Commentary
McGoff: Take care of your most valuable asset
March 14, 2012
We all have excuses for not taking care of ourselves: too busy, too tired, don’t know where to begin, don’t know
how to relax/de-stress. Let’s get past these excuses, one choice at a time.
MoreNordstrom: Book offers advice on treatment of jurors
March 14, 2012
Rodney NordstromThe theme of the book, “Twelve Heroes, One Voice,” is why should jurors care? Why should they care enough to let
go of the natural tendency to do nothing? This question is at the heart of every trial.
MoreNeumann: Digital treasures play a role in estate planning
February 29, 2012
Matthew Neumann writes about how Facebook and estate planning relate.
MoreBadger: Free speech over the Internet put to the test
February 15, 2012
Free expression in this country has withstood repeated assault during times of political upheaval.
MoreBook review: 'Judge the Jury' looks at juror handwriting
December 21, 2011
Rodney NordstromTrial consultant Rodney Nordstrom offers his thoughts on Alice Weiser's book on using graphoanalysis to pick jurors.
MoreJudge in high-stakes suit praises lawyers
December 21, 2011
Greg AndrewsIndianapolis class-action attorney Irwin Levin just helped lead a legal team that is going to collect more than $6.7 million
in fees in a high-profile Iowa lawsuit involving price fixing in the concrete industry.
MoreColumn: Discussion on salable goodwill continues
September 28, 2011
On July 29, 2010, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals issued a decision that upheld the inclusion of salable professional (personal)
goodwill in a marital estate in Wisconsin.
MoreColumn: 'Catch the rat' by using forensic accounting
September 28, 2011
Has your client experienced theft or maybe suffered from financial losses due to fraud? In hindsight did they wonder how the
fraud was not discovered sooner? Help your client “catch the rat” by understanding how to better detect fraud
and identify red flags that may indicate “a rat” is on the loose.
MoreFehribach: What Labor Day means for people with disabilities
September 28, 2011
Earlier this month, the National Organization on Disability recognized nine U.S. companies for their work in hiring and engaging
people with disabilities.
MoreRobel: Preparing for seamlessly global profession
September 28, 2011
What does the future hold for the law students who began their studies a few weeks ago in Bloomington and across the United
States?
MoreBeyers: Law makes dishonesty legal on applications
August 17, 2011
Attorney Bill Beyers writes about a new law enacted by the Legislature that has made it easier for people with a criminal
history to obtain employment.
MoreNordstrom: Book disappoints seasoned jury consultant
July 20, 2011
Rodney NordstromTrial consultant Rodney Nordstrom reviews "The Micro-script Rules."
MoreGuest columnist: Indiana's texting ban is flawed and unenforceable
June 8, 2011
Indiana attorney Chris Pearcy discusses the new law banning texting while driving in Indiana, which takes effect July 1.
MoreNordstrom: Author provides jury selection strategies
May 25, 2011
Rodney NordstromRodney Nordstrom writes about the book "Principles and Practice of Trial Consultation."
MoreValuing a business is not an exact science
May 25, 2011
Authors Howard I. Gross, Steven W. Reed, and Erika M. Gowan of BGBC Partners, write about determining a business' worth.
MoreJudge David Dreyer: Law is about people, emotion and all
May 11, 2011
David DreyerMy daughter lives in Oregon but she never calls. But the other night she did text. Of course I did not find it until later,
and it simply reported in plain terms the largest historical event of her young adult life. No glee, no joy, just a simple
statement about what happened in Pakistan. But I have not been able to stop thinking what made it so important to contact
her parents.
MoreMaurer: Is this the Indiana we've always wanted?
March 30, 2011
My fellow Tea Party Republicans, I have an idea. Let’s enact legislation requiring immigrants and homosexuals to wear
purple hats.
MoreSalinas: Senate Bill 590 is a step back for Indiana
March 2, 2011
I believe that members of Indiana’s legal profession have a duty to voice their concerns when laws are proposed that
could dramatically affect the civil liberties of individuals living in Indiana. Think about it, what if you could have voiced
your opinion when laws imposing poll taxes or prohibitions against interracial marriages were being considered in some state
legislatures. Would you have done it?
MoreViewpoint: I hope you read this
November 24, 2010
An anonymous young lawyer in Indianapolis discusses her anxiety issues and the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program.
MoreSidebars: Gamba Ristorante consistently top notch
November 24, 2010
Jennifer Lukemeyer, Fred VaianaAttorneys give Merrillville's Gamba Ristorante four gavels.
MoreSidebars: Landmark serves up more than history
October 27, 2010
Jennifer Lukemeyer, Fred VaianaLukemeyer and Vaiana visit Zaharakos in Columbus, Ind.
MoreDTCI: Take time to smell flowers along the way
October 27, 2010
Jeffrey CrabillWhen the name Rabb Emison comes to my mind, I immediately think of the word “great.”
MoreLetters to a new lawyer: Some general advice
October 27, 2010
Donald D. Doxsee gives advice in the first letter in an occasional series.
