Holcomb relaxing coronavirus limits on crowd sizes
Indiana’s crowd size limits will be relaxed starting next week after recent improvements in the statewide COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates, the governor announced Wednesday.
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Fired neonatal doctor loses age discrimination appeal against St. Vincent’s
A veteran neonatal doctor who claimed she was discriminated against when she was terminated from her longtime position did not prove that she was unlawfully terminated and passed over for a new position based on her age, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals held Friday, upholding summary judgment for St. Vincent Hospital.
Biden ordering stopgap help as talks start on big aid plan
President Joe Biden plans to take executive action Friday to provide a stopgap measure of financial relief to millions of Americans while Congress begins to consider his much larger $1.9 trillion package to help those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Justices partially reverse arbitration in Carmel assisted living rape suit
Indiana Supreme Court justices reversed a determination that a guardian was required to arbitrate claims against a screening company arising from an employee’s sexual assault on a resident of a Carmel assisted living facility.
New leader takes charge of Frost Brown Todd Indianapolis office
Frost Brown Todd has named Kandi Hidde member-in-charge of its Indianapolis office, succeeding longtime local office leader Heather Wilson.
Bill that would bar Indiana employers from requiring vaccinations sparks heated debate
A bill that would prohibit Indiana employers from requiring workers to get immunizations against COVID-19 or any other disease generated heated discussion Wednesday morning, reviving a debate over where to draw the line between public health and personal freedom.
Law enforcement reform bill easily advances in Indiana House
A law enforcement reform bill that appears to have wide support from policing agencies and minority groups is advancing to the Indiana House floor. The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee unanimously advanced the measure on Tuesday morning.
Academic analysis: Fired for storming the Capitol? Of course
Can you be fired for joining a violent mob that storms the Capitol? Of course you can. Based on my experience as a law professor and lawyer specializing in employment law, I doubt that most employers are losing sleep over whether such decisions are legally justified.
Disability benefits denial again remanded after ALJ issues ‘inconsistent’ ruling
A woman twice denied disability benefits despite evidence of serious mental disabilities causing limitations on her ability to work will get a third chance to make her case for benefits.
Liability protection bill meant to protect Hoosier businesses from COVID litigation
Hoosier businesses and individuals concerned about being sued for COVID-19 liability could be safeguarded if a bill that would provide them liability protections is enacted into law.
Holcomb names Brown head of State Personnel Department
Gov. Eric Holcomb has selected Matthew Brown to serve as the director of the Indiana State Personnel Department, he announced Thursday. Brown currently serves as the director of the state Office of Administrative Law Proceedings.
Justices deny archdiocese’s bid to dismiss fired Cathedral teacher’s case
A four-member Indiana Supreme Court denied a petition Thursday filed by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to stop the lawsuit brought by a social studies teacher who was fired from Cathedral High School for being in a same-sex marriage.
Murder conviction COA vacated over attorney juror’s misconduct reinstated
Indiana Supreme Court justices affirmed Wednesday that a Vanderburgh County man who murdered his wife was not harmed when an attorney juror in his trial committed gross misconduct. The high court reinstated the man’s convictions that had been vacated by the Indiana Court of Appeals over the attorney’s misconduct in providing a misleading answer on a jury questionnaire.
Justices reprimand lawyer for trying to ‘silence’ student in Park Tudor scandal
The prominent Indianapolis employment law attorney who faced professional discipline charges related to his handling of a former high school basketball coach’s student sexting scandal has received a public reprimand from the Indiana Supreme Court. A dissenting judge, however, would not impose any sanction on Ice Miller partner Michael Blickman.
Nestle, Cargill at high court in child labor case
The Supreme Court of the United States seemed concerned Tuesday about the impact of siding with food giants Nestle and Cargill and ending a lawsuit that claims they knowingly bought cocoa beans from farms in Africa that used child slave labor.
To mandate or not to mandate: Employers preparing for COVID-19 vaccine
While the pandemic continues to rage and pharmaceutical makers get closer to developing an effective vaccine, Americans’ willingness to get inoculated has slipped. Battles over the vaccination will probably spill into the workplace, and employers are already starting to consider policies and plans for ensuring their workers’ health along with making possible accommodations to those who object to getting the shots.
In-house legal departments expect pandemic-induced changes to continue
Chief legal officers across the country say COVID-19 has left their corporate legal departments with less money and more work, according to the results of an Altman Weil survey conducted in September and October.
Hammond loses motion to dismiss after counsel makes misleading representation
An employment discrimination lawsuit against the city of Hammond will proceed after a federal court denied a motion to dismiss, finding counsel for the city had made misleading representations about her knowledge of the plaintiff’s hospitalization for a stroke.
Making the distinction: Labor Department proposes new test for defining independent contractors
To aid in the distinction between employees and contractors, the Department of Labor has proposed a new “economic realities” test. Already there’s a test in place, but the new proposal reduces the factors to be considered and assigns weight to those factors.
Justices affirm denial of IDEM whistleblower suit, vacate ‘broad’ holding
Indiana Supreme Court justices affirmed Thursday the denial of a fired Indiana Department of Environmental Management chemist’s petition for judicial review, but vacated a portion of an appellate panel’s decision that it considered too broad.