Applicants sought to replace Lake Superior Judge Schneider
A Lake Superior Court judge will retire early next year, prompting the Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission to begin the process of selecting her replacement.
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Justices appoint judge pro tem in Scott Circuit Court
Scott Circuit Court Judge Jason M. Mount will temporarily step down from his seat on the bench after informing the court he would be unable to perform the duties of his office, a Friday order of the Indiana Supreme Court announced.
Attorney charged with forgery gets fifth suspension of 2018
A northern Indiana attorney charged with felony forgery of a judge’s signature received her fifth suspension of the year for failure to cooperate with another Disciplinary Commission investigation of a grievance against her. Four of the suspensions remain active.
Female Gary principal loses sex discrimination appeal
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the grant of summary judgment to northern Indiana school corporation when it found a female principal was not discriminated against based on her sex when a male candidate got the job she applied for.
Anderson Wigwam owners lose bid in Tax Court
The company which now owns the storied Anderson High School arena, known as the Wigwam, failed to convince the Indiana Tax Court it is entitled to an injunction against the collection of property taxes based on a valuation of more than $2 million.
Man who failed to disclose property interest must divide mother’s estate with ex-wife
A woman who learned after the divorce was final that her estranged husband did not disclose his interest in his mother’s estate has gotten relief from the Indiana Court of Appeals, which found the man “made a mockery of the discovery process.”
Erroneous admission of evidence of prior bad act was harmless, COA says
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the admission of evidence in a Wabash County case after finding that despite a trial court’s erroneous admission of evidence of a prior bad act, such an error was harmless.
On remand, divided COA again allows modification of fixed-plea sentence
A divided Indiana Court of Appeals has once again reversed a trial court ruling holding that a man sentenced pursuant to a fixed plea agreement could not seek a sentence modification, with the appellate court finding instead on remand that statutory amendments to laws governing fixed pleas are not applicable in this case.
Martinsville Texas Corral liability insurance doesn’t cover complaint from DirecTV
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the grant of summary judgment to an insurance company against two Martinsville Texas Corral restaurants when it found the companies insurance endorsement agreement did not cover a complaint filed by DirecTV.
A look at where the investigations related to Trump stand
President Donald Trump is facing criminal investigations in Washington and New York.Here’s a look at where the investigations related to Trump stand and what may lie ahead for him.
NW Indiana scrap dealer convicted of razing historic bridge
A federal jury has convicted a northwestern Indiana scrap-metal dealer of interstate transportation of stolen goods for allegedly demolishing a historic railroad bridge and selling the metal. Prosecutors said Kenneth Morrison and a work crew cut up the unused Monon Bridge that spanned the Grand Calumet River near downtown Hammond and sold it to Illinois scrapyards for $18,000. He also allegedly sold parts to an East Chicago scrap dealer.
COA again addresses summarily approved commitment orders, finds timeliness waiver
The Indiana Court of Appeals has once again weighed in on the issue of whether commitment orders approved only summarily by a trial court judge are valid, finding Thursday that a civil commitment litigant waived her challenge of the allegedly defective order by not raising the issue in trial court. The appellate panel also found sufficient evidence to support a finding that the litigant was gravely disabled.
Father loses appeal of conviction for molesting son
A Madison County father convicted of molesting his son has lost his appeal of his conviction, with the Indiana Court of Appeals finding statements a prosecutor made during the son’s deposition were reasonable and non-threatening.
Lake County last to adopt e-filing in 2018
Lake County has officially adopted electronic filing, making it the last county that will roll out e-filing this year. That leaves seven counties left to implement e-filing, three of which have yet to deploy the Odyssey electronic case management system.
‘Dirty deeds’: Ex-Trump lawyer Cohen gets 3 years in prison
Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s one-time fixer, was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for crimes that included arranging the payment of hush money to conceal his boss’ alleged sexual affairs, telling a judge that he agreed time and again to cover up Trump’s “dirty deeds” out of “blind loyalty.”
Elkhart couple sentenced in hit-and-run that killed 3
A northern Indiana couple has been sentenced in a hit-and-run crash that killed two children and a man. Leonard Grosswiler was sentenced to 15 years, with 10 years to be served in prison and the rest in community corrections and on probation, while Penelope Grosswiler received 2 ½ years, with six months suspended to probation, in connection with the deaths of 8-month-old Dolly Thomas, 11-year-old Courtney Smith and 22-year-old Shawn Wolcott.
Indiana lawyer charged with fraud in alleged investment scheme
A lawyer who formerly worked in northern Indiana and already was ordered to repay more than $2.5 million to clients now is facing criminal charges. Federal prosecutors say 61-year-old Sven Eric Marshall, formerly of South Bend, is facing five counts of mail fraud for allegedly running an “elder abuse scam” through an investment company named Trust & Advisory Services of Indiana Inc.
Split COA affirms denial of court employee’s contempt motion, awards appellate fees
A split Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of a drug court coordinator’s claims that an auditor was in contempt of court, finding the coordinator’s claims were frivolous and her excessive filings were unreasonable. As such, the majority awarded appellate attorney’s fees to the auditor.
Justices grant transfer to smartphone self-incrimination appeal
The Indiana Supreme Court granted one petition to transfer last week, agreeing to hear a case of first impression in which law enforcement officers were barred from forcing a woman to unlock her smartphone as part of a criminal investigation.
Fight over Indiana abortion law still waiting at U.S. Supreme Court
While the Supreme Court of the United States has yet to agree to hear an abortion rights case this term, a petition from Indiana regarding its law regulating the disposal of fetal remains and prohibiting women from terminating their pregnancies based on race, sex or disability remains under consideration. Indiana filed a writ of certiorari after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction against 2016's House Enrolled Act 1337.