board Member, 2010-2016
    • Board Chair, 2014-2015
  • WPSU Connoisseur’s Dinner, Silent Auction Committee, 2012 – 2016
  • Centre County Democratic Committeewoman, Precinct 65, Patton Township, 2010-2014

  • State of Indiana, 1989
  • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 2009
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • Third Circuit Court of Appeals
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Indiana

  • Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Bloomington, IN (J.D., 1989)
  • Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (B.A., History with Departmental Honors; minor in French, 1986)