Taking a stand for lemonade
A bill in the 2021 Indiana General Assembly would make clear that lemonade stands are legal in the Hoosier state, thanks to two LaPorte boys who wanted to tackle an issue near to their hearts.
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Ownership fight could leave new Gary casino empty
The legal fight over ownership of a new $300 million casino in northwestern Indiana could leave it sitting unused for possibly months after construction work is completed.
Indiana House approves COVID-19 liability protection bill
The Indiana House has approved legislation that would protect businesses from COVID-19-related lawsuits. The measure slightly differs from a liability protection measure passed last week by the state Senate.
Anthem paying $594M to settle antitrust litigation, but deal terms might fuel growth
Some investment analysts and health care observers say changes to Blue Cross Blue Shield rules that are stipulated in a half-billion-dollar settlement are so favorable to Indianapolis-based Anthem’s growth prospects that they view the deal as a huge win for the company.
Justices rule for company in dispute with ex-officer over share value
A dispute over the valuation of shares has been resolved in favor of a company after the Indiana Supreme Court upheld the discounts that were applied to the valuation. The former company partner who sued previously won a Court of Appeals ruling that increased the value of his shares by more than $1 million.
Holcomb relaxing coronavirus limits on crowd sizes
Indiana’s crowd size limits will be relaxed starting next week after recent improvements in the statewide COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates, the governor announced Wednesday.
Revamped bill would severely limit government’s ability to restrict business, church operations
A Republican lawmaker is seeking to severely limit the restrictions that state and local governments can impose on businesses and churches as COVID-19 continues to spread across Indiana.
COA rules against gun range owners despite officials’ failure to take oaths
Though certain Jefferson County officials failed to take their oaths of office, that failure does not invalidate the officials’ zoning complaint against a local couple, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled.
Indiana Senate committee advances COVID-19 legal immunity bill
State lawmakers have advanced a bill that would protect individuals and businesses from COVID-19-related lawsuits. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday afternoon moved Senate Bill 1 to the Senate floor for consideration.
COVID immunity bill garners support, but concerns raised about overly broad language
Legislation meant to shield Indiana businesses and individuals from COVID-related liability was met with a groundswell of support on Wednesday, though some raised concerns that the language of the bill could have unintended legal consequences.
Punch Bowl Social restaurant chain files for bankruptcy
The restaurant-and-entertainment chain Punch Bowl Social, whose Indianapolis location at 120 S. Meridian St. in Circle Centre mall has been closed since the start of the pandemic, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.
Indiana commercial courts branching out
Indiana’s commercial court docket is expanding for the first time, with four new venues opening in 2021. Hamilton, Madison, St. Joseph and Vigo counties will join Allen, Elkhart, Floyd, Lake, Marion and Vanderburgh counties in offering the specialized business dockets.
AG Hill sues Nevada company for fraudulent sale of 3M masks
A Nevada company already facing a federal lawsuit in Indiana for efforts to defraud the state into buying respiratory masks the company didn’t have access to is now facing a state-court complaint brought by the Indiana attorney general.
COA reversal awards Carmel pizzeria owner $197K, potential treble damages
A panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed a judgment against a Hamilton County pizzeria company’s owner after finding the trial court erred in concluding that he failed to establish money damages for his partners’ acts of forgery and counterfeiting related to the business, among other things, awarding more than $197,000 in damages and over $21,000 in legal fees.
Unwanted exposure: In right of publicity suits, models seek damages from adult clubs they say used images without permission
Professional models from across the globe are suing four Indiana strip clubs for using their photos without permission to advertise establishments located in Fort Wayne, Hammond and Indianapolis. The models are invoking Indiana’s Right of Publicity Statute, one of the strongest such laws in the nation.
Unleashing innovation: 40th anniversary of Bayh-Dole Act celebrates law credited with improving lives around the world
The Bayh-Dole Act, marking its 40th anniversary, has contributed hundreds of billions of dollars to the U.S. gross domestic product and supported million jobs by unleashing the discoveries in America’s leading universities. But the landmark legislation now hailed as an engine of innovation and enterprise almost never came to pass.
COA remands breach suit to Indiana court in dispute with Florida business
A breach of contract dispute between a company based in Indiana and one based in Florida will continue in Indiana trial court after the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a dismissal order that was based on a too-narrow reading of a statute.
Elanco to build $100 million HQ campus at former GM site downtown
Elanco Animal Health Inc. announced Friday morning it will build a $100 million headquarters campus at the former General Motors stamping plant west of downtown, a move the state has incentivized with more than $86 million in tax breaks plus land for the project. The announcement came after the former owner of the site dismissed a lawsuit against the city and announced the property had been sold.
Nestle, Cargill at high court in child labor case
The Supreme Court of the United States seemed concerned Tuesday about the impact of siding with food giants Nestle and Cargill and ending a lawsuit that claims they knowingly bought cocoa beans from farms in Africa that used child slave labor.
Indiana commercial courts expanding to 4 more counties
The Indiana judiciary is expanding its roster of commercial courts, adding four more counties to the program that started in 2016. The Indiana Supreme Court announced the new venues handling the specialized dockets Monday.