Kavanaugh assigned as circuit justice for 7th Circuit
The Supreme Court of the United States has shuffled the circuit court assignments, assigning the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to Brett Kavanaugh, the newest associate justice.
7th Circuit Court of Appeals
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Judgment for lender upheld in race discrimination suit
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for a lender after it found an African-American couple failed to prove they were denied a loan based on racial discrimination under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
Hill defends abortion law’s validity, argues idea is new
Indiana’s recent request for the nation’s highest court to review an abortion law struck down by federal courts has some legal watchers wondering whether the case could be a gateway for dismantling of abortion rights.
7th Circuit upholds judgment for Pearson on sex discrimination claim
A former employee of Pearson Education, Inc. has lost her sex discrimination appeal against the educational products supplier after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found the woman failed to show she was similarly situated to three male employees she claimed were treated better than her.
Lawyer who saw golf course slip, fall can’t represent victim
A Chicago attorney was removed from a northern Indiana federal personal injury case last week because he had witnessed an alleged golf course accident that was the basis of his client’s lawsuit.
7th Circuit seeking public comment on jury instructions
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to criminal pattern jury instructions. Comments on the proposed changes will be accepted until Nov. 20.
U.S. Supreme Court asked to review abortion law signed by Pence
Indiana is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments over a law that bars women from having an abortion based on gender, race or disability. The law was signed in 2016 when Vice President Mike Pence was Indiana governor, but federal courts have blocked it.
7th Circuit affirms withheld attorney fees in disability cases
Attorneys who successfully represented two clients seeking Social Security disability benefits won’t get paid, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, because their indigent clients owed debts to the federal treasury.
State’s request for stay rebuffed in voter registration case
An attempt by the state of Indiana to squash discovery into its practice of maintaining voter rolls has been stopped by the Southern Indiana District Court, which pointed out to both parties that it has “extremely broad discretion in controlling discovery.” Judge Tanya Walton Pratt issued the order Friday in Common Cause Indiana v. Connie Lawson, et al., denying the state’s request to stay proceedings and discovery while the case is on interlocutory appeal.
7th Circuit: Woman can’t sue county over worker’s sex assault
A woman serving court-ordered community service who claimed she was sexually assaulted by a Vigo County park maintenance worker lost her appeal of a judgment in favor of the county in her civil liability lawsuit Wednesday, despite what judges noted was a “horrific incident”.
Indiana Court Decisions — Sept. 13-26, 2018
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
Indiana Court Decisions — Aug. 29-Sept. 12, 2018
Read Indiana appellate decisions from the most recent reporting period.
7th Circuit reinstates Renssalaer workers’ “popcorn lung” claim
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated a claim filed by nearly 30 workers who argue a microwave popcorn plant failed to warn them of exposure during the manufacturing process to a butter flavor ingredient that has been linked to a disease known as “popcorn lung.”
Hill asks SCOTUS to reinstate death penalty for murderer Baer
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is asking the nation’s highest court to reinstate the death penalty against a man convicted of killing a Madison County woman and her 4-year-old daughter, arguing the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals failed to properly defer to state court rulings when it overturned his death sentence earlier this year.
FedEx drivers get tentative $13.3M ERISA settlement
A proposed workplace-benefits settlement of more than $13.3 million for Federal Express drivers who were wrongly classified as contractors rather than employees has been approved by an Indiana federal judge overseeing a nationwide docket of employment suits against the delivery service.
Convicted drug dealer loses 7th Circuit appeal
A Marion County man convicted of six drug, firearm and money laundering charges has lost his appeal before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, which found no constitutional violation in the length of the traffic stop that led to his arrest.
7th: No evidence supports race discrimination claim by IU professor
Lack of evidence doomed a black professor's argument that he was denied tenure at Indiana University because of his race, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found Tuesday.
Indiana Court Decisions — Aug. 16-28, 2018
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the last reporting period.
7th Circuit reverses employment claim jurisdiction dismissal
After a woman failed to receive a report as to why her job offer was rescinded, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court’s dismissal of her adverse-action claim for lack of jurisdiction.
7th Circuit affirms dismissal of railroad worker’s injury suit
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of a train operator’s state common law claims for relief against a railroad company for injuries caused by locomotive equipment.