Farmland woman gets 41 years in daughter’s crash death
An eastern Indiana woman has been sentenced to 41 years in prison for a highway crash that killed her 6-year-old daughter. A Delaware County judge sentenced 30-year-old Jessica Skeens on Monday.
Alcohol
Articles
Anthem attorney gets JLAP probation after OWI crash
An attorney for Indianapolis-based Anthem Inc. received a stayed suspension from the Indiana Supreme Court and will undergo a year of substance abuse monitoring after a drunken-driving conviction arising from a property damage car crash nearly two years ago. Jonathan T. Tempel was suspended for 90 days with automatic reinstatement, stayed subject to completion of one year of monitoring by the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program.
Flight attendant agrees to undergo alcohol abuse counseling
A flight attendant charged with public intoxication after passengers on a Chicago-to-South Bend flight noticed her inebriation has agreed to undergo alcohol abuse counseling. Julianne March of Waukesha, Wisconsin, reached a pretrial diversion agreement that includes alcohol abuse evaluation and counseling during her Aug. 29 initial hearing.
Jury convicts Indiana woman in crash that killed daughter, 6
An eastern Indiana woman has been convicted of neglect and other charges stemming from a highway crash that killed her 6-year-old daughter. A Delaware County jury convicted 30-year-old Jessica Skeens of seven of nine charges Thursday, including neglect of a dependent resulting in death and driving while intoxicated.
Cold beer safe, but is Indiana’s live-here, sell-here law on ice?
In late June, the U.S. Supreme Court notified Tennessee that it was last call for the state’s liquor sales residency requirement — a law similar to statutes on Indiana’s books.
Supreme Court strikes down Tennessee liquor sale residency law
The Supreme Court of the United States on Wednesday struck down a Tennessee law that makes it hard for outsiders to break into the state’s liquor sales market. The ruling also could have implications for Indiana’s liquor distribution laws.
Alcohol bills move to full House for consideration after changes
State lawmakers on Wednesday made changes to two major bills addressing alcohol issues before moving both pieces of legislation to the full House for consideration.
Justices appear ready to void Tennessee alcohol sales law
The Supreme Court appeared ready Wednesday to strike down a Tennessee provision that requires people to live in the state for two years before obtaining a license to sell alcohol. But 35 states, including Indiana, and the District of Columbia, are urging the court to uphold the two-year residency requirement.
Sell here, live here: SCOTUS reviews liquor retailer residency requirements
The requirement that alcohol permit holders live in the state where they do business is based on the simple notion that neighbors care more about the well-being of their communities than out-of-towners do. But a Tennessee case challenging that notion in the U.S. Supreme Court could spill over on similar Indiana laws.
Committee seeks comment on court-administered alcohol, drug program amendments
The Indiana Judicial Conference Board of Directors and Court Alcohol and Drug Program Advisory Committee are seeking public comment on proposed amendments to rules for court-administered alcohol and drug programs. Amendments have been proposed for sections 19, 22, 27, 30 and 31 to the rules, and the creation of a new section concerning chemical testing has also been proposed.
Federal court rebuffs latest Monarch-linked liquor law challenge
An Indiana motor carrier’s attempt to transport liquor for a Michigan City wholesaler has been blocked by the Southern Indiana District Court, which found the proposed arrangement could potentially circumvent Indiana’s three-tiered alcohol distribution and sales system.
7th Circuit revives Indiana wine retailer’s challenge to Illinois liquor laws
Finding the arguments needed to be allowed to ferment a little while longer, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has returned a dispute involving an Indiana wine retailer and Illinois’ liquor laws back to the district court for further proceedings. The case, Lebamoff Enterprises, Inc., et al. v. Bruce V. Rauner, et al. and Wine & Spirits Distributors of Illinois, 17-2495, raises the oft-asked question of how far states can go under the 21st Amendment in regulating alcohol within their borders.
Ineffective counsel arguments in OWI appeal lack cogent reasoning
A man’s arguments on appeal from his drunken-driving conviction that he had ineffective assistance of counsel were rejected in substance and form by the Indiana Court of Appeals on Friday.
Hard alcohol ban ordered for most US, Canada fraternities
A ban intending to clamp down on hard liquor at frat house parties following pledge deaths last year has been ordered for most fraternities in the United States and Canada, unless the drinks are served by someone with a liquor license.
KY Distiller to Bob Dylan whiskey co.: Hands off the trademark
With more than 1.4 million barrels of aging bourbon whiskey in reserve, Heaven Hill Distilleries may not cry over a spilled shot glass or two, but it will fight to defend its trademark. The Kentucky distiller has filed an infringement lawsuit against a Chicago-based company that makes a collection of American whiskeys co-created by musical legend Bob Dylan.
Legislative panel focuses on idle alcohol permits
When the Indiana Alcohol Code Revision Commission heard public testimony for the first time ahead of the 2019 legislative session on Friday, members of the Indiana legal and business community came forward to discuss the topic that has emerged as one of the most important for the commission to grapple with: how long alcohol permits can be held in escrow before being revoked.
Model law firm ‘impairment’ policies withdrawn from ABA annual meeting discussion
A resolution that would have updated current guidelines for how the legal community should address lawyer impairment was withdrawn from the American Bar Association House of Delegate’s schedule before it could be discussed at the annual meeting on Monday.
Alcohol commission will study permits, quota system
Coming off the successful passage of Sunday sales legislation during the 2018 Indiana legislative session, the Alcohol Code Revision Commission re-convened for the first time on July 18 to chart its course for this year’s study topics. While the commission’s work last year focused on more specific topics like Sunday sales, this year’s group has been charged with studying more general issues, including alcohol permits, the state’s quota structure and the causes and effects of over-consumption.
Alcohol Code Revision Commission to study permits, quotas
The Indiana Alcohol Code Revision Commission went back to work on Wednesday with a new leader and a new slate of alcohol-related issues to study ahead of the 2019 legislative session. Topics on the agenda included reducing the complexity and increasing the consistency of Indiana’s alcohol licensing laws, evaluating the permit quota structure, and studying over-consumption and its causes and effects.
Holcomb signs historic Indiana Sunday alcohol sales bill
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb made history Wednesday by signing a new law that will legalize the carryout sale of alcohol on Sundays.