MoreQuality of Life: Making significant life changes with purpose
September 29, 2010
Jonna Kane McDougallIf you have ever considered making a major life change, you know that it isn’t easy.
MoreIndiana Judges Association: Choose between the good and the good
June 9, 2010
David DreyerJudge David J. Dreyer urges the governor to appoint a Notre Dame Law School alum.
More
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Court Calendar
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May 23, 2012 Covered Bridge Homeowners Association vs. Town of Sellersburg, Indiana - 5/23/12
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June 1, 2012 Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Co., et al. v. Michiana Contracting, et al. - 6/1/12
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June 12, 2012 State of Indiana Military Department, et al. v. Continental Electric Co.
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June 19, 2012 The City of Indianapolis v. National Trust Insurance Co., et al.
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G. Michael Witte letter states he's suspended for three years. The case that got him suspended is identical to my estate case, including havin the Late Judge Deiter recuse himself because Newman had a conflict of interest with the judge. His Modus Operandi is nearly identical.
SIGNED BY G. MICHAEL WITTE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY INDIANA SUPREME COURT DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION DATED MAY 17, 2012.
Your 6th complaint against Lawrence T. Newman filed on 4/12/2012. On 1/31/12, the Indiana Supreme Court entered an order suspending Lawrence T. Newman’s law license for a period of three years. More important, even after three years, Lawrence Todd Newman will not get his license back unless and until he goes through a separate proceeding to prove that he is fit to practice law. This is not an easy process, and the burden is upon Lawrence T. Newman to prove by clear and convincing evidence that he is fit to return to practice.
Because of the length of Lawrence T. Newman’s license suspension and the fact he may never succeed in getting his law license reinstated, we are not opening an investigation file at this time.
Should Lawrence T. Newman seek reinstatement in the future, we will open your file and ask Lawrence T. Newman to address your grievance as part of his burden of proving fitness. We have attempted to notify Lawrence T. Newman that this will be required of him.
It may disappoint you to hear that we will be doing nothing on your grievance at this time. However, the most our office can ever accomplish is to take away a lawyer’s license to practice law. We have already done that, albeit as a result of misconduct in cases other than your own. It makes better sense for our office to focus its limited resources on cases where the lawyers are still actively practicing law.
Is there any justice in the Marion County Superior Court Civil Division? I am the unfortunate victim of a retaliatory lawsuit brought by Lawrence Todd Newman, the attorney from an estate case on which I worked as a unsupervised personal representative in 2006. The contract agreement for that case stated that the estate would be responsible for all attorney fees, but Newman refused to close the nearly insolvent estate when my duties were complete and his fees were paid. Instead, he tried to extort additional attorney fees from me by keeping the case open to address a wrongful death claim, despite the estate’s heir’s lack of interest in pursuing it and an expert doctor’s opinion that it would not be worth doing so. He also knowingly deceived me into believing that a “closing statement” was needed to close the estate, even though this requirement had actually been waived by the estate’s heir. The heir’s attorney filed a motion to have Newman removed from the case. After the court closed the probate case with prejudice (barred from further litigation) Newman illegally re-opened the case in another courtroom.
As a result of complaints filed against him for these and similar actions, Newman has been suspended from practicing law for 18 months by the Indiana Disciplinary Commission. In retaliation, he has filed suit against me demanding additional attorney fees for the 2006 estate case, despite the fact that I made no agreement stating that I would pay any fees from my own assets on behalf of the estate. This lawsuit violates the rules of ethics, due process of law, and equal protection of law. Newman has been allowed to file ridiculous pleadings at an alarming rate and has been supported by a biased court system. Judge Carroll refuses to recuse himself from the case despite the fact that, by his own admission, he intends to grant Newman sanctions regardless of the evidence. When my former counsel discovered that the previous judge on the case, Judge Sosin, was a long-time close friend of Newman’s family, Judge Carroll commented for the record during a hearing that Judge Sosin in so many words “he finds the door “was weak for recusing himself from the case as a result of this obvious conflict of interest.
This case is a public policy issue. Statutes put in place to protect unsupervised personal representatives in probate matters are being ignored. This case will affect thousands of individuals involved in probating and the personal representation of estates. Justice cannot possibly be served as long as a biased judge is allowed to defend a “vexatious litigant,” as Newman has been described by Judge Logan in Bradenton, Florida court. If there is any justice in the Marion County Superior Court Civil Division, this case against me will be dismissed with prejudice.
Every affront to decency and every style adopted by criminals is not per se a constituttional violation. Only fools believe or espouse that.
This was an unnecessary change in law, a needless fiddling with a tax that impacted very very few hoosiers, but one that erodes a tax base benefitting very many hoosiers. Just because some people wanted to chalk up a "tax cut" on their legislative brag-list, and didnt give a fig about replacing the revenue any other way. Really stupid. I am a republican my whole life and this just shames me like hell. I have to use a fake name over this because I know my fellow republicans are all brain washed over tax cutting too.