COA vacates contempt finding in domestic battery case
Double jeopardy concerns led the Indiana Court of Appeals to vacate a contempt finding against a man facing a domestic battery charge, though his related domestic battery sentence was upheld.
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‘Ministerial exception’ discovery motion fails in lawsuit against Indianapolis Archdiocese
A motion in a lawsuit against the Indianapolis Archdiocese to limit discovery to the question of whether a fired gay counselor falls under the First Amendment’s “ministerial exception” has been defeated in “close call” in Indiana federal court.
Involuntary commitment affirmed for ‘gravely disabled and dangerous’ man
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the involuntary temporary commitment for a man found to be gravely disabled and dangerous to himself and others, finding clear and convincing evidence supported the finding.
COA upholds GBMI ruling in deadly Monument Circle attack
A man found guilty but mentally ill of a Monument Circle attack that left one person dead has lost his appeal of his convictions and sentence, including his appeal of the finding that he could appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct.
CHINS findings for siblings upheld
The parents of four children who were all adjudicated as children in need of services have lost their appeal of the CHINS determinations, with the Indiana Court of Appeals dismissing arguments claiming error on the part of the trial court and the Department of Child Services.
What’s next in legal drama over the Affordable Care Act?
The federal appeals court ruling striking down the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that people have health insurance left hanging key questions about what happens to other provisions of the law, like coverage for preexisting conditions. President Barack Obama’s signature health care law remains in legal limbo.
COA: Dealing statute not unconstitutionally vague
A Huntington County man who called the local sheriff and said he “was strung out on meth and to come get him and take it all out of his house,” unsuccessfully argued before the Indiana Court of Appeals that the statute under which he was convicted was unconstitutionally vague.
Paroled killer who asked agent to help find meth pipes loses appeal
A paroled killer who admitted to smoking meth and then asked law enforcement to remove the pipes he smoked from his home so his girlfriend wouldn’t find them did not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals on Thursday that those statements were inadmissible.
COA reverses for father in TPR case, citing ‘no evidence at all’
The termination of a father’s parental rights has been reversed after a panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals found insufficient evidence proved he would threaten the wellbeing of his daughter.
Conviction reversed for would-be drug sale at casino
A man suspected of trying to sell look-alike substances at an Indiana casino has had his drug-related conviction reversed, with the Indiana Court of Appeals finding insufficient evidence to dispel a claim of a Fourth Amendment violation.
Justices split 3-2 on employment noncompete damages, remand case
A divided Indiana Supreme Court has affirmed the denial of summary judgment to an Indianapolis-based civil engineering firm, finding an issue of material fact remains as to whether the firm’s former employees tortiously interfered with their contracts not to recruit.
Justices could limit job bias lawsuits against churches
The Supreme Court said Wednesday it will consider expanding protections for churches against job-discrimination claims.
Filings show starkly different views of AG Hill’s alleged misconduct
As the parties await a hearing officer’s report in the lawyer discipline case against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill, their competing filings urge the hearing officer to take very different views of the underlying sexual misconduct allegations in making her recommendation to the Indiana Supreme Court.
Reversal: Court wrongly denied divorce continuance after counsel withdrew
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed the denial of a man’s motion to continue his divorce proceedings after his attorney withdrew as counsel just one day before the case’s final hearing.
7th Circuit: Officer who broke resisting arrestee’s leg entitled to qualified immunity
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed an Indianapolis police officer is entitled to qualified immunity in a federal civil-rights lawsuit filed after he took down a handcuffed man, fracturing the suspect’s leg in the process.
COA tosses jury verdict in Kokomo land-taking case, slashes damages
A Howard Superior jury’s damages award of $305,600 plus legal fees was voided Wednesday by the Indiana Court of Appeals, which instead ordered the trial court to enter judgment of just $100,000 to owners of property in Kokomo that the city condemned.
Trial court ruling against city to enforce mediation deal reversed
A northern Indiana trial court erred in ordering the city of Plymouth to enforce a mediation settlement agreement to pay a contractor $130,000 because terms of the agreement had not been fulfilled, an appellate panel ruled Wednesday.
COA affirms addition of farmland contractual interests in marital estate
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the dissolution of a man’s marriage, finding the inclusion of his contractual interests in purchased farmland in the martial estate was not an abuse of discretion.
Disciplinary commission urges 2-year suspension for AG Hill
Competing filings in the disciplinary case against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill call for the Republican AG to face a sanction as severe as a two-year suspension or as little as nothing at all.
Landscaper’s home fraud conviction vacated
A man convicted of home-improvement fraud after being hired to landscape a yard had his conviction vacated Tuesday, when the Indiana Court of Appeals found his conduct did not fall under the home improvement fraud statute.