Disability denials draw criticism
Seventh Circuit questions Social Security Administration’s outdated information, convoluted calculations in several recent decisions.
7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Articles
‘Quasi-contract’ not enough in fraud suit
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals said a “quasi-contract” was not enough to pursue damages in a fraud case where one additive was unknowingly substituted for another.
ADA claims against St. Joseph County courts fail in 7th Circuit
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld summary judgment for the St. Joseph County court system in a case involving accessibility of the St. Joseph County Courthouse and the Mishawaka County Services Building. The court said many of the plaintiffs’ claims lack standing, while others failed to raise genuine disputes of material fact.
7th Circuit affirms $34.2M in fraudulent transfer case
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling from the Southern District of Indiana that a company needs to pay $34.2 million for a crop-insurance business it bought and later sold to other companies it also controlled.
Man on death row loses habeas petition before 7th Circuit
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld rulings lifting a stay on a man’s habeas corpus petition and dismissing his claims after the appellate court held his claims could be decided based on the state-court record.
Southern District launches initiative to help pro se litigants
In response to a series of cases remanded from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Southern District of Indiana is attempting to recruit more volunteer attorneys and, in what one observer called a “very progressive” approach, enlist medical professionals to offer expert testimony.
House always wins: Court upholds sentence of man trying to launder money at casino
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the denial of four motions to suppress evidence and exclude expert testimony in a case where a man was caught trying to launder money by stuffing the bills into a slot machine at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond.
Long-running case over subdivision plan decided
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals decided a case that dragged on in the federal court system for nine years Thursday.
Suit rightly decided for IMPD detective, appeals court rules
A plaintiff who sought to sue an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police detective for alleged abuses related to a drug search failed to persuade the Indiana Court of Appeals that the officer could be held personally liable.
7th Circuit: Woman has no claim for tortious interference
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an Indiana Southern District Court ruling throwing out a woman’s suit against her employer because she failed to state a claim for tortious interference under Indiana law.
Disability denial reversed due to ‘fatally weak testimony’
The latest in a string of appeals critical of the denial of Social Security disability benefits resulted in reversal of a ruling against the worker Monday. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals held the district court's ruling affirming denial of benefits was “not a reasonable analysis of the plaintiff's claim.”
ADEA does not apply to company who fired 61-year-old employee
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for New Holland Logansport in a wrongful termination suit after it found the company did not meet the definition of employer under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
7th Circuit: Plea agreement not breached by government
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals said the government did not breach its plea agreement with a defendant by introducing more victims than were mentioned in the agreement and therefore dismissed his appeal.
7th Circuit: cousins conspired to sell heroin; another gets new trial
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals said two cousins conspired to distribute heroin, despite the claim from the defendants they were running separate heroin businesses.
Judge’s sentencing process does not violate due process
The United States 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled a judge’s process to sentence a man who pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine did not violate the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause, and may even be a process to be emulated by other judges in the future.
State appealing ruling in Syrian refugee lawsuit
The state of Indiana officially filed notice Tuesday that it intends to appeal the ruling by a federal judge last month that blocked Gov. Mike Pence’s order barring state agencies from helping Syrian refugees resettle in Indiana.
Female judges recognized for women’s history month
The United States Court System is celebrating Women’s History Month with a series of videos on women in the federal courts throughout March, including 7th Circuit Court Judge Ann Claire Williams.
Man can’t appeal piracy conviction
A man who pleaded guilty to piracy for his role in boarding a ship off the coast of Somalia in 2009 was denied a writ of habeas corpus because he waived that right when he pleaded to his crime.
7th Circuit rejects group’s I-69 challenges
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a federal judge’s ruling granting a motion to dismiss some charges and grant summary judgment on others to the United States Department of Transportation after a group opposing I-69 construction in southern Indiana, Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads, filed a lawsuit.
Court denies summary judgment in excessive force case
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals said there was enough evidence against two officers accused of excessive force while arresting a Hammond man to create material dispute and therefore reversed summary judgment for the officers. The case was remanded to District Court for further proceedings.