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.
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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.
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow asylum ban
The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow enforcement of a ban on asylum for any immigrants who illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border. The administration said in court papers filed Tuesday that the nationwide order preventing the policy from taking effect “is deeply flawed” and should be lifted pending an appeal that could reach the high court.
Mishawaka teen accused in pregnant classmate’s murder appears in court
An Indiana judge has entered a preliminary not guilty plea for a high school football player accused of killing 17-year-old schoolmate Breana Rouhselang, who was pregnant with his child. The St. Joseph County judge also denied bail Tuesday for 16-year-old Aaron Trejo, who’s charged as an adult with murder and feticide.
COA upholds marijuana, handgun convictions but remands for indigency hearing
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a man’s marijuana and handgun convictions based on sufficient and admissible evidence, but remanded the case for the trial court to hold an indigency hearing on imposed probation fees.
Woman who severed finger on the job must seek redress via Worker’s Compensation Act
A woman whose finger was severed in an accident at an Elkhart County assembly plant must seek relief via the Indiana Worker’s Compensation Act after the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of her negligence complaint against the company she worked for at the time of the injury.
Disciplinary Commission: ‘License rental’ model with non-Hoosier attorneys poses ethics risk
The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission is warning lawyers of the potential ethical pitfalls that can arise when Hoosier attorneys affiliate themselves with out-of-state law firms or non-lawyer legal services companies. Such relationships could allow the non-Indiana groups to offer legal services in the Hoosier state without actually having to be a member of the Indiana bar, the commission said.
Armed robber loses appeal of denied jury instruction on duress defense
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of a man’s tendered jury instruction after finding the defense included in the proposed instruction was not available to the defendant.
Justices make amendments to appellate ‘Notice of Defect’ rules
The Indiana Supreme Court has made amendments to how attorneys and litigants are required to respond when their appellate filings do not comply with Indiana Rules of Appellate Procedure. An order from the court inserts new language into Appellate Rule 23 related to correcting filing defects and creates a new appendix to the rule.
Carmel spine surgeon wins $112M verdict in royalty battle with Medtronic
Dr. Rick C. Sasso, an Indiana spine surgeon and inventor, has won a sweeping, five-year legal battle against medical-device giant Medtronic, with a jury awarding him $112 million in damages Nov. 28.
Habeas petition granted, credit time restored for federal inmate
A federal prisoner has successfully argued for his lost credit time to be restored after the Indiana Northern District Court granted his habeas petition, finding the man was entitled to notice of the factual allegations of a new charge against him at least 24 hours before a hearing, but did not receive it.