Water company not a political subdivision
The company that provides the water utility to the City of Indianapolis is not a political subdivision of the state, the Indiana
Court of Appeals concluded today.
Court opinions
Articles
Justices address habitual-offender statute
The Indiana Supreme Court tackled the state’s habitual-offender statute today in two separate rulings, finding that
an instant offense of drug dealing, coupled with a prior conviction, can qualify a defendant as a habitual offender.
COA balances free speech vs. minor’s privacy rights
The Indiana Court of Appeals was faced with competing constitutional rights today: a mother’s right to free political
speech versus her daughter’s right to privacy as to whether her father allegedly sexually abused her.
COA reverses judgment on 1 cross-claim in library appeal
The Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library should be able to pursue a cross-claim against an engineering company for breach
of professional standard of care, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled today.
SCOTUS has historic day in ending session
On a historic day for the Supreme Court of the United States, one justice stepped down after more than three decades as his
successor began her confirmation hearings before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
Justices order trial on reasonable force issue
A law enforcement officer’s use of force in excess of reasonable force authorized by statute isn't shielded from
liability under the "enforcement of a law" immunity under Indiana Code Section 34-13-3-3(8), the Indiana Supreme
Court held today.
Appeals court rules on corporate subsidiaries case
The Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled against a Bluffton electric company, finding that corporations can’t simply create
subsidiaries internally and declare them separate entities in order to avoid paying higher tax rates under state unemployment
compensation law.
Court rules on appellate counsel issue in child molesting case
A decade-old old case from the Indiana Court of Appeals doesn’t apply to child molesting cases, the state’s second
highest appellate court has ruled.
Justices adopt appellate court findings
The Indiana Supreme Court issued a pair of short per curiam opinions on Thursday afternoon that adopt what the Indiana Court
of Appeals decided on two criminal appeals.
Translated transcripts necessary for jury
A trial court didn’t abuse its discretion when it admitted transcripts translated into English of drug transactions
recorded in Spanish because the jury wouldn’t be able to understand the recording, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled.
Justices rule on judicial mandate case
In its first case since the state amended its rules last year on how judicial mandates are handled, the Indiana Supreme Court
has today issued a decision about a St. Joseph Superior judge’s mandate for the county to pay for multiple items he
considered necessary for running the local juvenile justice system.
Court: refusal to identify law applies to passengers
Although state law allows police to request identification from passengers inside a car that they’ve stopped, two Indianapolis
officers shouldn’t have done arrested a man for refusing to identify himself when there was no reasonable suspicion
he’d done anything wrong.
Checkpoint doesn’t violate separation of powers
The use of sobriety checkpoints does not violate the separation of powers provision in the state’s constitution, the
Indiana Court of Appeals ruled today.
COA: negligence claim should go to trial
The Marion Superior Court was wrong to grant summary judgment for a company in a home builder’s claims of negligence
following the discovery of contaminants on lots in a subdivision, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled.
Justices: statements fall within qualified privilege
The Indiana Supreme Court affirmed summary judgment in favor of a company and its employee in a defamation suit because qualified
privilege precludes the defamation action.
SCOTUS rules on Indiana steel plant case
The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled on a case about a northern Indiana steel processing plant, overturning the
7th Circuit Court of Appeals and effectively limiting how a federal labor-relations board is able to conduct business regarding
employee and union rights.
COA upholds stop of teen with gun
The Indiana Court of Appeals found the stop by police of a teen at a summer expo in Indianapolis who had a loaded gun in his
waistband didn’t violate the teen’s state or federal constitutional rights. The appellate court also concluded
the juvenile court’s comments to the teen’s father don’t require a remand.
Gaming agents have full police power
A gaming agent of the Indiana Gaming Commission constitutes a “law enforcement officer” for purposes of the offense
of resisting law enforcement, the Indiana Court of Appeals decided today.
Tax court orders USUT refund
The Indiana Department of State Revenue erred in concluding that a natural gas-fired power plant in Terre Haute was subject
to the Utility Services Use Tax, ruled the Indiana Tax Court Wednesday.
Supreme Court denies transfer to four
The Indiana Supreme Court denied transfer in four cases June 3. As of today’s Indiana Lawyer daily deadline,
the court had not yet posted transfers since those from the week ending June 4.