West Virginia Supreme Court halts impeachment trials
West Virginia’s Supreme Court has effectively halted the legislature’s remaining efforts to impeach the state’s justices as a violation of the separation of powers doctrine.
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COA affirms breach, fraud, unjust enrichment claims brought by bank
A bank that brought breach of contract, fraud and unjust enrichment claims against its loanee won each of those claims on appeal, but failed to state a claim that the loanee violated the “usual and customary practices” laid out in its participation agreement, according to a Friday opinion from the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Pakistanis lose initial challenge to ‘secret’ immigration denial
Two Pakistani immigrants have lost their initial bid for the government to reopen their denied applications for permanent residency, with a district judge ruling their request for injunctive relief against a “secret” policy designed to withhold permanent resident status from certain immigrants is premature.
Reversal: Bonded projects not ‘completed’ under language of agreement
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the grant of summary judgment in favor of an investment firm after it found that a series of bonded projects were not completed within the scope of the meaning of “completion” as set forth by an agreement between the litigants.
COA: Property purchaser not 3rd party beneficiary in tax sale contracts
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment to a government tax sale organizer after finding a real estate purchaser was not a third-party beneficiary of contracts made between the organizer and the county.
Supreme Court accepts resignation, imposes suspension
The Indiana Supreme Court has accepted the resignation of a Hoosier attorney who faced multiple felony drunken-driving counts. Justices also ordered reciprocal discipline for another lawyer who was removed from the practice of law by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Jury award of $21M in drunk driving crash upheld
A Marion County jury’s award of more than $21 million to a passenger rendered paraplegic when an intoxicated friend crashed his truck after a night of drinking was upheld Friday by the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Suit against Hill could cost taxpayers; accusers to name state
The Indiana Attorney General’s Office is now in the process of investigating a complaint filed against it, the state and Attorney General Curtis Hill after four women who publicly accused Hill of groping them at a party filed official notice of a civil lawsuit. If the women succeed on their claims against state defendants, taxpayers could be on the hook to pay any judgments.
Man accused in attack on mother told police he was possessed
Police say a northeastern Indiana a man told an officer that he was possessed by demons and Adolf Hitler when he allegedly bit, hit, punched and choked his mother.
Court of Appeals heads southeast to hear arguments
The Indiana Court of Appeals will head southeast next week to hear two oral arguments, starting with a wrongful death case.
Appeal heard in fatal trucking product liability case
The Indiana Supreme Court heard oral argument Thursday morning on a product liability case, hearing a national motor company’s appeal in a matter involving a worker’s death that includes defective design claims.
Siblings’ trust agreement enforced in probate splits COA
The termination and division of a multi-generational trust containing more than 422 acres of land was affirmed Thursday by the Indiana Court of Appeals, which split on the question of whether a probate court could adjudicate a separate agreement between two heirs.
Justices hear challenge to civil forfeiture disbursements
Contrary readings of Article 8, Section 2 of the Indiana Constitution and its implication on Indiana’s civil forfeiture statute were at issue Thursday when the Indiana Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case brought by the Virginia-based Institute for Justice.
Guilty verdicts set precedent in fighting shady basketball recruiting
A federal jury found three men guilty of fraud charges for channeling secret payments to the families of top-tier basketball recruits to influence their choices of schools, apparel companies and agents.
Reversal: Meth evidence in arrestee’s backpack to be admitted
A trial court erred in suppressing evidence of methamphetamine found in a northern Indiana man’s backpack after he was arrested on an outstanding warrant, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.
Judge strikes brief for exceeding word count
A man who did not understand how to properly figure the word count in his appellant brief was ordered to rewrite it and explain why he should not be penalized for falsely representing that his original brief complied with the word limits.
Woman who said boyfriend killed self now charged with murder
A Merrillville woman who told police she “watched the love of her life commit suicide” now faces a murder charge alleging that she killed her boyfriend and staged his death as a suicide.
Instruction on second trial stage in gun case not prejudicial
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a man’s serious violent felon conviction when it found the trial court did not commit fundamental error by instructing a jury that there might be a second phase to his case.
Reversal: Claim of 165 texts in 24 hours doesn’t prove stalking
The Indiana Court of Appeals revoked a man’s protective order against the mother of his child when it found that her excessive messaging in a 24-hour period did not constitute stalking.
Man sentenced to 75 years in fatal shooting at Legion post
A southwestern Indiana man has been sentenced to 75 years in prison for fatally shooting a man last year outside an American Legion post in Evansville.