Marilyn Monroe decision points to right of publicity’s shortcomings
The legal landscape for Marilyn Monroe’s heirs changed considerably when a federal court recently affirmed that the idol had no right of publicity that survived her.
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Massa appointed chair of St. Joe judicial nominating commission
Indiana Chief Justice Brent Dickson has appointed Justice Mark Massa chairman of the St. Joseph Superior Court Judicial Nominating Commission. Massa is filling the vacancy left by former Justice Frank Sullivan, who recently left the bench to teach.
Ruling for IBM likely first act in legal epic
A ruling that ordered the state to pay more than $52 million to IBM due to cancellation of its contract to privatize social service claims processing certainly will have a second, and most likely a third, act.
State must pay $52M over terminated welfare contract
Marion Superior Judge David Dreyer has ordered the state to pay IBM an additional $12 million in early termination closeout payments and for equipment it retained after canceling a contract with IBM to implement a modernized welfare system. The judge previously ruled in January that the state was on the hook for $40 million in subcontractor assignment fees for terminating the contract.
Supreme Court grants more time to e-file some abstracts of judgment
Courts will have until the end of this year to file abstracts of judgment of felony convictions for people not sentenced to the Department of Correction, according to an order issued June 28 by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Judge orders Durham, Cochran jailed until sentencing
Convicted Ponzi schemers Tim Durham and James Cochran will be held in a federal prison until sentencing under an order issued Monday afternoon by U.S. District Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson.
Justices vacate review of voided tax warrants in ‘puppy mill’ case
The Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday vacated an order granting review in a case that concluded tax agencies and the Indiana attorney general’s office overstepped their authority by issuing jeopardy tax warrants to seize animals from an alleged puppy mill in Harrison County.
Judge rejects Durham motion to throw out indictment
A federal judge on Thursday rejected Indianapolis financier Tim Durham’s months-long quest to have his indictment dismissed on the grounds that the government used wiretaps before it had court authorization to do so.
Gene patent case back at Circuit court
Myriad Genetics, Inc. reported on March 26 that the United States Supreme Court remanded The Association for Molecular Pathology, et al., v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., et al., No. 11-725, to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. The Federal Circuit will now reconsider its July 29, 2011, decision, which upheld Myriad’s patents on two breast cancer genes – known collectively as BRCA 1/2
Confidentiality issues raised
St. Joseph County case creates concern about protecting callers’ identities on child abuse claims.
Webcasting allowed in 3 Lake County courtrooms
The Indiana Supreme Court has announced a new 18-month pilot project allowing trial court proceedings to be webcast in three Lake County courtrooms.
Justices adopt repayment plan in UPL case
The Indiana Supreme Court has adopted a repayment plan for an Indianapolis company it found engaged in the unauthorized practice of law, ordering officials to reimburse the state bar association and former clients during the next six years.
SCOTUS won’t consider off-campus school speech
The nation’s highest court has declined to take a pair of cases asking whether schools can censor the off-campus behavior of students who post messages or photos against school officials or other students.
Judge: Governor can be deposed
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels shouldn’t be excused from appearing for a deposition in a lawsuit challenging the cancelled multi-million dollar contract with IBM to modernize the state’s welfare system, according to Marion Superior Judge David Dreyer.
Hammond City judge gets 60-day unpaid suspension
The Indiana Supreme Court has ordered that Hammond City Court Judge Jeffrey A. Harkin be suspended for 60 days without pay.
Appellate court rules man can challenge med mal cap’s constitutionality
An Indianapolis man will get an evidentiary hearing on whether the state’s $1.25 million cap on medical malpractice awards is unconstitutional.
Justices decline to reconsider out-of-state placements ruling
The Indiana Supreme Court has denied a rehearing petition from the state attorney general’s office to revisit a June ruling that upheld three statutes involving juvenile judges’ authority on out-of-state placements.
Southern District bankruptcy court issues order on installment fees
The United States Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Indiana issued an order Oct. 25 outlining the payment schedule for installment fees.
‘Best Practices’ will not advance to rulemaking stage
Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard signed an order Oct. 7 stating that rather than advance the Mortgage Foreclosure Best Practices to the rulemaking stage, the court will oversee the guidelines, updating them as needed.
Attorney must register as a sex offender
An attorney and former Democratic candidate for Gibson County prosecutor indicted on charges including possession of child pornography and false informing, entered into a plea agreement Tuesday that wouldn’t have required he register as a sex offender. After further review, the trial judge realized Indiana law requires him to do so.