Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, P.C. / Attorneys / David Cripe

David Cripe

Attorney

A native Nebraskan, David Cripe was born in Beatrice in 1970. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1993, and in 1998 was awarded a law degree from Creighton University. Immediately after being admitted to the Nebraska State Bar Association, he began serving as an Assistant Public Defender for Douglas County for the next two years. From there he moved on to private practice, working with Sodoro, Daly & Sodoro, while specializing in insurance defense litigation and medical malpractice defense law. During more than eight years there, Dave garnered extensive experience representing insurance companies. His firsthand knowledge of the tactics large insurance companies use in personal injury cases makes David a very useful member of the Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop team.

Bar Admissions:

Nebraska
U.S. District Court District of Nebraska
U.S. Federal Courts

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Omaha Bar Association
Nebraska State Bar Association
Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys
Iowa State Bar Association
American Association for Justice

Education:

Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, Nebraska, 1998
Doctor of Jurisprudence
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 1993
B.S.B.A.

Employment History:

Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, P.C., 2008-Present
Sodoro, Daly & Sodoro, P.C., 2000-2008
Douglas County, Deputy Public Defender, 1998-2000

Areas of Practice:

David in the community

Over the years David Cripe has given back to the community through charitable organizations and most recently his son’s schools. He has taken on leadership roles at St. Margaret Mary church and school where his sons attended, including chairing various fundraising events and coaching youth sports.

David is also involved at Creighton Prep where he has chaired various fundraising events.

David’s Personal Approach to Client Care

“As an insurance defense lawyer I learned how the other side operates,” explained Dave. “My understanding of the insurance world and their defense teams allows me to better represent clients. Their tactics really require you to be tenacious and persistent when pursuing any
type of claim. In motor vehicle accident, premises liability, and other types of claims, it is important to gather evidence early and be careful about communications with the insurance companies. In evaluating and pursuing medical malpractice claims, one must be careful and obtain all the medical records and then conduct a very thorough review. I like the challenge of digging deep into the medical records or other aspects of a case to ensure that we obtain all the necessary evidence and keep insurance companies and their defense teams honest and the playing field level.”

“Dave is Nebraskan through and through,” said Attorney Tim O’Brien. “He and his wife are an active part of the local community, and his passion for client advocacy is his greatest strength. It’s easy to see within minutes of meeting Dave that he is a genuinely loyal person and he takes his position as an advocate for people during their time of need seriously. He has been with Hauptman, O’Brien for the better part of a decade already, and he has built a strong reputation here by lending his considerable insight and experience to the entire team in matters where an insider’s perspective is especially important.”

“The culture at Hauptman O’Brien is a great one because of the team approach, because of the fun vibe that is fostered here, and has been instilled since it was created by Tim O’Brien and Gordy Hauptman thirty-some years ago. To me, it’s a lot like the sports team mentality, where we all share a goal, and each work diligently to help out clients win in the end. That system and a team approach are great for client outcomes, and it also makes this firm a great place to work.”

Hear from David's clients

“I worked with David Cripe at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf, and Lathrop, and I was completely satisfied with my experience. David was very upfront with me about the whole process and what I could expect. He maintained communication and did a great job getting me what I deserved. I would absolutely recommend him. 5 stars.”

– Hailey Runyon

Client Testimonials

Total reviews: 489 | Average rating: 4.9

Sumer J

January 27, 2026

I can’t say enough kind things about David O’Neill, Jody and his entire team. During an incredibly scary and overwhelming time following my grandmother’s accident, they stepped in and made the entire process as seamless as possible.

David and his team were patient, compassionate, and always available to answer our questions, which truly put our minds at ease when we needed it most. Their professionalism and care made a difficult situation feel manageable, and I am so thankful for the work they did and the support they provided our family.

I would highly recommend David O’Neill and his team to anyone needing guidance, advocacy, and genuine care during a challenging time.

Haven Hackworth

January 20, 2026

This is an amazing offer that the company offers! The most important thing is always getting home safely and Safe Ride makes sure that happens!

Emmery Taft

January 14, 2026

Super helpful in a time of need!! Love knowing I can get home safe with a free ride from a business that cares!

Ruth Gregory

January 14, 2026

Can’t express how clutch this service came when happy hour with the girls evolved into a rowdy night of cocktails and questionable decisions. Glad our safe ride home wasn’t one of them!

Kayla Mattan

January 14, 2026

Enough money to get me home on new years thank you so much

Melissa Gebauer

January 14, 2026

Sincere gratitude for the free ride home during the holidays! You are actively keeping our community safe : )

Cara

January 13, 2026

So generous to cover transportation costs during the holidays to avoid drinking and driving!! I really appreciate that the company has been doing this for years and values our safety! I hope other companies can follow suit and give back to the Omaha community! Thank you!