New juvenile case type to be introduced
The Indiana Supreme Court will introduce a new case type into the state’s uniform case numbering system at the start of the new year.
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Dearborn County, Plainfield courts move to e-filing
One Indiana county implemented voluntary electronic filing on Friday while another moved to a mandatory system, continuing the push for statewide implementation of e-filing that is slated to wrap up in the next 12 months.
Mom who placed child for adoption can’t claim custody 13 years later
A biological mother and father who consented to the adoption of their child cannot 13 years later seek custody. The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court ruling to that effect Friday, finding that to rule otherwise would “lead to a patently absurd result in this case and potentially many others.”
7th Circuit reverses, orders Jimmy John’s wage class-action to go
Jimmy John’s assistant store managers nationwide may proceed with class-action overtime pay litigation against franchisees, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday, delivering a reversal of an Illinois decision that had restricted their suits.
Gay inmate loses medical care, punitive segregation suit
A gay inmate who uses a man’s name but identifies as a woman has lost a summary judgment challenge in Indiana’s Northern District Court, where the inmate alleged she was intentionally assigned to medical segregation as a punitive measure.
School district cleared after teacher convicted of child seduction
A northern Indiana school corporation has been cleared of legal wrongdoing in the events leading up to the arrest of a high school teacher who was having a sexual relationship with a student. A district court judge granted the school district’s motions for summary judgment on Thursday.
Northern District Bankruptcy Court amends two local rules
The Indiana Northern District Bankruptcy Court has amended two of its local rules relating to costs and pre-trial procedures.
Lake, Monroe counties, Bloomington join opioid lawsuit
Officials of two Indiana counties and one city are joining a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies and distributors for their alleged role in fueling the opioid abuse crisis.
Marion County Judicial Selection Committee seeks first retention applications
The Marion County Judicial Selection Committee is inviting current Marion County judges to submit their applications for retention, marking the first time merit selection will be used to choose or retain judges in Indiana’s largest county.
Attorney sanctioned $500 for ‘frivolous and misleading motion’
The most recent development in copyright litigation challenging the use of a retired attorney’s copyrighted photo of the Indianapolis skyline has resulted in another Indianapolis attorney being sanctioned in federal court for filing a frivolous and misleading motion.
Quadriplegic awarded $35 million by Marion County jury
A 32-year-old man who was rendered a quadriplegic following a single-car accident, was awarded a net $35 million Monday afternoon by a Marion County jury which is believed to be among the largest verdicts for a personal injury claim in Indianapolis.
Judge gives Fogle another avenue to challenge sentence
A federal judge is giving former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle another chance to seek relief from his 15-year prison sentence after striking down the most recent of his objections to his sentence on Wednesday.
Southern District’s Lawrence to take senior status in 2018
Judge William T. Lawrence for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, has announced his decision to take senior status July 1, 2018, creating another opening in the Southern District that already has one judicial vacancy and is still recovering from the loss of two colleagues.
State leaders discuss proposed changes to alcohol, marijuana laws
Indiana’s Alcohol and Tobacco Commission is understaffed and underfunded, a problem that, if persistent, could be a stumbling block in the state’s path toward possibly legalizing the sale of cold beer in convenience stores.
High Court reverses Tax Court ruling in Goff’s first opinion
In the first opinion written by Indiana’s newest Supreme Court justice, the high court struck down Wednesday a Tax Court ruling that found an Indianapolis food freezing company did not engage in direct production of new tangible personal property.
‘So it goes:’ conflicted COA affirms barring estate’s med-mal claim
The estate of a woman who died after she was treated by emergency medical technicians cannot sue the EMTs, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed Wednesday. But one judge who joined the decision wrote he was “wholly dissatisfied with this outcome” and believes the decision will encourage “legal gamesmanship” by medical malpractice defendants.
COA: Dead Man’s Statute precludes testimony
Indiana’s Dead Man’s Statute prohibits the owners of a cattle company from testifying about their dealings with a deceased cattle farmer, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled, though one judge questioned whether the Dead Man’s Statute should remain law. As the sole proprietor of Cain Farms, Roger Cain purchased cattle from Kentucky-based Childress Cattle, […]
COA allows med mal case to continue
A woman with severe back pain will be able to pursue a medical malpractice claim against her orthopedic surgeon after the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that the clock on the two-year statute of limitations does not start until the patient discovers the malpractice.
Appellate court upholds neglect convictions
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a Marion County woman’s convictions for neglect of her boyfriend’s children after finding the woman assumed the care of the children, yet placed them in dangerous situations by exposing them to the making and selling of drugs.
COA upholds summary judgment for bar
A northern Indiana man injured by robbers outside of a bar is not entitled to damages from the bar, the Indiana Court of Appeals wrote Wednesday, drawing on Indiana Supreme Court precedent to determine the man’s injuries were not foreseeable and the bar did not owe him a duty.