Judge rejects Charlie White’s claim of ineffective counsel
Former Secretary of State Charlie White has been ordered to begin serving his sentence for violating Indiana’s election law after his petition for post-conviction relief was denied.
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Humvee maker, defense giant BAE wrangle over $277M judgment
A dispute over the true cost of Humvee body armor rushed to the battlefield in the deadliest days of the Iraq war has resulted in a court battle that includes suggestions that one of the world’s top defense contractors may have serious business problems as it argues against posting full security for a $277 million judgment.
Angie’s List hit with shareholder suit
Angie’s List’s CEO William Oesterle and four other top executives made a series of false or misleading statements about the company’s prospects that inflated its stock price earlier this year as they sold $13 million of their own shares, a lawsuit seeking class-action status alleges.
Lauren Spierer civil suit moves forward
Two of three grounds for a civil lawsuit in the June 2011 disappearance of Indiana University student Lauren Spierer will move forward, a federal judge ruled Tuesday, partially denying a motion to dismiss filed by the two remaining defendants.
Memorial service to honor Vevay attorney
A memorial service for Ronald “Ron” Hocker will be held at 1 p.m. Jan. 10 in the Switzerland Circuit Court courtroom. All local attorneys and court staff are welcome to attend to pay their last respects to Hocker, who died Dec. 9 at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis.
Judge rejects Notre Dame bid for injunction on contraception coverage
A federal judge denied the University of Notre Dame’s request for an injunction blocking the “contraception mandate” in the Affordable Care Act that requires employers to provide insurance coverage for birth control.
Coachys’ retirement opens up spot on Bankruptcy Court
The Judicial Council of the 7th Circuit is accepting applications for a bankruptcy judge position in the Southern District of Indiana. Chief Judge James K. Coachys is retiring in September 2014 at the end of his 14-year term.
Judges rule couple did not release medical providers from liability
A trial court appropriately denied the partial summary judgment motion filed by medical providers in a malpractice claim, the Indiana Court of Appeals held, because the plaintiffs did not release the medical group from liability by filing a proof of claim with the doctor’s insurer, which was insolvent and being liquidated.
COA: Deputy not justified in entering backyard
A sheriff’s deputy who tried to serve a protective order was not justified in entering the backyard of a home after no one answered knocking at the front door, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled. The deputy saw marijuana in the backyard, leading to the homeowner’s arrest.
Newburgh ordinance allows it to block town from providing sewer service
The Indiana Court of Appeals Monday decided that the town of Newburgh was statutorily authorized to pass an ordinance prohibiting others from providing new sewer services to customers within four miles of its corporate boundaries.
7th Circuit ‘astonished’ by denial of disability for man in ‘awful shape’
Judges of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Friday slapped down the denial of disability benefits for a man they said was among the most severely disabled applicants they had ever seen.
Criminal law committee sends sentencing bill to Legislature
What was called the key to making Indiana’s new criminal code work has received a nod of approval and is now headed to the Legislature.
Gender change does not void Indiana marriage
Indiana law does not automatically void a marriage if one of the parties later is legally recognized as the same gender as the spouse, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday.
Admission of return of service did not violate Confrontation Clause
In a matter of first impression, the Indiana Court of Appeals Friday concluded that a return of service on a protective order is not testimonial, so its admission at trial did not violate a defendant’s rights under the Confrontation Clause.
Judges affirm criminal reckless conviction
A man who turned his car sharply enough to force his girlfriend out of the car and onto the road had his conviction of Class A misdemeanor criminal recklessness affirmed by the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Judges split on whether jury instruction erroneous
The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the conviction of a man who shot at police when they attempted to serve a search warrant. The judges were, however, divided as to whether the trial court erred in giving jury instructions on the presumption of innocence.
COA: Jury adequately instructed on presumption of innocence
The Indiana Court of Appeals rejected a man’s argument that his child molestation conviction should be reversed because the trial court did not tender his jury instruction on the presumption of innocence. The judges found the court’s instruction adequately instructed the jury.
Settlement reached in online payday loan class action
More than 6,500 Hoosiers will share $1.35 million in a class-action settlement reached in long-running litigation against an online payday lender that in some cases charged finance fees that exceeded 1,000 percent annual percentage rates.
JQC: Strike Judge Brown’s apology, support from Sullivan in discipline case
Marion Superior Judge Kimberly Brown’s last-minute apology and vouching from former Indiana Justice Frank Sullivan Jr. should not be considered in her disciplinary case, the Judicial Qualifications Commission argued in a brief filed Thursday.
Man’s molestation post-conviction bid fails on appeal
A Morgan County man failed to convince a Court of Appeals panel that ineffective assistance of counsel and prosecutorial misconduct should entitle him to relief from a child molestation conviction.