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Insurer off hook in Indy strip club shooting
A company that insured a westside Indianapolis strip club has no coverage duty for a patron who was shot in the face after an altercation outside the club three years ago, a federal judge has ruled.
SWAT busted in ‘disturbing’ Evansville home raid
A violent, destructive and ultimately misguided SWAT team search of an Evansville home captured on helmet-cam video was “disturbing” and “cannot have helped race relations in Evansville,” a federal appeals court said July 31.
Friedlander reflects on half-century in law as retirement nears
Although he’s set to retire later this month, COA Judge Ezra “Zeke” Friedlander will continue to serve as a senior judge. Marion Superior Judge Robert Altice will be taking his place.
Appeal raises ire of 7th Circuit
A southern Indiana couple who tried to stop the sale of their property to satisfy delinquent state and federal taxes was unsuccessful. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals described the merits of their appeal as “feeble.&rdquo
Eli Lilly wins first trial over antidepressant ‘brain zaps’
Eli Lilly and Co. isn’t liable for withdrawal symptoms including so-called brain zaps experienced by a woman after she quit the antidepressant Cymbalta, a federal jury said.
Judge cuts amount diocese must pay ex-teacher to $403,608
A federal judge in Fort Wayne has reduced to $403,608 the amount a Roman Catholic diocese must pay a former northern Indiana teacher who was fired after undergoing fertilization treatment.
7th Circuit rejects Indiana appeal of EPA ruling
Indiana had standing to appeal EPA approval of a change in how Illinois monitors for auto emissions, but the state failed to show the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision was arbitrary and capricious, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday.
Letter to victim’s mother supports lesser misdemeanor charge
A defendant’s rambling letter to a victim’s mother was not enough to uphold his convictions for attempted obstruction of justice and invasion of privacy, but it was sufficient to support a lesser charge.
Pawnshop owner not victim of prosecutorial misconduct
A prosecutor’s comments to a witness about what would have been helpful did not shift the burden of producing evidence onto the defendant, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled.
Sex offender wins right to view legal adult porn
A man convicted for obscene webcam conduct shared with someone posing as a 13-year-old girl nearly a decade ago may view legal pornography, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a three-way opinion Thursday.
Guilty plea stands despite ineligibility for habitual charge
Although a man was wrongly charged as a habitual substance offender, the Indiana Court of Appeals determined the facts do not support his claim that his counsel was ineffective and he did not knowingly enter a guilty plea.
Reversal: VORP cannot be ordered in sentence
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday that offenders may not be ordered to participate in the Victim-Offender Reconciliation Program, reversing a sentence and remanding to the trial court for a restitution hearing.
Hamilton Southeastern Utilities gets partial Tax Court win
The sewer utility serving fast-growing Fishers won a partial victory on its appeal of a tax on connection fees, but the Indiana Tax Court didn’t fully rule in favor of Hamilton Southeastern Utilities.
Attorney to seek resentencing in Indiana teen’s sex case
An Indiana 19-year-old is seeking a new sentence after being ordered to register as a sex offender in two states and refrain from having a computer or smartphone, or living in a place with Internet access, because he had consensual sex with a 14-year-old Michigan girl he met online who said she was 17.
Federal court properly denied bid to withdraw money-laundering plea
An Indiana federal District Court judge properly denied a woman’s motion to withdraw her money-laundering plea, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday.
Failure to read contract no protection against liability
A coal mine superintendent failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that he should not be held liable because he did not understand the contract he signed.
St. Joe County to pay $270K for not holding prompt hearings
St. Joseph County in northern Indiana has agreed to pay $270,000 to settle a federal class-action lawsuit that accuses the county of failing to provide those arrested with probable cause hearings within 48 hours, the South Bend Tribune reported.
Strip club must face suit of pedestrian hit by drunk waitress
A pedestrian severely injured when he was struck by a strip club waitress driving home from work may proceed with a civil lawsuit against the Indianapolis club that furnished her free alcohol, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed Wednesday.
Judge seats accused Best Chairs trademark infringer in Indiana
Online merchants who have sold more than $6 million worth of chairs with names that allegedly infringe on a longtime Indiana manufacturer’s trademarks will have to answer the claims in federal court in Evansville, a judge ruled Tuesday.