Justices suspend David Wyser, former Brizzi deputy prosecutor
Former Marion County Deputy Prosecutor David Wyser, who pleaded guilty last year to bribery in a federal public-corruption probe, has been suspended from the practice of law.
Indiana Supreme Court
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Elkhart attorney suspended for ‘lack of respect’ for clients and courts
The Indiana Supreme Court has suspended an Elkhart County attorney for at least two years after finding he committed numerous violations of the Indiana Professional Rules of Conduct, including throwing away client files that contained confidential information.
Campus fraternity chapter may be liable for alleged hazing injury
A Wabash College fraternity pledge’s injury claim resulting from alleged hazing, ruled on recently by the Indiana Supreme Court, turned not on whether he was hazed inside the frat house, but on who may be liable.
Justices to review sanctions in false emergency detention report
The Indiana Supreme Court will review a case in which the Court of Appeals tossed an indirect civil contempt of court finding but let stand fines against a nurse accused of making false statements about the mental health of a co-worker that led to emergency detention.
Justices reconcile conflicting trial rules
In reversing an order granting a company’s motion to vacate partial summary judgment in an environmental cleanup lawsuit, the Indiana Supreme Court tackled the apparently conflicting Indiana Trial Rules 54(B) and 56(C).
Justices: Man with Alzheimer’s must be committed per statute
Noting the trial court had the best of intentions when it did not order a man with Alzheimer’s disease committed, the Indiana Supreme Court pointed out the trial court had to order his commitment under Indiana Code 35-36-3-1(b) after he was found not competent to stand trial.
Justices decline to take Holiday World dispute
The Indiana Supreme Court will let stand the ruling that the widow and children of the late William Koch Jr. can keep their shares in the southern Indiana theme park Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari. The justices declined transfer to the legal dispute which arose in the Koch family following Will Koch’s death.
Wabash fraternity must face alleged hazing-injury claim
A freshman pledge’s personal-injury claim resulting from what he alleged was a hazing incident at Wabash College may proceed against the campus fraternity, and he may seek compensatory and punitive damages, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Thursday, overturning lower court rulings.
Justices: Facts don’t justify subjecting family to CHINS proceeding
The Indiana Supreme Court reversed the finding that a child with special needs is a child in need of services after ruling that the circumstances of this case don’t support that the mother needed the court’s coercive intervention to address concerns in the CHINS petition.
Explanation as to the spirit of the law was harmless error
Although a trial court’s words to a jury about the spirit of Indiana’s criminal law was improper and an error, it was harmless and could not overturn a defendant’s sentence of life without parole.
Supreme Court, split 3-2, snuffs Evansville casino smoking exception
A divided Indiana Supreme Court Tuesday rejected Evansville’s amended smoking ban that exempted the former Aztar riverboat casino, now known as Tropicana Evansville.
Justices to review whether sewer lien can trigger tax sale
The Indiana Supreme Court will review the question of whether a sewer lien placed on a property for unpaid bills is by itself sufficient for the property to be sold at tax sale to satisfy the debt.
For-profit Veolia Water not entitled to common law sovereign immunity
The Indiana Supreme Court held Thursday that for-profit, private company Veolia Water is not entitled to common law sovereign immunity from liability for damages resulting from a fire that destroyed an Indianapolis Texas Roadhouse restaurant in 2010.
COA replaces opinion on post-conviction ruling with corrected version
Acknowledging that the state is correct when it claims the Indiana Court of Appeals relied on the wrong Supreme Court decision in affirming the denial of a petition for post-conviction relief, the appellate court issued a new opinion Wednesday.
Disability, religious-freedom claims clash at Indiana Supreme Court
An argument over dinner has taken on First Amendment religious-freedom and disability-protection dimensions before the Indiana Supreme Court.
Justices fine Bloomington lawyer, suspend Indy attorney
The Indiana Supreme Court has fined a Monroe County attorney for practicing law while suspended. This week, the justices also suspended an Indianapolis attorney who pleaded guilty to felony wire fraud.
Right to equal access at center of federal lawsuit
A courtroom spectator’s persistent requests to two trial courts for an interpreter raises questions of how accessible Indiana courts should be for people who have disabilities as well as how much control the state judiciary has over local judges.
Public access to death records gets Supreme Court review
A newspaper denied a request to obtain information in death records from a local health department will have an opportunity to make its case before the Indiana Supreme Court.
Marion County courts closed Tuesday; state courts delayed
Marion County Circuit and Superior Courts in the Indianapolis City-County Building will be closed Tuesday in anticipation of dangerously cold weather. State court operations in Indianapolis, meanwhile, will delay opening until 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Supreme Court extends audio-video transcript pilot project
A pilot project in three Indiana courts that replaces written transcripts with audio/video camera recordings has been extended and expanded because two of the three courts haven’t generated the anticipated number of appeals necessary to evaluate the system.