COA: Lawyer’s $3.4M fee wrongly applied in child support
A trial court miscalculated the impact of a Merrillville lawyer’s $3.4 million legal fee in a personal injury case on his child support obligation, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday.
Lake County
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Lake County paying $185K to settle sexual harassment lawsuit
Lake County has agreed to pay $185,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against the northwestern Indiana county’s recorder. Taxpayers will finance the payment to Estela Montalvo, the former part-time recorder’s office employee who sued recorder Michael B. Brown and the county in federal court last year, alleging sexual harassment.
Lake County JNC seeks applicants to succeed judge not seeking retention
The Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications to fill an upcoming vacancy in the Lake Superior Court. Applications will be accepted till Nov. 5 to replace outgoing Judge Jesse M. Villalpando.
COA: Judgment affirmed in eminent domain action
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the grant of summary judgment to a town in an eminent domain action when it found the land was neither real property occupied by an owner nor agricultural land, so the previous owners were not entitled to receive enhanced compensation.
E-filing now mandatory in Warrick County; 4 more courts remain
E-filing is now mandatory in Warrick County, with just four more counties remaining to implement the online filing system.
Ex-superintendent of Gary schools faces misconduct charges
The former Gary Community Schools superintendent has been charged with double-billing the district for about $1,200 in expenses. Lake County prosecutors filed felony theft and official misconduct charges on Friday against Cheryl Pruitt, who resigned as superintendent in February after a state-appointed emergency manager took over the district as it faced more than $100 million in debt.
New COA judge Tavitas honored as ‘true public servant’ at robing ceremony
There are many adjectives friends and colleagues used to describe Elizabeth Tavitas, the newest Indiana Court of Appeals judge, when they gathered to celebrate her ceremonial robing on Monday. But as each speaker described their unique experiences with Tavitas, there was a common theme running through each set of remarks: service.
Judge pro tem appointed to replace Lake Superior Judge Villalpando
A judge pro tempore has been appointed to perform the duties of Lake Superior Court judge Jesse M. Villalpando, whose name was recently removed from the Nov. 6 general election ballot. A Friday order announced the Lake Superior Court judge will take leave from the bench beginning today and will remain on leave for the duration of his elected term, while attorney Stephen A. Tyler will serve in his place as judge pro tem.
COA to host Tavitas robing ceremony next week
Newest Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Elizabeth F. Tavitas will be ceremonially sworn into office next week when the court hosts a public robing ceremony.
Three magistrate finalists named for Lake County judgeship
Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb will select one of three magistrate judges to fill the vacancy on the Lake Superior Court created when Judge Elizabeth Tavitas was appointed to the Indiana Court of Appeals this summer. The Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission late Tuesday named magistrate judges Lisa A. Berdine, Thomas P. Hallett and Nanette K. Raduenz as finalists to succeed Tavitas in Lake Superior Court 3, family division.
Lake County lawyers rank judicial candidates
Lake Superior magistrate judges Kathleen Belzeski and Nanette Raduenz are being described by the local legal community as best qualified for the vacancy in Lake Superior Court, family law division.
Dyer man pleads guilty in electronic waste scheme
A 46-year-old Dyer man has pleaded guilty in Chicago federal court to an alleged scheme that involved his recycling firms reselling hazardous electronic waste.
Former Lake Circuit Judge Paras dies at 70
Funeral services will be later this week for former Lake Circuit Judge George C. Paras, who died in Gary on Friday after an illness. He was 70.
Family of victims in Indiana cold case look to TV show for justice
Relatives of two pregnant sisters who were killed decades ago in northwestern Indiana are hoping a television program on the cold case will finally bring justice. The family of the sisters took the case to Lisette Guillen of “Case Files Chicago,” a program that highlights unsolved homicides, violent crimes and missing persons in and around Chicago.
Lake County JNC seeking applicants to succeed Tavitas
Applications are now being accepted to fill a vacancy on the Lake County Superior Court created when Judge Elizabeth F. Tavitas joined the Indiana Court of Appeals last month.
Private plaintiff taking public access case to SCOTUS?
After a years-long fight, the Indiana Supreme Court in February issued a ruling that affirmed what’s come naturally to generations of Hoosiers: Indiana’s beach on Lake Michigan belongs to the public.
But parties who sued to privatize the beach, whose names are the only plaintiffs listed on filings to the U.S. Supreme Court, don’t own the property. They haven’t for years.
Indiana man pleads not guilty in sons’ river drownings
The father of two Indiana boys who drowned in a river has pleaded not guilty to two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death. Eric Patillo, 34, Thayer, appeared Wednesday in Lake Superior Court.
Indiana father charged with neglect in sons’ drownings
The father of two Indiana boys who drowned in a river has been charged with felony neglect in their deaths after allegedly telling police he had used heroin before taking his sons to the waterway. Eric J. Patillo, 34, was indicted Thursday on two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death.
Justices remove Lake superior judge from retention ballot
The Indiana Supreme Court yanked a Lake Superior Court judge from the Nov. 6 retention ballot following his retirement announcement Friday that came after the court’s office of judicial administration requested a new judge be appointed due to alleged dereliction of duty.
Father of 2 boys who died in Indiana river may face charges
The father of two Indiana boys who died after being pulled from a river was acting strangely before his sons were found in the waterway and could face criminal charges in their deaths, a sheriff said Wednesday.