Judge orders state inspection of embattled Charlestown zoo
A controversial Charlestown zoo whose owner has already lost his federal exhibitor’s license has been ordered to comply with a state inspection on Friday and Saturday.
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Indiana AG sues to shut down embattled Charlestown zoo
The owner a controversial Charlestown zoo who recently lost his federal exhibitor’s license is now also facing a state lawsuit that would shut down the zoo’s underlying nonprofit organization and remove him as its director, citing allegations of animal abuse, financial improprieties, intimidation and more.
License of embattled Charlestown big-cat zoo revoked
The owner of a controversial Charlestown zoo that has been the subject of a bitter years-long court fight has lost his federal exhibitor’s license and is on the hook for more than $300,000 in civil penalties.
Charlestown code enforcement case headed for trial
A lawsuit alleging the Charlestown city administration is unconstitutionally using fines to force low-income residents to sell their homes to a developer is scheduled for trial next month.
Charlestown zoo owner must keep big cats during animal-rights case
A federal judge is doubling down on an animal-rights ruling that prohibits the owners of a southern Indiana zoo from moving its large cats out of its possession, though the judge stopped short of issuing sanctions for an alleged failure to follow that order.
Judge dismisses part of Charlestown lawsuit tied to redevelopment plans
A federal judge has dismissed a portion of a lawsuit brought by landlords that alleged racketeering by Charlestown officials related to a planned redevelopment project.
Appeals panel upholds Charlestown water utility sale
A southern Indiana community’s sale of its water utility was affirmed Monday after a challenge by a nonprofit group opposed to the deal. The Indiana Court of Appeals let stand the sale of the City of Charlestown water utility to Greenwood-based Indiana-American Water Company, Inc.
S. Indiana man hears charges in chase that killed Charlestown officer
Benjamin Eads of Freedom appeared in court Monday in Scott County on charges including auto theft and resisting law enforcement, which led to a death. Authorities say Eads fled a traffic stop on Dec. 12, triggering a police chase during which Charlestown Officer Benton Bertram’s vehicle struck a tree. Bertram was pronounced dead at the scene.
COA overturns injunction against Charlestown code enforcement scheme
A special judge’s ruling that preliminarily enjoined the city of Charlestown from inconsistently imposing code violation fees while simultaneously finding the city was not subject to the state’s Unsafe Building Law has been overturned. The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Monday that the trial court erred in finding the UBL does not apply to the city, thus requiring remand for re-examination of how local and state regulations should work together.
Judge ends ‘Tiger Baby Playtime’, halts cub declawing
A federal judge Monday shut down a southern Indiana attraction’s public encounters with tiger cubs. The judge also halted the declawing of tiger cubs and separating them from their mothers so they could be used in “Tiger Baby Playtime” events where people pay to mingle with declawed big cat cubs.
Lawsuit claims Charlestown pressured sale of rental houses
Property owners are suing Charlestown city officials, alleging that they used fines to pressure them to sell their properties at prices well under market value for a planned redevelopment project.
Special judge halts ‘irrational’ Charlestown code enforcement
After criticizing a southern Indiana city’s practice of levying code violation fines against some, but not all, local property owners as “irrational,” a Scott County judge has issued a preliminary injunction requiring the city to issue fines in a consistent manner that complies with local ordinances.
Charlestown land dispute pits city against its lower-income residents
The state of some World War II-era homes has given rise to a contentious property rights dispute between the Charlestown city administration and residents of the city’s Pleasant Ridge neighborhood.