Martin selected as U.S. magistrate judge in Hammond
John E. Martin will succeed Magistrate Judge Andrew P. Rodovich in the Northern District of Indiana’s Hammond Division, the court announced. Rodovich is retiring from the bench.
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Articles
Court orders BMV to hold hearing on whether felon can get ID
A federal judge has found a convicted felon’s due process clause claim “has teeth” and that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles must determine whether to issue the man an identification card even though his last name on his birth certificate and Social Security card do not match.
Death penalty foe Foster pumps up federal defenders
Taking charge at Indiana Federal Community Defenders Inc. in the Southern District, Monica Foster’s seeking, and getting, bigger caseloads.
Lady Justice gets ‘green’ makeover
The greening – literally – of the rooftop of the Indianapolis federal courthouse is part of a $66.8 million upgrade of the building with funds coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Work on the roof along with additional upgrades to increase the energy efficiency of the facility as well as to improve the public safety system began in December 2009 and was substantially complete on Aug. 27, 2012, according to the U.S. General Services Administration.
Weinberger seeks sentence of time served
Former Merrillville ear, nose and throat doctor Mark Weinberger on Monday asked a federal court to sentence him to time served for the 22 counts of health care fraud to which he pleaded guilty.
Northwest Indiana officials indicted on federal charges
Six people in northwest Indiana, including three council members, were indicted Thursday on federal charges resulting from an investigation by the Northern District of Indiana’s Public Corruption Task Force.
Death row inmate’s habeas petition denied
A federal judge in South Bend has denied a death row inmate’s request for habeas corpus, rejecting the man’s claims that he is mentally retarded and, therefore, cannot be sentenced to death.
Conour drops attorneys, gets $15k from shrinking trust
Ex-attorney William Conour and his defense lawyers officially parted ways on Thursday. A federal judge afterward granted Conour’s request that he receive $15,000 from a $100,000 trust fund set up for compensating client victims he is accused of defrauding.
Federal judge dismisses whistleblower suit against Rolls-Royce
A federal judge in Indianapolis has dismissed a whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former Rolls-Royce Corp. engineer who accused the company of selling faulty aircraft engine parts to the government.
Durham to be sentenced Nov. 30
Tim Durham and the two other men convicted of running a Ponzi scheme and taking money from investors in Ohio-based Fair Finance Co. will be sentenced Nov. 30.
Major changes coming in bankruptcy court Oct. 1
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana is reminding practitioners that some amendments to local rules taking effect next month “may significantly impact” bankruptcy attorney practices.
Zoeller, senators at odds over immigration law
Indiana lawmakers seek to intervene with aid of Kansas official Kris Kobach.
Attorney facing fraud charges dropping lawyers
Lawyers for a high-profile Indianapolis attorney accused of misappropriating $4.5 million in client funds are requesting to withdraw as his defense counsel just a month before his trial date.
Conour’s colleagues questioned behavior
William Conour, until recently, was one of Indiana’s most respected and powerful personal injury attorneys, his name prominent enough to grace a law school atrium. Now he faces a federal charge that could send him to prison for much of the rest of his life.
Pharmacy owner pleads guilty to $3.5M in Medicaid fraud
A West Lafayette pharmacy owner was sentenced to four years and 9 months in federal prison for defrauding the state’s Medicaid program. He was also ordered to repay Medicaid and pay taxes owed.
7th Circuit vacates habeas petition, orders further proceedings
Although a District Court’s grant of the habeas petition of a man claiming he didn’t have an impartial jury was reversed by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, the case was sent back to the lower court for the state to show that the jury was not prejudiced.
Bad BP gas distributed widely in Indy, as far south as Corydon
Tainted BP gasoline that is the subject of two federal lawsuits in northern Indiana was delivered to and likely sold in at least 28 Indianapolis gas stations and as far south as Corydon and Lawrenceburg, according to information the company provided.
Same court, new experience
Hoover Hull LLP partner Alice Morical joins a Southern District pro bono program and faces a jury for the first time.
Updated instructions aim to prevent social media use during trial
Federal judges have new guidelines for keeping Twitter and Facebook out of the jury box.
Steak ’n Shake loses appeal over franchisee’s independent pricing
A longtime Steak ’n Shake franchisee who sued the chain after it insisted on setting prices for menu items prevailed again Friday as the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed an Illinois federal court’s ruling in the franchisee’s favor.