US Supreme Court asked to take robo-call case
An Indiana Supreme Court decision upholding the state’s Autodialer Law is now being challenged after a petition was filed with the nation’s highest court.
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Indiana’s new laws starting July 1, 2012
Many of the laws enacted during the 2012 legislative session take effect July 1. This list includes enrolled acts, along with newly assigned public law numbers, that have full or partial July 1 effective dates.
Indianapolis prevails in US high court on sewer tax case; residents, attorneys stung
Thirty-one Indianapolis property owners who paid as much as 30 times more than their neighbors for sewer service got resolution from the U.S. Supreme Court in their lawsuit against the city. They lost.
Indiana’s texting ban difficult to enforce
Police have issued few citations to motorists during the statute’s first year and there are questions whether the law is a deterrent.
Appeals court finalists list formally sent to Daniels
The names of three finalists for a judgeship on the Indiana Court of Appeals have been sent to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels for his review and selection.
COA reverses in favor of FSSA in provider payment dispute
The Indiana Court of Appeals held that a trial court erred in ruling in favor of health care providers regarding payments from the state’s Residential Care Assistance Program.
Daughter’s emancipation upheld; COA advises on forthcoming child-support changes
A 20-year-old woman will remain emancipated from her divorced parents after the Indiana Court Appeals on Friday upheld a Howard Circuit Court order.
Proposals would add visas for STEM workers
Highly skilled immigrants are the focus of 2 bills introduced in Congress.
Complicated code, preparer error could cause problems with immigrants’ tax returns
An Indianapolis television station ran a series of reports in May about a “loophole” in the law that allows undocumented immigrants to claim tax credits for children living in other countries. But the reports – which relied on an anonymous tax preparer as a key source – failed to disclose the role of some tax preparers in filing bogus tax returns.
Hogsett lifts US attorney’s public profile
One expert says federal prosecutors have become more visible across the country.
Zero tolerance in schools could lead to problems for students in future
Indiana’s effort to study juvenile justice issues has stalled as the group waits for the governor to appoint a chair.
Lawmakers to be part of panel for contraception talk
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana’s brown-bag discussion about contraception will include two state lawmakers.
Judges uphold termination of parental rights
The Indiana Court of Appeals found ample evidence that a mother took little to no steps to correct the problems that led to her son’s removal and continued placement out of her care, so it affirmed the termination of parental rights. In its opinion, the judges also discussed Indiana Evidence Rule 201(b) regarding judicial notice of “records of a court of this state.”
Smoking-ban lawsuits face long odds, legal expert says
Ten bar owners who are taking Indianapolis to court over a new citywide smoking ban that takes effect Friday at 6 a.m. stand little chance of stopping the ordinance, an Indianapolis law professor predicts.
Legislature announces summer study committees
The Legislative Council of the Indiana General Assembly has assigned the study topics various committees will examine this summer and fall. Some of the areas include creating a centralized department of administrative law judges and review of various Department of Child Services practices.
Appeals court reverses DCS judgment of CHINS
A 16-year-old Indianapolis girl was improperly adjudicated a child in need of services, and her mother should not have been subject to Department of Child Services oversight, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.
Justices vacate review of voided tax warrants in ‘puppy mill’ case
The Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday vacated an order granting review in a case that concluded tax agencies and the Indiana attorney general’s office overstepped their authority by issuing jeopardy tax warrants to seize animals from an alleged puppy mill in Harrison County.
Attorney general sues home loan modification companies
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has filed five lawsuits against companies around the country he claims have scammed Hoosiers trying to keep their homes. Since 2006, the AG’s office has filed 110 suits against foreclosure consultant companies.
Indiana joins price-fixing suit against Apple
Indiana has joined a multistate lawsuit against Apple Inc. and two publishing companies for price-fixing the cost of electronic books.