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

4.9 rating of 608 reviews
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Leah Peach avatar

Leah Peach

1 day ago

We could not be happier with the outcome of the work David did. He took a terrible situation and helped us out with evey aspect of the process of getting justice for my daughters and my mother. We highly recommend David and the Hauptman O'Brien team.

David Moss avatar

David Moss

7 days ago

Couldn’t have asked for a better experience after a difficult time. Everyone I came into contact with was extremely professional and always responded promptly when I had questions. I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment in recommending them to anyone in need.

Kaylor Keltner avatar

Kaylor Keltner

8 days ago

Thank you all so much for taking care of my wife and I. At a huge transition period in our life David, Desirae, and Lori took care of everything that I did not have the bandwidth for. Without your expertise I would have definitely missed stuff and come out of pocket for it. Yall made the process easy to understand and navigate and while I hope I dont need your services again I would 100% recommend to a friend. 😂

Jannelle Davey avatar

Jannelle Davey

9 days ago

Working with Jeremy and Nicole was an exceptional experience. They were incredibly professional and warm throughout the process, making me feel genuinely cared for. Their communication was outstanding; they consistently returned my calls promptly, ensuring I was always informed. They worked diligently and tirelessly to secure the highest possible settlement for my claim. I highly recommend and encourage this law firm to handle anyones case.

James Uhlenkamp avatar

James Uhlenkamp

14 days ago

My experience with Hauptman O'Brien and their team of experts was every bit as wonderful as I would have hoped for! They kept my needs at heart all the way! They were super fast and the end result met every expectation! Thank you, team O'Brien, from the heart! Jim U.

Carson OConnor avatar

Carson OConnor

16 days ago

Had a great experience with Hauptman O’Brien! David O'Neill and his team made the process smooth and seamless, took care of all the paperwork related to medical expenses resulting from my claim, and were very helpful and responsive throughout the whole process. They secured a very fair settlement for me, and I’m grateful for all the work they did on my case. Thank you to David, Desirea, and Lori for all the help!

Ron Beberniss avatar

Ron Beberniss

21 days ago

David was extremely detail oriented and responsive. We always knew where the case stood and were pleased with the outcome.

Julie avatar

Julie

24 days ago

Everyone worked hard to resolve my case. My team was professional, courteous, and so kind to me. They kept me well informed throughout the process, and they were always very timely with their responses to any questions I had. I would highly recommend these fine folks. It was a pleasure to work with them.

Bryan Mattox avatar

Bryan Mattox

28 days ago

Tim O'Brien was prompt when I initially reached out to this firm. There was never any nonsense or unnecessary communication. When my case settled I was contacted and got in right away to finish our business. It was a pleasure working with Tim O'Brien & his staff!

Brandon Cruz avatar

Brandon Cruz

28 days ago

Jeremy Elliot, Nicole Kays, and their team were very helpful, thorough, and understanding in helping me reach a settlement after I was injured in a car accident. I valued their communication and advice throughout the process, and I recommend them highly to anyone.

Derek Simonson avatar

Derek Simonson

29 days ago

I suffered severe injuries in an auto accident in May of 2025. I chose Mr. Cripe to represent me and pursue liability compensation against the at-fault driver and their insurance carrier. After a very tedious but thorough process we were able to secure substantial damages which is more than normally expected. I have nothing but kind words to say about Mr. Cripe. Throughout this ordeal he was very supportive, informative and always asked for my opinion on the given situation. I would choose Mr. Cripe without a doubt if the situation should ever arise again where I need legal counsel.

Marisa Cohn avatar

Marisa Cohn

1 month ago

I would like to send a huge THANK YOU to David O'Neal and everyone at Hauptman O'brien. They were so wonderful to work with. They went above and beyond with helping me through my accident and navigating medical. I highly recommend hiring David for your personal injury needs. You cannot go wrong.

Reginald B York IV avatar

Reginald B York IV

1 month ago

As a college educated working professional, I never wanted or thought I or my family would need the services of a personal injury attorney. When someone in our immediate family was involved in an accident, my wife and I thought we could navigate the insurance process on our own, (after all we weren’t looking to profit from it). We quickly realized the process has become complicated and can turn into a full time job, costing our family in ways we never even dreamed. While I pray we never find ourselves in a situation to need their services again. David will be my first call. Everyone from top to bottom was patient and understanding. They walked us through the process and advised us along the way, filling in the gaps that hospitals, insurance companies and representatives failed to provide. Thanks to David and his wonderful team our family was able to focus on the emotional and physical healing while they found resolution and we were able to move on.

Chris M avatar

Chris M

1 month ago

David and his team were great and made the whole process seamless. Would highly recommend them to anyone seeking a personal injury lawyer.

Della Farris avatar

Della Farris

1 month ago

Choosing Hauptman ,O'Brien , Wolf & Lathrop for my personal injury lawsuit, was one of my better decisions . They were always available & considerate to us . We were kept updated & informed all the way through . Jeremy & Nicole were awesome.. I would highly recommend.

Paulette Henderson avatar

Paulette Henderson

1 month ago

David O’Neill, Jody Bowman & Desiree at the Bellevue Nebraska location were amazing! They explained things thoroughly, It was easy to communicate with them. They outlined exactly the documentation that was needed. They helped us through every step of the process and kept us informed of the progress. It was a pleasure working with them, and we are extremely satisfied with the outcome. I highly recommend them, they are professional, knowledgeable and handle every aspect with efficiency.

Linda C avatar

Linda C

2 months ago

A little over 2 yrs ago I walked through the doors @ Hauptman O’Brian Wolf & Lathrop, a little nervous and a little scared. I was in a car accident on the interstate, my car was totaled and I’m thankful to be here. With their help and reassurance that everything will be fine. And it is. Jeremiah Elliott and his fantastic staff kept me well informed through out the process. It took patients on my part and time to heal too. They were always there to answer my question and so kind. I would recommend their legal service’s for any type of situation you might be in. It will only take a little time to tell your story or situation and listen to what they say. They are there to help you through the legal process and protect you. I will say I’m grateful for their compassion and knowledge of the legal process. I couldn’t do it without them. Thanks to them my case was successful.

Dan Aitken avatar

Dan Aitken

2 months ago

Fortunately I haven’t required their legal services, but I have made use of their “Safe Ride Home” program. I feel safer knowing that this service is available for everyone, not just clients, during the holidays.

Connor Villen avatar

Connor Villen

2 months ago

First time getting into a motor vehicle accident and the team was really helpful during this process. The piece that made me feel better to work with the Hauptman Bellevue office was that they were always asking how I was doing. The office really ensured my health and recovery was the priority. They made me comfortable throughout the whole process, and would recommend anyone in a motor vehicle accident to reach out to this office. Thank you all!

Hannah Miller avatar

Hannah Miller

2 months ago

Fantastic job!! I am so grateful they kept me updated through every step of the process. Thank you so much!

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