Ex-Covance worker’s retaliation lawsuit reinstated
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a man’s lawsuit alleging his former employer refused to hire him permanently in retaliation of prior discriminatory complaints he filed.
civil rights
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AG Hill moves to dismiss sexual harassment, retaliation lawsuit
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is urging a federal judge to throw out the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him and the State of Indiana, filing separate motions — one to dismiss claims brought against him individually, and another to toss those brought against him officially and against the state.
Big business to Supreme Court: Defend LGBTQ people from bias
More than 200 corporations, including many of America’s best-known companies, are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that federal civil rights law bans job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Ruling for IU in black student’s discrimination suit upheld
A 7th Circuit Court of Appeals panel affirmed the denial of a black student’s discrimination suit against Indiana University, finding no abuse of discretion in resolving discovery disputes regarding her classmate’s demographics.
High court avoids new case over same-sex wedding cake
The Supreme Court is throwing out an Oregon court ruling against bakers who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. The justices’ action Monday keeps the high-profile case off the court’s election-year calendar and orders state judges to take a new look at the dispute between the lesbian couple and the owners of a now-closed bakery in the Portland area.
Judge denies police defamation claims in Indiana wiretapping
A northern Indiana judge has ruled that a former South Bend councilman did not defame four police officers targeted in a long-running wiretapping case when he sought a federal probe of potential racial bias in the police department.
Judge: School district violated transgender students’ rights
A federal judge has found that an Indiana school district violated a transgender student’s civil rights by not allowing him to use male bathrooms at school.
Amish couple settles lawsuit over photos their faith forbids
An Amish couple with 13 children settled a lawsuit that accused federal officials of violating their constitutional rights by insisting they provide photographs of themselves before the Canadian wife’s request to become a permanent U.S. resident can be approved.
Civil commitment laws shifting across states
While Indiana justices recently stressed the great public importance of proper adjudication of soaring mental health filings, states across the country are dealing with rising caseloads in no uniform way.
Judge rules for Hendricks County deputy in mentally ill man’s slaying
A federal judge has ruled in favor of several parties, including a Hendricks County sheriff’s deputy, after a mentally ill man was fatally shot during a welfare check.
Suit: Indiana’s absentee voter verification system unconstitutional
Common Cause Indiana and a group of registered voters in St. Joseph County are challenging the process Indiana uses to validate absentee ballots, calling it constitutionally flawed and asking a federal court to prohibit the state from rejecting absentee ballots based solely on perceived signature mismatches.
7th Circuit lets Fort Wayne police shooting case proceed
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to end an excessive force lawsuit against a Fort Wayne police officer, finding a review of the video of the shooting and arrest does not “utterly discredit” the plaintiff’s contentions that he was shot while trying to comply or did not have to respond to the officer’s commands.
Web Exclusive: Supported decision making makes strides
After three years of collaboration and research, efforts to create more options of independence for Hoosiers who face the confines of a guardianship have come to fruition. Those new options include legal recognition of supported decision making.
Prisoner rights case challenges forced labor in private prisons
An inmate lawsuit filed against New Castle Correctional Facility seemingly marks the first time a judge has ruled that a private prison operator can be liable for human trafficking in a punitive setting.
Majority justices won’t hear more commitment appeals lacking judge’s signature
Indiana Supreme Court justices split over whether to grant transfer in two civil commitment order cases last week but granted transfer in two similar cases in a per curiam opinion that disapproved of a Marion County judge’s practice of permitting a presiding commissioner to sign the orders in his place.
Supreme Court: Summarily approved commitment orders not valid
The Indiana Supreme Court has expressly disapproved of a Marion County judge’s practice of summarily approving civil commitment orders individually reviewed by the presiding commissioner, though the justices also noted that the fact that the defendants' commitment orders have expired makes their appeals moot.
ACLU sues to block latest Indiana abortion law
The American Civil Liberties Union has once again filed a federal lawsuit challenging an Indiana abortion law, this time filing a complaint against recently signed legislation that would place new restrictions on second-trimester abortions.
Reversal reinstates wrongful arrest suit against conservation officer
Summary judgment for a conservation officer was reversed Thursday after the Indiana Court of Appeals found, among other things, that his actions in procuring the prosecution of a woman who killed his dog were not noncriminal.
SCOTUS to hear arguments over citizenship question on census
The United States Supreme Court is set to hear arguments over the Trump administration’s plan to ask about citizenship on the 2020 census, a question that could affect how many seats states have in the House of Representatives and their share of federal dollars over the next 10 years.
Supreme Court to take up LGBT job discrimination cases
The Supreme Court is taking on a major test of LGBT rights in cases that look at whether federal civil rights law bans job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.