District Courts warning of jury phone scams
Federal district courts across the country are warning citizens to be vigilant against jury phone scams.
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High court to consider whether to take utility rate hike case
The justices of the Indiana Supreme Court will consider whether to decide a dispute over a northern Indiana utility rate increase when it hears oral arguments on petition to transfer this week.
Ex-Merrillville councilman admits guilt in bribery case
A former councilman for the town of Merrillville has admitted taking bribes in a federal plea agreement.
Southern District Court announces selection of new magistrate judge
An Arkansas-born attorney with long ties to the Hoosier legal community has been selected to become the newest magistrate judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
Suspect gets 27 years in plot to kidnap, kill attorney
A woman who admitted she conspired to kidnap and kill a family law attorney in Hamilton County was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison, the office of U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler announced Friday.
Law school graduate’s case won’t be heard
A federal judge has reaffirmed his decision not to hear a law school graduate’s case against the members of the Indiana Board of Law Examiners, declining to grant a motion for reconsideration based on a finding that the board’s proceedings against him were not in bad faith.
Summary judgment affirmed for semi-truck air supplier
The dangers presented by the placement of an air hose at a truck stop were known and obvious to a driver who fell and injured himself on the hose, making summary judgment to the owner and servicer of the hose appropriate, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday.
Southern District proposes new local rule, amendments
The Indiana Southern District Court is seeking public comment on proposed amendments that would both change the language of an existing rule while creating another rule.
Estate donates $300K to trust for courthouse’s preservation
The estate of a woman who died this year has donated $300,000 toward maintaining a historic Fort Wayne courthouse.
COA reverses directed verdict in OB-GYN’s favor
A northern Indiana trial court must revisit the issue of whether a doctor adequately informed his patient of the risks associated with having a natural birth after the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a grant of a directed verdict in the doctor’s favor on the issue of informed consent.
Hammond latest to sue drug companies over opioid crisis
Hammond has become the latest government entity to sue pharmaceutical companies and distributors for their alleged role in fueling the opioid abuse crisis.
‘Friendship’ defense, lack of ‘smoking gun’ aided Menendez
Jurors in the bribery trial of Sen. Bob Menendez didn’t think the government’s case was strong enough to convict the New Jersey Democrat and a wealthy friend, according to interviews with members of the panel after a mistrial was declared Thursday.
New Jersey senator’s bribery trial ends in a hung jury
The federal bribery trial of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez ended Thursday with the jury hopelessly deadlocked on all charges, a partial victory for him that could nevertheless leave the case hanging over his head as he gears up for re-election to a sharply divided Senate.
COA affirms theft-related convictions, sentence
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a Cass County man’s multiple theft-related felonies and related sentence after finding sufficient evidence supported those convictions.
IMPD officer accused of shotgun confrontation must face civil suit
An Indianapolis police officer accused of threatening two people with a shotgun in the parking lot of an apartment complex where he doubled as a security guard must face a trial on one of the alleged victims’ civil-rights complaint, a federal judge has ruled.
Rep. Brooks predicts Congress will keep civil legal aid funding at current level
Indiana Congresswoman Susan Brooks expects Capitol Hill will continue to fund civil legal aid at current levels despite a call earlier this year from the Trump Administration to cut all such funding.
Trial court must revisit adoption petition that was already granted
An Indiana trial court that has already granted the petition to adopt a Vanderburgh County child must revisit the adoption proceedings after the Indiana Court of Appeals determined the court erroneously concluded the father’s consent to the adoption was implied.
COA affirms worker’s comp award, remands for 5 percent increase
The Indiana Worker’s Compensation Board properly included a warehouse supervisor’s two bonuses in its calculation of his average weekly wages because those bonuses were awarded within the 52-week period preceding the injury, a timeframe established by statute, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled. The appellate court also remanded the worker’s comp case for an increase in the supervisor’s award.
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.
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.