Indiana House backs abolishing all township assessor offices
The Indiana House has voted to eliminate the last remaining township assessor offices around the state.
Howard County
Articles
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.
Split COA affirms ex-doctor’s probation revocation
An order for a former doctor involved in a pill mill scheme to serve thousands of days in jail for violating probation has been affirmed. A divided Indiana Court of Appeals panel concluded there was enough evidence to prove a new offense was committed.
Supreme Court clears former prosecutor of disciplinary charges
A former Howard County prosecutor has been cleared of allegations brought by the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission that he paid a witness for his testimony in a 2010 murder trial.
Democratic mayors win reelection in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne
The Democratic mayors of Indianapolis and Fort Wayne cruised to big victories in Tuesday’s local elections, denying Republicans their hopes of capturing leadership in either of Indiana’s largest cities.
Reversal: Bank loses in lengthy foreclosure battle
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed judgment awarded to a bank against a former homeowner who filed for bankruptcy, finding that because the man had been discharged of any liability on the mortgage, the judgment was in error.
Man’s family sues police over his suicide at Indiana jail
The family of a man who took his own life in the Howard County Jail in Kokomo is suing local police, alleging his death was avoidable.
Mom’s Facebook harassment conviction splits appellate panel
A mother who made threatening social media posts toward a police officer after her son’s death has lost an appeal of her harassment conviction. The Indiana Court of Appeals divided on the sufficiency of evidence supporting her conviction, while a dissenting judge also declared the state’s harassment law “unconstitutionally overbroad and facially invalid because it is susceptible of prohibiting protected expression.”
Judge awards $548K to estate of scammed Indiana veteran
A northern Indiana judge has awarded nearly a half-million dollars to the estate of a generous veteran who got scammed.
Step-by-step: 3 counties get extra judicial resources this year from General Assembly
Every fall, judicial representatives from several Indiana counties travel to the Statehouse to make the same plea: Our caseloads are growing and our litigants are waiting, the judges tell lawmakers. We need more help, and we need your permission to get it.
COA will hear free speech appeal in Facebook harassment case
An angry mother who made threatening posts on social media toward a police officer after the death of her son is now appealing her harassment conviction, arguing her free speech rights were violated.
Father of Indiana teen killed in pursuit crash sues police
The father of a 15-year-old boy who was killed in a car crash during a police pursuit is suing two police departments and an officer, alleging that “careless and negligent acts” on their part led directly to his son’s death.
Woman gets unsupervised probation for leaving racist letter
A woman who police say admitted leaving a racist letter at the home of a family with a biracial son has been sentenced to 180 days of unsupervised probation.
Tax Court affirms calculated property tax cap on Kokomo property
The Indiana Tax Court has affirmed the property tax liability assessed against a Howard County urban development company, finding issue with the company’s argument concerning Indiana’s definition of gross assessed value.
E-filing now available in Howard County courts
Electronic filing is now available in more than 40 civil and criminal case types in Howard circuit and superior courts. That leaves just three more counties scheduled to make the switch to e-filing this year.
Howard County magistrate, other judicial aid bills advance
A bill requesting an additional magistrate judge to handle an increasing number of cases filed in Howard County was approved by the full Senate on Monday. That bill now joins several other counties’ similar requests for judicial help making their way to the governor’s desk.
Lawmakers pass bills adding new courts, judicial officers
Several bills seeking extra judicial assistance for Indiana counties struggling under overburdened caseloads have successfully made their cases to both legislative chambers. With that approval secured, the next stop is the governor’s desk.
E-filing now available in Putnam, Miami counties
Electronic filing is now available in Putnam and Miami circuit and superior courts, leaving just four more counties to implement to e-filing.
Bills for new Howard, Tippecanoe judicial officers advance
Two of four House measures in the Senate that would bring judicial relief to some Indiana counties were given the go-ahead to proceed Wednesday, but two other bills have yet to move forward.
Howard County sending texts to defendants about hearings
A central Indiana county has started sending text messages to criminal defendants to remind them about their upcoming court hearings. Howard County authorities hope the texting service that began in February can hold down the county jail’s population and reduce the resources law enforcement must devote to tracking down people who miss court appearances.