Court warns about improper use of address
The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana has a message for attorneys: Do not refer to its post office box address in filer-generated notices.
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JPMorgan enters into $13B settlement with states, federal government
JPMorgan has agreed to pay a record $13 billion to settle federal and state civil claims arising out of its packaging, selling, marketing and issuance of residential mortgage-backed securities, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
Appeals court affirms molester’s conviction, splits on probation restriction
A man’s 15-year executed prison sentence for a conviction of child molesting was affirmed by a Court of Appeals panel Tuesday, but one judge found the conditional probation restrictions on activities involving children unconstitutionally vague.
Justices reinstate case dismissed over service questions
The Indiana Supreme Court reversed dismissal of a case because of questions about whether a defendant had properly been served notice.
US Supreme Court takes pass on cyberspying petition
Although the Supreme Court of the United States decided Monday, not to consider a petition challenging the legality of the National Security Agency’s surveillance activities, one cybersecurity expert at IU expects the issue will eventually come before the nine justices.
Disciplinary Actions -11/20/13
Read who’s been disciplined recently by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission vote extended
Two Indianapolis attorneys – Barnes & Thornburg LLP partner Jan Carroll and Lee Christie, partner with Cline Farrell Christie & Lee – will have to wait a bit longer to find out who their peers elect to serve on the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission.
Fostering cooperation between Indiana legal service providers
The Indiana Supreme Court has formed a new commission to address the problem of Indiana residents who cannot afford legal services. But rather than giving attention to the clients, this group will focus on the nonprofit agencies that provide the assistance.
Marion Superior Judge Brown’s discipline case likely one for the record books
The 47-count case against a Marion Superior judge appears to be the most voluminous judicial discipline proceeding in the state’s history, according to people familiar with the case and matters of judicial discipline.
Plain English to arrive in legal briefs near you
Ask lawyers or law professors to describe legal writing, and some of the adjectives used include: stuffy, convoluted, long-winded, confusing, expletive and pompous. Comparisons to the court case in Charles Dickens’ “Bleak House” and William Faulkner’s book “The Sound and the Fury” are also made.
Gibson: Managing drug and medical device mass-tort litigation
A common mistake is the belief that a mass tort and a class action are interchangeable terms. While the paths of class actions and mass torts may cross, they are separate and distinct legal proceedings.
Lawyers want to settle tainted medication suit
The product-liability litigation arising from the outbreak of fungal meningitis across the United States that infected nearly 100 Hoosiers has become mixed with a bankruptcy, a possible criminal investigation and a desire by plaintiff attorneys to reach a settlement soon so their clients can get restitution.
‘Contraception mandate’ goes before SCOTUS
A Madison family business is at the forefront of a legal challenge the Supreme Court of the United States will conference over Nov. 26 – whether the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act “contraception mandate” violates the religious liberties of company owners whose faith proscribes birth control.
Indiana inventors tell Maurer students about challenging big business in federal court
Speaking recently to a group of students at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Lebanon inventor Larry Durkos and his son, Duane, told their story of battling the biggest giant in the bedding industry and winning.
Wood breaks gender barrier on the 7th Circuit
Diane P. Wood’s first day as the first female chief judge of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals also was the first day of the recent government shutdown.
COA permits Knightstown to abolish town court
A battle between a town council and a judge over the fate of the local town court was stopped with the Indiana Court of Appeals noting the Indiana Legislature tends not to enact statutes that produce “unjust or absurd results.”
Appeals on Wheels takes search case to Indianapolis high school
Questions of whether evidence should be suppressed in a marijuana possession case will be heard in an Appeals on Wheels oral argument Tuesday afternoon at Lawrence North High School.
Justices affirm trucker’s cocaine-dealing convictions
The Indiana Supreme Court unanimously affirmed the cocaine-dealing convictions of a truck driver who challenged the state police stop that led to discovery of the drugs and claimed he was denied a speedy trial.
Kraft prevails in Cracker Barrel fight
Not coming soon to a grocery store near you: food products from Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants.
COA: Food odors don’t support granting preliminary injunctive relief
In a dispute over smells from a produce business drifting into neighboring businesses, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed that the manager of the shopping plaza is not entitled to preliminary injunctive relief for cooking foods without proper ventilation.