Indianapolis to pay $2M to man paralyzed in police shooting
The city of Indianapolis has agreed to pay more than $2 million to a man left partially paralyzed when a police officer shot him during a struggle.
District Courts
Articles
Labor Secretary Acosta resigning amid Epstein deal scrutiny
Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta said Friday he is resigning following renewed scrutiny of his handling of a 2008 secret plea deal with wealthy financier Jeffrey Esptein, who is accused of sexually abusing dozens of underage girls.
Owner of former Scotty’s Brewhouse location sued over closure
The owner of the Southport location of Scotty’s Brewhouse, which closed abruptly in April, is facing a lawsuit over the closure.
Facing calls for resignation, Acosta defends Epstein deal
Insisting he got the best deal he could at the time, Labor Secretary Alex Acosta on Wednesday defended his handling of a sex-trafficking case involving now-jailed financier Jeffrey Epstein as he tried to stave off intensifying Democratic calls for his resignation.
Barnes’ Leichty confirmed to Indiana’s Northern District bench
Damon Leichty has been confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, filling the last vacant seat on the federal bench in the Hoosier state.
Alleged Latin King gang member convicted in deadly drug conspiracy
Federal prosecutors in northern Indiana say an alleged member of the Latin Kings gang has been convicted of conspiracy and racketeering charges in a scheme to distribute illegal drugs.
Lawsuit claims DCS failing to protect children and inflicting further harm
Children going into the state’s child welfare system end up more broken, attorneys suing the Department of Child Services say, because they are not being provided with therapy and treatment to help them heal. Rather, the lawyers contend, DCS is just finding beds to stick the kids in and forgetting about their other needs.
Judge William Lawrence puts down gavel, calls it a career
Through his nearly 17 years on the federal bench, Judge William T. Lawrence often set aside his work and welcomed into his chambers young attorneys who had arrived seeking his advice, counsel and encouragement. At his recent retirement celebration, his Southern Indiana District Court colleagues said Lawrence was fair, smart and always kind.
Health care headache: Ruling bars ISBA from offering insurance to solos, but leaders seek options
When the federal district court in Washington, D.C., ruled in a dispute over the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), Indiana State Bar Association president Todd Spurgeon heard the screech of a locomotive coming to sudden stop.
Attorney-photographer seeks more than $38K in fees after winning copyright suit
An Indianapolis attorney and amateur photographer is seeking more than $38,000 in attorney’s fees and costs after winning a $200 judgment in one of dozens of copyright infringement cases he’s filed.
Latest ‘Obamacare’ court battle plays out in New Orleans
The fate of former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, and its coverage and insurance protections for millions of Americans, is again being argued before a panel of judges — this time a federal appeals court in New Orleans. At issue in a hearing scheduled Tuesday is whether Congress effectively rendered it unconstitutional in 2017 when it zeroed out the tax imposed on those who chose not to buy insurance.
Judge strikes down rule requiring drug ads to reveal prices
A federal judge Monday blocked a major White House initiative on prescription drug costs, saying the Trump administration lacked the legal authority to require drugmakers to disclose their prices in TV ads. The lawsuit was brought by three major manufacturers: Merck, Amgen and Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly.
Abortion procedure ban latest to be halted
In the same day a federal judge blocked an Indiana law that would have banned a second-trimester abortion procedure, a conservative United States Supreme Court justice agreed not to hear a similar case from another state.
Billionaire financier Epstein due in court over sex charges
Wealthy financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is due in court after his arrest in New York on new underage sex-trafficking charges involving allegations that date to the early 2000s, according to law enforcement officials.
Retiring Judge Lawrence honored by Southern District Court
Federal and state judges, magistrate judges, former law clerks, court staff, Indiana Supreme Court justices, legal scholars and attorneys along with extended family crowded into the William E. Steckler Ceremonial Courtroom Tuesday afternoon to honor their friend and colleague, Senior Judge William Lawrence.
7th Circuit strips judgment for Emmis, rules for insurer
A federal appeals court reversed a breach-of-contract ruling for media company Emmis Communications Corp. arising from a shareholder dispute. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the district court should have found in favor of Emmis’ insurer instead.
DCS director claims lawsuit is ‘misleading and harmful’
Claiming outside advocates were relying on “an inflammatory and outdated account,” Indiana Department of Child Services director Terry Stigdon released a video statement Monday in response to the lawsuit filed last week charging the state agency with inflicting further harm on children entering the foster care system.
Allen County commissioners vote to ban swingers clubs
Commissioners in northeastern Indiana’s Allen County have voted to implement rules that would prohibit swingers clubs and other businesses involving live sex acts.
Applications being taken for PACER review committee
The federal judiciary is seeking members for the new Electronic Public Access (EPA) Public User Group, which is being formed to provide advice and feedback on the court’s Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. Up to 12 individuals will be selected from the legal sector, media, academia, government agencies, the public and other entities that use PACER to serve for two years on the group.
Judge certifies class action in Henry County Jail overcrowding suit
Current and former inmates at the Henry County Jail will proceed as a class in a federal lawsuit broadly alleging overcrowded, unconstitutional and inhumane conditions at the facility in New Castle.