High court to hear negligence, drunken driving cases in January arguments
The Indiana Supreme Court is scheduled to kick off the new year with two oral arguments on the schedule.
Indiana Supreme Court
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Justices reverse for Clark REMC in dispute over health benefits for former employees
Former Clark County REMC directors weren’t guaranteed health insurance reimbursement in their retirement after a policy change terminated the benefit, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled. In a Wednesday opinion, the high court reversed Clark Circuit Court’s grant of summary judgment to the plaintiffs after finding the REMC’s policy was not a binding contract because the policy wasn’t an offer.
Justices recertify 99 senior judges
Droves of senior judges have been granted recertification for the upcoming year, the Indiana Supreme Court has announced.
Supreme Court amends state appellate procedure and access to court records rules
The Indiana Supreme Court approved amendments to both the Indiana Rules of Appellate Procedure and Indiana Rules for Access to Court Records earlier this month.
Split justices eliminate proximity rule for emotional distress claims
A mother who brought claims for emotional distress after learning that her disabled daughter had been sexually abused can once again proceed with her case after a majority of the Indiana Supreme Court created a new rule eliminating the proximity requirement for emotional distress recovery. A dissenting justice, however, warned that the “watershed” ruling could have a wider-ranging impact than anticipated.
Supreme Court grants 3 transfer petitions, denies 11
A petition to transfer in a dispute over the removal of highway billboards split the Indiana Supreme Court but did not gain enough votes to be heard by the justices.
Evansville attorney suspended for check deception
An Evansville attorney has been suspended from the practice of law after pleading guilty to check deception, the Indiana Supreme Court has announced.
Former deputy prosecutor suspended for battery conviction
A former Marion County deputy prosecutor convicted of battery has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana for 120 days.
Indiana Supreme Court clears way for Vivo to take bench
The Indiana Supreme Court has revoked the appointment of Senior Judge Jeffrey C. Eggers to serve on the Marion Circuit Court, effective Jan. 1, 2022. Magistrate Tiffany Vivo will be filling Sheryl Lynch’s seat on the bench.
Justices affirm woman’s LWOP sentence in murder-for-hire case
Indiana Supreme Court justices have affirmed a woman’s life sentence for her role in the murder of a family member, finding sufficient evidence to support her sentences and convictions.
Chief Justice Rush sees growth, change in Supreme Court’s 2020-2021 report
During a Thursday conversation with Chief Justice Loretta Rush, the state’s highest judicial officer reflected on the 2020-2021 Annual Report of the Indiana Supreme Court and discussed what’s to come in the new year.
Supreme Court appoints senior judges, sets minimum service days
The Indiana Supreme Court has reverted the numbers of days state courts may utilize senior judges back to pre-pandemic levels, but jurisdictions are allowed to seek additional days to help with case backlogs.
Indiana Supreme Court: Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District is a political subdivision, employee’s injury lawsuit untimely
Indiana Supreme Court justices have affirmed judgment for a commuter transportation district that operates a government-owned railroad against a man who was allegedly injured while working on the tracks, concluding that the district is a “political subdivision” under the Indiana Tort Claims Act.
Supreme Court affirms ruling for INDOT in injured motorist’s negligence case
An injured motorist who crashed his car into a tree after hydroplaning on Interstate 74 during a downpour did not convince the Indiana Supreme Court that his negligence suit against the Indiana Department of Transportation should proceed.
Split Supreme Court reverses summary judgment, immunity for INDOT in hydroplane lawsuit
Immunity for the Indiana Department of Transportation against a motorist’s personal injury lawsuit wasn’t appropriate because the agency knew of flooding issues on a northern Indiana highway for years and failed to remedy the problem before a woman was injured after her vehicle hydroplaned, a split Indiana Supreme Court has ruled.
Supreme Court adopts Savage rule, finds Celadon not liable for driver injury
In a case of first impression, a split Indiana Supreme Court adopted the Savage rule in finding that Celadon Group was not liable for injuries a truck driver sustained when he opened the doors of a trailer and a load of “used, oily trays” fell on him.
Editor’s Perspective: The post-COVID ‘normal’: Cameras in courts
Here’s my plea to those who are studying cameras in Hoosier courtrooms: Don’t let this pilot program just be lip service.
Justices deny 19 petitions to transfer
The Indiana Supreme Court has denied 19 cases on petition to transfer, rejecting a handful of cases involving medical malpractice, school threats and sentence modifications.
Appeal of temporary involuntary commitment dismissed, but dissent calls for Supreme Court clarification
A woman’s appeal of her involuntary mental health commitment has been dismissed as moot because she has already been released from commitment. However, the Court of Appeals of Indiana split sharply in the decision, with the dissenting judge calling on the Indiana Supreme Court to clarify recent precedent on how appeals of temporary involuntary commitments should be decided.
Former Holcomb staffer Lopez appointed to JNC
Gov. Eric Holcomb has appointed Danny Lopez, his former deputy chief of staff, to the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Indiana Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals of Indiana.