Cameras permitted in courts to celebrate National Adoption Day
Hoosier families celebrating adoption later this year will have the chance to commemorate the experience with cameras in the courtroom.
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Articles
Supreme Court upholds rule allowing state, federal charges
The Supreme Court is upholding a constitutional rule that allows state and federal governments to prosecute someone for the same crime. The court’s 7-2 decision Monday preserves a long-standing rule that provides an exception to the Constitution’s ban on trying someone twice for the same offense.
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.
University of Evansville settles sexual harassment suit over former professor
The University of Evansville has reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit accusing a former theater professor of sexually harassing a student. Former university student Alexis Seay filed the lawsuit last year, accusing R. Scott Lank of racial and sexual harassment, including unwanted touching and comments.
Ex-YCMA, school worker appeals 120-year child molesting sentence
A Jeffersonville man is appealing his 120-year prison sentence for molesting children while working at a YMCA and at an elementary school.
Man pleads guilty in Jeffersonville businessman’s killing
A man accused in the October slaying of a businessman in southern Indiana during a robbery has pleaded guilty to murder.
New DCS laws bringing changes to agency, foster parent system
Holding her infant foster daughter, attorney Kiamesha Colom explained in simple terms a 13-page bill that revamps parts of Indiana’s foster care system. Come July 1, she and her husband, like other long-term foster parents around the state, will be able to have more of a say in the care and protection of their baby.
Appellate panel considers med-mal claim in wrongful death suit
An appellate panel considered Wednesday whether a healthcare facility employee’s act of kicking a resident, resulting in his death, could be shielded from liability under the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act.
Reversal: Wife was wrongly denied protective order hearing
A woman alleging domestic violence at the hands of her husband will have another chance to make her case for a protective order against him after the Indiana Court of Appeals ordered a trial court to conduct a new hearing.
Reversal: Man’s death does not moot real estate judgment lien
The death of a Rush County man whose parents deeded him and their granddaughter 46 acres of property in 1985 does not moot a judgment lien attached to the property, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday, reversing the trial court.
First Merchants Bank settles federal lawsuit alleging redlining
Muncie-based First Merchants Bank has settled a federal lawsuit, following U.S. Department of Justice allegations that the bank engaged in lending discrimination by redlining predominantly African-American neighborhoods in Indianapolis.
Neighbors ask for rehearing on Right to Farm Act dispute
Supporters and opponents are mobilizing after the neighbors of an 8,000-hog farm in Hendricks County asked the Indiana Court of Appeals to reconsider its earlier ruling that found their nuisance claim based on the “noxious odors” from the farming operation was barred under Indiana’s Right to Farm Act.
Judge: DOC must pay $538K in ‘egregious’ death penalty records case
The Indiana Department of Correction’s refusal to disclose to the public information concerning the means it would use to execute a condemned criminal will cost taxpayers more than a half-million dollars in attorney fees, a judge has ruled.
Judgment for trooper in motorcycle crash suit reversed
A motorcyclist injured in a crash after he attempted to evade a head-on collision with an oncoming state police trooper’s vehicle will have his day in court after the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a trial court ruling for the officer.
Man can reject insanity defense in ex-girlfriend’s slaying
A judge in Jeffersonville has ruled a man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body can reject an insanity defense.
Judge rejects request to block records in woman’s death
A southwestern Indiana judge has rejected a man’s request to block the release of records on authorities’ investigation into his daughter’s 2014 disappearance and death.
Reversal: Delay unreasonable in invoking mortgage acceleration clause
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court’s order that foreclosed a couple’s interest in two mortgaged properties, finding a mortgage banking company was unreasonably delayed in invoking a promissory note’s acceleration clause.
New video shows adult cows being abused at Fair Oaks dairy
An animal rights group has released new undercover video showing workers at an Indiana dairy farm abusing adult cows while loading them into a milking carousel that visitors can tour at the popular agritourism destination.
Judge blocks Fort Wayne ‘pay to play’ ordinance
An Allen County judge has enjoined Fort Wayne from enforcing an ordinance designed to curb “pay-to-play” arrangements that allegedly led to city contracts for businesses that contribute to local candidates’ campaigns.
Attempted murder convictions upheld in best friend stabbing
Convictions for a man who attempted to murder his best friend have been upheld after the Indiana Court of Appeals found no abuse of discretion in admitting statements under the excited utterance exception, or when it allowed the state to ask the victim leading questions due to his injuries.