$14.5 million defamation judgment against State Farm stands
State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. is on the hook for a $14.5 million award to a contractor on his defamation lawsuit after the Indiana Supreme Court declined to take the case last week.
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‘Notre Dame 88’ lawyer cleared in discipline case
An attorney who argued that a judge’s bias warranted her recusal from a case involving pro-life students arrested for protesting the announcement of President Barack Obama’s appearance at the University of Notre Dame was cleared of disciplinary charges Tuesday.
Supreme Court vacates transfer in Star commenter case
The Indianapolis Star has signaled an intent to comply with a court order to identify an anonymous online commenter whose remarks about a former Junior Achievement leader are part of a defamation lawsuit, according to an attorney representing the former executive.
Justices take appeal over who pays DCS record fee
A litigant whose award of $1,200 against the Department of Child Services for the cost of preparing an agency record was reversed by the Court of Appeals will have his case heard by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Supreme Court weighs Evansville casino smoking exemption
An Evansville ordinance that exempts the city’s only casino from a smoking ban is being challenged in the Indiana Supreme Court by bar and private club owners who say the measure violates the state constitution’s equal protection clause. IBJ.com has the story.
Justices to weigh civil court rulings in criminal wrongful death case
A Lake County civil case filed against a driver who hit a woman causing fatal injuries will go before the Indiana Supreme Court to determine whether the court’s preliminary motions delaying the case were proper.
Justices decline to suspend Marion Superior judge, appoint masters
The Indiana Supreme Court on Monday declined to suspend Marion Superior Judge Kimberly Brown over a 45-count disciplinary complaint lodged against her, but appointed three special masters to hear the case on an expedited basis.
Justices pass on Star anonymous online commenter case, reinstate order to identify
The Indiana Supreme Court chose not to further review long-running litigation involving whether The Indianapolis Star must reveal the identity of an online commenter. The decision came one day after justices heard oral arguments.
Registration and IOLTA deadline looming
Time is running out for Indiana attorneys to complete their annual attorney registration payments and IOLTA certification. The deadline is Oct. 1.
Tax sale stands even though mortgage holder not notified
The Indiana Supreme Court upheld 20 years of precedent in finding that a county auditor is obligated to notify a mortgage holder of an impending property sale only when that mortgage holder specifically requests a notice.
Justices: Child support agreement must apply changing guidelines
A father whose annual income included varying bonuses and commissions is obligated to provide child support payments in line with evolving guidelines, despite a support agreement made a year earlier than the rules were revised, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled.
Supreme Court creates civil legal services commission
Providing access to civil legal services for low-income Hoosiers will be the focus of a commission established by order of the Indiana Supreme Court.
Commission recommends 1-year suspension for lawyer due to email criticism of judge
Indianapolis attorney and blogger Paul K. Ogden should be suspended from the bar for a year without automatic reinstatement for private communications criticizing a judge, the Indiana Disciplinary Commission recommended Monday.
Gun seizure case presents first impression issue
A man whose 51 guns were ordered seized by a judge who determined him dangerous after his behavior alarmed Bloomington police near the site where missing Indiana University student Lauren Spierer was last seen is asking the Indiana Supreme Court to return his firearms.
Battle over RTW heats up in courts
When Lake Superior Court Judge John Sedia handed Indiana’s right-to-work law a pink slip, conventional wisdom held that the Indiana Supreme Court would overturn that decision and put the law back to work.
Volokh: Case will have ramifications beyond Indiana
First Amendment scholar and UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh knows a thing or two about blogging and free speech, as namesake of the popular legal blog, The Volokh Conspiracy.
Brewington case focuses First Amendment attention on Indiana
Daniel Brewington is either a poster child for the wrongful prosecution of free speech or a man whose online rants about a judge constituted criminal threats. It all depends on your point of view.
Justices seek amicus briefs in partial consecutive sentence case
The Indiana Supreme Court wants to hear from the legal community: Are partial consecutive sentences allowable?
Justices: Meth arrest of man at rental storage unit violated Fourth Amendment
A man’s conviction and 45-year sentence on a meth charge cannot stand because the police search at a rental storage unit that led to his arrest violated his Fourth Amendment protections, a majority of the Indiana Supreme Court ruled.
Murder confession after racially charged interrogation heads to Supreme Court
Justices of the Indiana Supreme Court agreed to review whether the confession of a man charged with murder can be used against him because it was gained during a racially charged interrogation.