COA: Death during robbery is felony murder
The Indiana Court of Appeals found evidence was sufficient to uphold a robber’s conviction of felony murder after one of his accomplices was killed in a fight with a robbery victim.
Court opinions
Articles
7th Circuit affirms judgment for employee on ADA claim
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed judgment for an employee who claimed the city of Anderson did not accommodate his disability when it fired him for not having a commercial driver’s license he could no longer get because of his diabetes.
COA: Testimony would have restricted jury’s ability to decide
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a man’s conviction of voluntary manslaughter after it found the trial court did not err in restricting the testimony of an expert witness for the defense.
COA: CVRA damages are distinct from punitive damages
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a damages award pursuant to the Crime Victim Relief Act after the court found in its second hearing of a case that CVRA damages are distinct from common law punitive damages.
Supreme Court extends Charlie White’s suspension
Former Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White may never be allowed to practice law again, the Indiana Supreme Court suggested Tuesday in extending his suspension another two years without automatic reinstatement.
COA: Tenant does not have obligation to indemnify landlord
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled a tenant did not have to indemnify a landlord against a woman’s personal injury claims after she filed suit against both of them.
COA reverses grant of woman’s unemployment benefits
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed unemployment benefits awarded to a woman after it found she did have notice her job was in jeopardy despite various notes thanking her for her help in office matters she received from her employer.
Vendor, Department of Revenue win partial victories on sales tax case
The Indiana Department of Revenue and a company that sold food through vending machines and its cafeteria both were victorious in Indiana Tax Court Thursday on the issue of whether all of the company’s vending machine sales and cafeteria sales are subject to sales tax and negligence penalties.
Pence praises US Supreme Court immigration ruling
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence praised a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down President Barack Obama's executive order on immigration.
7th Circuit reversal: Conour fraud victims, not creditor, take priority
Fraud victims of disgraced former lawyer William Conour have the upper hand over his former law firm creditor who was awarded a judgment of almost $775,000, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday, reversing the District Court and signaling too much may have been awarded.
COA: Seller not liable for undisclosed septic system
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed judgment against a man who claimed fraud because he was not told the property he bought was connected to a septic system.
Murder defendant’s trial attorney ineffective, COA rules
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the denial of a man’s post-conviction relief petition, finding his trial counsel was ineffective and his petition was not barred by laches.
High court limits drunken-driving test laws
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday placed new limits on state laws that make it a crime for motorists suspected of drunken driving to refuse alcohol tests.
High court limits use of repeat offender law
The U.S. Supreme Court is making it tougher for federal prosecutors to seek longer prison terms for people convicted of repeated violent crimes.
7th Circuit: Women’s services ad can be posted in buses
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found a women’s health organization can advertise on city buses because its ad does not violate any of the transit company’s ad policies, overturning a Northern District of Indiana decision.
7th Circuit: Omission of fibromyalgia diagnosis reversible error
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that an administrative law judge’s omission of fibromyalgia from a woman’s list of impairments was not supported by the evidence and reversed denial of her application for supplemental security income.
Justices rule jury instruction not fundamental error
The Indiana Supreme Court found a jury instruction that jurors “shall presume” that a man’s alcohol concentration equivalent was above the legal limit if his chemical test, taken hours later, was at 0.08 or higher was not fundamental error. As such, it affirmed his conviction.
Appeals court reverses adoption petition
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed an adoption petition after it found the adoptive mother did not participate in a sufficient background check and the court should have combined the adoption proceedings with a paternity hearing that was also occurring at the same time.
COA: Unreturned warrant doesn’t justify trial delay
A man’s criminal charges will be dismissed after Indiana Court of Appeals found the fact that a warrant for his arrest was not returned to trial court didn’t mean the court was absolved of its responsibility to grant him the speedy trial he asked for.
Abortion, race, immigration among last Supreme Court cases
It happens every June. The Supreme Court of the United States nears the finish line with the most contentious cases still to be resolved.