Allen County
Articles
Governor signs DCS, new judge legislation
Gov. Mitch Daniels signed legislation last week that gives Johnson Superior Court a fourth judge and Allen Circuit Court another full-time magistrate, and an enrolled act that makes changes to the Department of Child Services.
Indiana Tech’s new law school will be on Ft. Wayne campus
Indiana Tech officials announced Tuesday that the school will build a 70,000-square-foot, $15 million facility on its main campus in Ft. Wayne to house its new law school.
Justices divided on proper sanction for attorney actions
The majority of Indiana Supreme Court justices found the trial court was within its discretion to dismiss a personal injury action because of the plaintiff’s attorney’s actions.
Registration open for Allen County Bench/Bar Conference
The Allen County Bar Association will host its Bench/Bar Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at Grand Wayne Center, 120 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne.
COA affirms murder conviction
The Indiana Court of Appeals found the state presented sufficient substantive evidence to establish that a man killed his sister’s boyfriend while staying in her apartment.
COA upholds attorney’s 11-year sentence
The Roanoke attorney who stole more than $200,000 from his clients will not have his sentence reduced, the Indiana Court of Appeals decided Wednesday.

Chickedantz assumes new role as ISBA president
In a 45-minute conversation with C. Erik Chickedantz, the accomplished lawyer and Vietnam veteran never boasted about his own accomplishments, although the many awards in his office are a testament to his service to Indiana’s legal profession.
Commission on Courts to discuss JTAC, new judges
At its first meeting Wednesday, the Commission on Courts will hear updates on Judicial Technology and Automation Committee projects as well as requests for new judges.
Court rules on duty of care for healthy trees in residential areas
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reiterated its stance that urban or residential area landowners have a duty to take reasonable precautions regarding their own trees, healthy or otherwise, and make sure they don’t harm a neighbor’s property based on the size and where they are planted.
Allen County bar seeks nominations for Niemann Citation
The Allen County Bar Association is accepting nominations for the 2011 Niemann Citation for Excellence and Professionalism, an award established in 2004 to honor the memory of attorney Scott T. Niemann.
Judges ask family to end litigation over parents’ interments
In a dispute among divided siblings on where their deceased parents should be buried, the Indiana Court of Appeals asked the family to end the litigation and let the parents “rest in peace.”
COA to hold oral argument in Allen County
The Indiana Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in Carrie Chapman v. Howard L. Chapman and Elizabeth W. Chapman, Trustees of The Stephen L. Chapman Irrevocable Trust Agreement, No. 02A03-1012-TR-624, at 10:30 a.m. July 12 at the Allen County Courthouse in Ft. Wayne.
COA turns to dictionary in contract dispute
Citing Black’s Law Dictionary’s definitions of “solicit” and “induce,” the Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court’s finding that a software company did not violate terms of its contract with another business.
Group can’t challenge high school closure
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a parent and taxpayer group’s legal challenge to the closing of a Fort Wayne school, finding the decision doesn’t violate the state constitution.
Lawyer sentenced for theft, corrupt business practice
A northeast Indiana attorney who pleaded guilty to stealing from his clients has been sentenced to 11 years in prison, with five and one-half of those years suspended to active probation.
Indiana Tech plans to open law school in 2013
Indiana may soon have a fifth law school. Indiana Tech’s Board of Trustees voted May 13 to move forward with establishing a law school in Fort Wayne.
COA reverses denial of translated version of hearing
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that the post-conviction court abused its discretion when it denied a woman’s request to have access to the electronic recording of her guilty plea hearing.
IU-Maurer Ft. Wayne alumni lunch
Allen Superior Judge Stanley Levine and Indiana University Maurer School of Law Dean Lauren Robel will make remarks at a Fort Wayne alumni reception.
Justices reverse forfeiture of truck
The Indiana Supreme Court agreed with the lower appellate court that a man’s truck shouldn’t have been lost in a civil forfeiture action because the state didn’t prove any substantial connection between the truck and the commission of a crime.