Pryor joins Southern District as magistrate judge
A new magistrate judge has begun her duties in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, filling a vacancy created by the August death of Magistrate Judge Denise K. LaRue.
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20 charged in Fort Wayne tuition reimbursement scam
Five more people are facing charges in connection with a tuition reimbursement scam allegedly conducted by former employees of a defense contractor with operations in Indiana.
Indiana joins new effort to end Obamacare
Indiana has joined a 20-state coalition in a renewed attempt to overturn the Affordable Care Act, arguing the changes to the individual mandate brought by the 2017 tax reform render the entire healthcare law unconstitutional.
Civil forfeiture reform passes General Assembly
A bill to reform many aspects of Indiana’s civil forfeiture proceedings is headed to Gov. Eric Holcomb after receiving unanimous support on final passage from the House of Representatives on Monday. The legislation increases due process protections in such cases.
2nd Circuit joins 7th in extending Title VII protections
About 11 months after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals issued its landmark ruling which found Title VII does prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has reached the same conclusion.
Retired attorney survives motion to dismiss copyright claim
A retired Indiana attorney has survived a motion to dismiss a copyright infringement claim against a fellow Indiana lawyer regarding a photo of the Indianapolis skyline, the most recent decision in a long line of copyright claims stemming from the disputed photo.
Judge certifies class in Hepatitis C case against DOC
A district court judge has certified a class action against the Indiana Department of Correction and various medical providers, alleging the defendants fail to provide adequate treatment for the class members’ Hepatitis C diagnoses.
U.S. courts seek comments on sexual misconduct in judiciary
Current and former federal judiciary law clerks and other employees can now voice their opinions about sexual misconduct and other inappropriate conduct in the U.S. Courts.
Lawsuit: Trump’s ending immigrant program racially motivated
Haitian and Salvadoran immigrants sued President Donald Trump on Thursday, arguing that the Republican administration’s decision to end special protections shielding them from deportation was racially motivated.
Indiana town paying $150K to settle sex harassment claim
The northwestern Indiana town of St. John has agreed to pay a former police dispatcher $150,000 to settle her sexual harassment claim against a former police official and town councilman.
Court rules for Amazon worker denied long-term disability
An insurance company’s denial of a long-term disability claim has been remanded by Jane Magnus-Stinson, chief judge for the U.S. District Court for Southern District of Indiana, who called the rejection “unreasonable.”
Special counsel files new charge in Russia probe
The special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election charged an attorney Tuesday with lying to federal investigators about his interactions with a former Trump campaign official.
Bookkeeper pleads guilty to defrauding employer of over $315,000
An Indianapolis woman has agreed to plead guilty to fraud in what prosecutors say was a scheme that over two years nearly bankrupted her employer. The plea was announced Friday by U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler of the Southern District of Indiana, who said Erica Howard, 30, siphoned funds from a family-owned construction company in Franklin.
7th Circuit hears challenge to ‘discriminatory’ abortion ban
A challenge to Indiana’s oft-disputed abortion laws went before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, with the state and ACLU of Indiana once again squaring off on what limits, if any, the state can place on a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy.
Former youth pastor indicted on child exploitation, pornography charges
Federal sex crime charges have been filed against a former youth minister at an Indianapolis church.
Lawyer warned again about criticizing magistrate judge
A lawyer’s arguments on behalf of a client suing Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology for alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act has drawn a second written warning for his claims that a magistrate judge is biased.
Judge in Manafort case chides lawyers over sealed filings
The judge presiding over the criminal prosecutions of two of the men charged in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation chided lawyers Wednesday for the number of sealed filings they’ve made and said she was determined to set a trial date soon to keep the case moving forward.
Judge ends ‘Tiger Baby Playtime’, halts cub declawing
A federal judge Monday shut down a southern Indiana attraction’s public encounters with tiger cubs. The judge also halted the declawing of tiger cubs and separating them from their mothers so they could be used in “Tiger Baby Playtime” events where people pay to mingle with declawed big cat cubs.
7th Circuit affirms dismissal of Mexican complaints against Indiana company
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the dismissal of a Mexican company’s fraud claims against an Indiana-based Fortune 500 company, finding the Mexican entity failed to allege the company, rather than its Mexican subsidiary, committed any wrongs.
ACLU: Indiana prison violated blind inmate’s rights
The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Indiana Department of Correction, alleging that prison officials are discriminating against a blind former inmate by refusing to let him participate in a literacy program to get his sentence reduced.