Holcomb appoints 2 women to judgeships
In his first judicial appointments of 2018, Gov. Eric Holcomb has tapped two attorneys with prosecutorial experience to serve as superior court judges in Elkhart and Tippecanoe counties.
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7th Circuit affirms dismissal of Mexican complaints against Indiana company
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the dismissal of a Mexican company’s fraud claims against an Indiana-based Fortune 500 company, finding the Mexican entity failed to allege the company, rather than its Mexican subsidiary, committed any wrongs.
COA: Burglary victim met definition of ‘unavailable’ at trial
Multiple felony burglary convictions have been upheld against a Tippecanoe County man after the Indiana Court of Appeals found the trial court did not err in admitting a victim’s video deposition as evidence during trial.
COA upholds denial of motion to set aside paternity
A legal father seeking to set aside paternity of his two non-biological children has lost his appeal to the Indiana Court of Appeals, which found the father failed to meet the legal requirements for paternity rescission.
A look at the fallout from the Nassar scandal
Numerous people have been fired or forced out of jobs in the wake of the widening scandal involving once-renowned gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, who has been ordered to serve decades in prison for molesting some of the sport’s top athletes and others as well as child pornography crimes.
Warrick, LaPorte judges certified as senior judges
The Indiana Supreme Court has certified two new senior judges to serve in Indiana’s trial courts.
Legal aid funding included in budget deal
As part of the $400 billion budget deal passed by Congress early Friday morning, Legal Services Corp., which provides financial support to Indiana Legal Services, will continue to receive funding about equal to its fiscal year 2017 appropriation. The White House had once proposed completely defunding the agency.
ACLU: Indiana prison violated blind inmate’s rights
The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Indiana Department of Correction, alleging that prison officials are discriminating against a blind former inmate by refusing to let him participate in a literacy program to get his sentence reduced.
Indiana-born judge Trump taunted to rule on border wall
An Indiana-born federal judge, whose Mexican heritage Donald Trump used to paint him as biased against him in a 2016 court case because of his immigration stance, will hear arguments in a lawsuit that could block construction of a border wall with Mexico.
Indiana man accused of molesting 17 children faces lawsuit
A southern Indiana man who worked as an elementary school teaching assistant is accused of sexually assaulting 17 young children and is being sued by one of his alleged victims.
COA upholds transfer of dog-shooting case to Warren County
The Tippecanoe Circuit Court properly surrendered jurisdiction of a dog-shooting case because none of the incidents giving rise to the case, including the shooting, took place in Tippecanoe County, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday.
Sweeney nomination sails through Judiciary Committee
The nomination of James Sweeney II to the Southern Indiana District Court brought bipartisan unity Thursday to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary that was divided over other nominees to the federal bench.
Judge orders ex-CEO to pay nearly $850K in SEC farm loan case
A former finance company chief who a court noted had a history of securities law violations has been ordered to pay almost $850,000 in connection with the sale of allegedly shady securities based on farm loans.
Justices consider pre-mortem family settlement agreements
The Indiana Supreme Court must decide whether pre-mortem settlement agreements addressing the division of an estate’s assets are enforceable after hearing oral arguments Thursday in a probate dispute between two siblings.
Lawyers for Mueller case defendant ask to withdraw
Lawyers for one of the four people charged in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation have asked to withdraw from the case. Attorneys for Rick Gates say in a newly unsealed motion that "irreconcilable differences have developed with the client which make our effective representation of the client impossible."
7th Circuit reverses, orders special needs trust group to pay estate
The estate of a woman whose special needs trust was drained under questionable circumstances prevailed Wednesday before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. The founder of the organization that took the money is a suspended Indiana attorney facing charges that he stole from other clients’ trusts. The organization must now repay the estate more than $200,000.
Prosecutor: No more charges for Nassar despite new reports
Michigan prosecutors aren't planning to bring additional sexual assault charges against imprisoned sports doctor Larry Nassar, even though abuse allegations are still being reported.
Summary judgment vacated for prison officers accused of beating prisoner
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated summary judgment for two correctional officers accused of attacking a prisoner unprovoked, determining the evidence could support the inference that the prisoner did all he could to exhaust his administrative remedies, yet was prevented from doing so.
COA reverses restitution for public transportation, pain and suffering
An Indiana trial court abused its discretion in ordering a man to pay restitution on the costs a woman incurred for having to take public transportation after he criminally damaged her car and the costs of her pain and suffering, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled.
Facebook defamation judgment may set precedent, Indiana lawyers say
Southern Indiana attorneys who won defamation damages over a defamatory Facebook post say the court’s monetary award appears to set a precedent as the first reported judgment of its kind in the nation.