Charges filed in 2nd case in Gary killings
A man who told police he killed seven women in Indiana now faces charges in a second death.
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COA affirms seizure of gun from apartment without search warrant
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a man’s misdemeanor handgun charge after finding the police did not need a search warrant to retrieve the gun after the man placed it inside an apartment in view of the officers.
COA: Bank should be allowed to intervene in foreclosure matter
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the denial of JPMorgan Chase Bank’s motion to intervene in a homeowners association’s attempt to foreclose on a home to fulfill a judgment. The COA found that the bank did not have actual notice of a pending action against the homeowner in 2007, as the association argued.
COA: Gas station did not commit spoliation regarding mat
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s decision to not instruct a jury in a personal injury action regarding the spoliation of evidence. Margaret Dawson, the injured party, had ample time to inspect the mat she tripped on before the store replaced it.
Justices rule on ‘exhaustion rule’ issue
The Indiana Supreme Court tackled issues of first impression Wednesday involving peremptory challenges and removing jurors for cause. The justices held that parties satisfy the “exhaustion rule” the moment they use their final peremptory challenge – regardless of whom they strike.
Majority reverses termination of incarcerated father’s parental rights
Finding the state did not prove that the parental rights of a man – who learned he was a father while incarcerated pending trial – should be terminated, two of the three judges on a Court of Appeals panel reversed.
Judges say Circuit split requires clarification from sentencing commission
A panel of judges on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a man’s 117-month prison sentence on drug and weapons charges, but two judges believed the case should have been heard en banc based on the importance of a sentencing issue.
Court reverses $1,660 attorney fee award in parenting time action
Because there is nothing in the record to show the court considered the resources of the parties when it awarded a guardian $1,660 in attorney fees, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed Wednesday.
Daughter’s cheating negates father’s obligation to pay for college
Finding that the “F” a Purdue University student received after her teacher discovered the student plagiarized comments from other students amounted to disciplinary action from the school, the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the decision that her father no longer had to pay a portion of her school expenses based on a previous court order.
Officers’ entry into home to chase bloodied dog unreasonable, justices rule
The Indiana Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that drug evidence obtained by police after they entered a home without a warrant to capture an aggressive dog should not have been admitted at the defendant’s trial. The justices held the search violated Article I, Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution.
Indiana man was violent long before 7 killings
With hindsight, there were signs years ago of increasing violence against women by Darren Vann, who police say has confessed to killing seven women in northwestern Indiana and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
Indiana responds to convicted ex-officer’s appeal
Indiana has responded to a former Indianapolis police officer's appeal of his convictions in a fatal drunken driving crash.
Court hearing set for Gary man linked to 7 deaths
A Gary man who police say confessed to killing one woman, helped investigators find six other bodies and indicated there may be more is scheduled to make his first court appearance.
Judge must face federal lawsuit over drug court detentions
Clark Circuit Judge Jerome Jacobi must face a federal lawsuit from drug court participants who allege they were improperly detained or unlawfully arrested as participants in the problem-solving court he oversaw.
Split COA reverses denial of post-conviction relief
A defense attorney’s failure to raise the consecutive sentencing limitation prejudiced his client, the majority of a Court of Appeals panel ruled, reversing denial of post-conviction relief for a man convicted of multiple burglaries. The court remanded for resentencing to trim six years off a 28-year prison term.
Court of Appeals to hear arguments at IU Maurer
Indiana University Maurer School of Law will host an oral argument of the Indiana Court of Appeals Wednesday at the school’s moot court.
When municipal growth clashes with property owners, the result is annexation headaches
A 644-acre swath of rural Hancock County land is at the heart of a contentious annexation battle that illustrates what municipalities say is the need to get control of property before development happens. The case also brings to light what may be a shift in the judiciary’s attitude toward remonstrators.
Re-routing the school-to-prison pipeline
Tippecanoe County is just one of a handful of sites across the nation participating in a special initiative designed to constrict the flow of minors into the juvenile justice system and give them a second chance.
Pharmacist’s snooping is a prescription for trouble
Walgreen’s appeal of $1.8M judgment in favor of customer raises patient privacy issues.