Documents: US Steel sought to keep chemical spill secret
Environmentalists are questioning why the public wasn’t notified about an October chemical spill into a Lake Michigan tributary that U.S. Steel asked Indiana regulators to keep confidential.
Courts
Articles
Judge reviews claims of neck slashing gesture at FIFA trial
A New York judge has been reviewing prosecutors’ claims that a former South American soccer official motioned across his neck in a slashing motion as its star witnesses testified at his bribery trial.
Who created Game of Life? Court aims to find out
Testimony is scheduled to begin Thursday in federal court in Los Angeles in a lawsuit over who owns the rights to one of the most popular board games of all time.
Michigan doctor expected to change plea in sex assault cases
A former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor accused of molesting girls under the guise of medical treatment at his home, a campus clinic and a youth gymnastics club is expected to change his not-guilty pleas in a bid to close the state’s criminal cases against him. Online court records show change-of-plea hearings for […]
Ex-UNC player’s estate sues ACC, NCAA over concussions
Representatives of a former North Carolina football player’s estate are suing the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Indianapolis-based NCAA, saying they ignored the dangers of concussions and it led to Ryan Hoffman’s death.
Judge sides with Philadelphia in ‘sanctuary cities’ case
A federal judge in Philadelphia on Wednesday blocked the U.S. government from withholding a major grant that pays for public safety equipment because Philadelphia is a “sanctuary city.”
Bankruptcy court enters three general orders
The Southern Indiana District Bankruptcy Court has adopted three new general orders that amend local rules, forms and fee schedules.
COA rules woman cannot receive maintenance, attorney fees from ex-husband
A Boone county woman cannot recover attorney fees and maintenance from her ex-husband after the Indiana Court of Appeals determined the postnuptial agreement they entered into 40 years ago waived her right to such recovery.
State pays $1.2M to settle suit over DCS search of vet’s office
The state of Indiana will pay an Indianapolis veterinarian $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit she filed claiming a Department of Child Services case manager conducted an illegal search of her office then posted a notice falsely informing her that her children had been removed from her home.
Indianapolis sues drug companies for opioid crisis
The city of Indianapolis is making good on its promise to sue some of the country’s largest opioid manufacturers and distributors and is seeking compensation for their role in the worsening opioid crisis that is “ravaging” the city.
Magnus-Stinson issues warning to parties filing frivolous motions
Indiana Southern District Chief Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson has issued a stern warning to any defendants considering filing an affirmative defense of failure to exhaust administrative remedies under the Prison Litigation Reform Act – provide evidence to support that claim or abandon the defense entirely.
Justices to review who can waive rights of mentally ill
The Indiana Supreme Court will decide whether trial courts have authority to waive respondents’ rights to be present at their mental health commitment hearings after granting transfer to a case in which a man was not present for his commitment hearing.
Is gun maker liable? Court takes up Newtown shooting case
With both gun rights supporters and gun control advocates nationwide looking on, lawyers for Newtown families and gun maker Remington Arms are set to face off Tuesday before the Connecticut Supreme Court to argue whether the company should be held liable for the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.
Indiana Court Decisions
Read opinions from Indiana’s appellate courts for the most recent reporting period.
Mali custody case alleges violations of human rights
A recent ruling by an Indiana appellate court in a transcontinental custody dispute is raising questions in the Hoosier legal community about the authority United States courts have to question the legal practices of other nations.
‘Short novel, big impact’ for adoption attorney
Through her life experiences and career as an adoption attorney, Natalie Chavis gained insight into the legal and emotional effects of the foster care and adoption processes, insight that led her to self-publish her first novel, “Adopting Tiger.” Her upcoming book signing and fundraiser coincides with National Adoption Day.
Pilot project aims to short-circuit the CHINS process
With the help of a nearly $1 million grant, Child Advocates, Inc., is partnering with Indianapolis Legal Aid Society in a pilot project designed to sweep youths from the child in need of services process and get them into stable homes.
Robbery convictions upheld despite failure to swear potential jurors
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a man’s robbery-related convictions despite the district court’s initial failure to administer an oath of truthfulness to potential jurors, finding such an oath is not explicitly required.
Indianapolis judge being considered for drug czar
Marion Superior Judge William Nelson, whose stepson died of a drug overdose, confirmed Monday he is under consideration to be the nation’s drug czar.
Trump choosing white men as judges, highest rate in decades
President Donald Trump is nominating white men to America’s federal courts at a rate not seen in nearly 30 years, threatening to reverse a slow transformation toward a judiciary that reflects the nation’s diversity.