Judge accepts 3rd plea deal in Granger party overdose case
A South Bend judge has accepted a third plea agreement for a teenager accused of bringing drugs to a party that two brothers attended before dying of overdoses.
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Conour victims ask 7th Circuit for fees awarded to creditor
Judges on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals appeared sympathetic to victims of former attorney William Conour during oral arguments Wednesday over legal fees that a District Court judge ordered paid to a Conour creditor rather than to defrauded clients who were shut out of the case.
Telamon suffers new setback in $5M insurance lawsuit
A judge has dismissed the final count in a lawsuit that Carmel-based Telamon Corp. filed against its insurers in an effort to recoup more than $5 million in losses caused by a former employee’s thievery.
COA: Fees can be charged in case without indigency hearing
The Indiana Court of Appeals said an indigency hearing is not required before determining fees in a court case, though it should be conducted at some point, in a case where a man was charged more than $1,000 in court fees without a hearing. It also said the court cannot impose requirements that he maintain a “C” average in his school and have full-time employment.
Maine senator restates support of hearings for Garland
Maine Sen. Angus King says he is “more convinced than ever” that the Senate should hold nomination hearings for Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland.
Judge gives Texas ‘affluenza’ teen nearly 2 years in jail
A judge in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday ordered a teenager who used an “affluenza” defense in a fatal drunken-driving wreck to serve nearly two years in jail, a surprising sanction that far exceeds the several months in jail that prosecutors initially said they would pursue.
Judge clears ‘Stairway to Heaven’ copyright case for trial
A trial is needed to determine if Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” copies its opening notes from a song performed by the rock band Spirit, a federal judge has ruled.
COA: Venue convenience does not trump precedence
The Indiana Court of Appeals said convenience does not trump precedence and reversed and remanded a transfer of venue that would have taken an auto insurance complaint from Marion to Johnson County.
Peabody, largest US coal miner, files for bankruptcy
Peabody Energy, the nation’s largest coal miner, filed for bankruptcy protection Wednesday as a crosscurrent of environmental, technological and economic changes wreak havoc across the industry.
Justices: Custody petition permitted during CHINS case
The Indiana Supreme Court reversed a trial court, ruling an aunt and uncle could bring a custody action despite a child in need of services case that was pending for the child in Posey Circuit Court.
Supreme Court upholds man’s death sentence
The Indiana Supreme Court affirmed a man’s death sentence Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to brutally murdering a woman.
E-filing pleadings to be mandatory July 1
After deciding last week all appellate pleadings and motions would be available online at mycase.in.gov within the next 60 days, the Indiana Supreme Court announced Tuesday electronic filing of all pleadings to pending cases will become mandatory for all attorneys in Indiana appellate courts as well as Hamilton County Circuit and Superior Courts July 1.
Justices affirm domestic violence determination
The Indiana Supreme Court sided with the trial court and overturned a Court of Appeals ruling Tuesday, finding a man’s domestic violence determination did not violate his Sixth Amendment right to trial by jury, and the evidence was sufficient to affirm his conviction.
US Supreme Court to swear in large group of deaf lawyers
Mobile phones ordinarily are strictly forbidden in the marble courtroom of the nation's highest court, but the justices are making an exception next week when roughly a dozen deaf and hard-of-hearing lawyers will be admitted to the Supreme Court bar.
Senate Judiciary chair Grassley has breakfast with Garland
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley had breakfast Tuesday with the man whose elevation to the U.S. Supreme Court he has vowed to block and told him the Senate won't advance his nomination "during this hyper-partisan election year," the lawmaker's office said.
7th Circuit: 4th, 6th Amendment rights not violated in gun case
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals said a firearm discovered by police was not the product of an illegal seizure and affirmed the denial of a man’s motion to suppress it. The court also held the statement he gave to police did not violate his Sixth Amendment right to counsel.
Tax Court: Shopping center’s assessment should be reduced
The Indiana Tax Court ruled a shopping center’s property assessment should be reduced for the 2006 tax year.
Supreme Court: City’s no-smoking ordinance does not violate state constitution
The Indiana Supreme Court upheld the city of Indianapolis’ no-smoking ordinance in a ruling Monday, saying it does not violate the Equal Privileges and Immunities Clause of Article I, Section 23 of the Indiana Constitution.
COA: Commissions do not qualify as wages under Wage Payment Statute
The Indiana Court of Appeals found commissions paid to a woman who was working as a salesperson at a furniture store did not qualify as wages, and therefore granted summary judgment to the store. The woman claimed her commission payments were not paid within the 10-day limit required under the Indiana Wage Payment Statute.
Lawyer in massive disability fraud case could be released
Eric C. Conn, the Kentucky lawyer accused of conspiring to defraud the government of $600 million in questionable federal disability payments, could be released from jail pending trial.