Court erred in denying mother visitation with child under guardianship
A Madison County court wrongly refused to hear a mother’s petition for visitation with her child who is subject to a guardianship, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Monday.
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Court sees ‘high likelihood’ that Indiana’s voting law violates federal act
Three public advocacy groups have temporarily stopped the enforcement of Indiana’s 2017 voter registration law, which could potentially purge eligible voters from the rolls without providing them written notice. Judge Tanya Walton Pratt of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana granted a preliminary injunction prohibiting the state from implementing the 2017 version of Senate Enrolled Act 442.
COA allows construction project to continue in historic district
Construction of a parking lot and retail center in a historic preservation district will continue despite objections from homeowners in the area after the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a ruling from the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission.
Adviser who defrauded former Colt of $4.7M gets seven years in prison
A former financial adviser who admitted to defrauding former Indianapolis Colts defensive end Cory Redding out of $4.7 million was sentenced Friday to seven years in federal prison. Kenneth Ray Cleveland received the punishment after pleading guilty to federal fraud and money laundering charges.
ACLU arguing for injunction against abortion law taking effect July 1
An in-court battle over yet another Indiana abortion law will take place Friday when the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana will urge a district court judge to enter an injunction against portions of a law set to take effect in less than a month.
Ex-Navy SEAL author’s legal malpractice claim proceeds
A former Navy SEAL who claims he was forced to forfeit to the government more than $6 million in proceeds from his best-selling book about the capture of Osama bin Laden may proceed with a legal malpractice lawsuit against a Fort Wayne lawyer. The author of “No Easy Day” alleges bad legal advice about not needing to first clear the book with the Department of Defense caused the loss.
Magistrate appointed to St. Joseph Circuit Court
St. Joseph Circuit Court Judge John Broden announced the appointment of Cristal C. Brisco as magistrate judge for the St. Joseph Circuit Court on Thursday. Brisco will assume the position vacated by the death of Magistrate Judge Larry L. Ambler.
Federal judge nominees face questions over juror race issue
At Wednesday’s U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary hearing for the five nominees to the federal district bench, including the nominees for the Northern and Southern Indiana district courts, the table of potential judges was more crowded than the dais where the senators usually sit.
Horse Racing Commission must pay horsemen $56K in legal fees
A judge has ordered the state agency that regulates horse racing to pay the legal fees of an owner who successfully challenged an administrative rule restricting racehorses’ ability to compete outside Indiana. Judge William T. Lawrence of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana on Monday ordered the Indiana Horse Racing Commission to pay $56,365 in attorney fees and costs to plaintiffs who won a ruling last year overturning a commission regulation.
Justices decline state’s appeal in I-69 land taking case
A Monroe County property owner whose road access to former State Road 37 is being cut off by its conversion to Interstate 69 will receive a trial on damages after a majority of the Indiana Supreme Court declined to hear the state’s appeal in a condemnation case.
National court leaders gather in Indy to discuss opioid crisis
Court leaders from across the country met in Indianapolis on Tuesday to brainstorm how the judiciary can best respond to the nation’s opioid epidemic. Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush co-chairs the National Judicial Opioid Task Force.
Transgender teen’s restroom suit against Evansville schools proceeds
A transgender teen’s lawsuit alleging the Evansville school district violated his rights by forcing him to use the women’s restrooms despite his male identity will continue after a district court judge rejected the school’s argument that only the teen’s parents could act as his next friend in the litigation.
Senior judge to serve as pro tem on Wabash Superior Court
A senior judge will begin serving as the Wabash Superior Court judge pro tempore this week after the sitting judge announced she will be temporarily unavailable to perform her duties.
SCOTUS-created group lists anti-harassment measures
A federal working group has made two dozen recommendations for ways the judiciary can prevent and respond to workplace harassment, issuing a report that marks the end of the first phase of a U.S. Supreme Court-led initiative that began in response to the national #MeToo movement.
Supreme Court rejects questions in IU frat sex assault case
By a majority vote, the Indiana Supreme Court has declined certified questions of Indiana state law presented by a federal court concerning an Indiana University campus sexual assault case.
County inmates denied right to vote get certified as class
A federal judge in Fort Wayne recently certified a class of Allen County Jail inmates who were denied the right to vote in the November 2016 general election. The attorney representing the class said the case represents an opportunity to avoid similar future problems in other counties.
7th Circuit affirms ruling for maker in IUD liability case
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against a woman suing a company for product liability after a piece of her implanted birth control device broke during its removal and was left inside her uterus. The decision upheld a ruling for the device maker in federal district court.
Judge: FSSA must allow quadriplegic to receive home care
An elderly quadriplegic who has been confined to a hospital or nursing home since February 2016 could soon return home after a district judge ruled the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration violated her rights by failing to provide her with home-based care.
COA to hear argument in Lawrence, Clark counties this week
The Indiana Court of Appeals is headed south this week to hear oral arguments in Clark and Lawrence counties.
Indiana man charged in woman’s killing waives extradition
A man charged with killing a Terre Haute woman whose body was found in her submerged SUV in in Vigo County is expected to be returned from Nevada soon to face trial on murder and other charges.