Articles

Notable attorney to speak at IU-Bloomington

A prominent attorney, civil rights leader, and political figure will deliver the 2008 Neal-Marshall Lecture in Public Policy March 27 at Indiana University in Bloomington.Vernon E. Jordan Jr. will share his thoughts about the current presidential campaign and other topics in his lecture, “America – Crossing Boundaries of Possibility.” Jordan was executive director of the United Negro College Fund Inc., president and CEO of the National Urban League Inc., served as an advisor to President Bill Clinton, and has practiced law in Arkansas…

Read More

Court: Michigan lawyer to stay away for 2 years

An embattled Michigan attorney is barred for two years from taking any new cases in Hoosier courts, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled today. Justices issued a per curiam opinion today in disciplinary action In the Matter of Geoffrey N. Fieger, No. 98S00-0609-DI-340, finding the attorney committed misconduct by making material misrepresentations in a sworn application for temporary admission to St. Joseph Circuit Court in late 2005. Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard and Justices Theodore Boehm and Robert Rucker agreed on the two-year…

Read More

Court orders suit against Papa John’s to trial

The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a grant of summary judgment in favor of a national pizza chain and its employee, finding there were genuine issues of fact as to whether the employee’s statement to police was protected by privilege. In Thomas Williams and Sanford Kelsey v. Kelly Eugene Tharp and Papa John’s U.S.A. Inc., No. 29A02-0707-CV-625, Thomas Williams and Sanford Kelsey appealed the trial court grant of summary judgment in favor of Papa John’s on their claims for defamation, false imprisonment,…

Read More

Supporting politicians: Legal industry among biggest contributors to campaigns

 Attorneys’ total contributions nationally to 2008 presidential candidates*:If you’ve been getting calls since the primaries or even earlier, asking you to donate to political party A or candidate B, or to help to spread the word about issue C, you’re not alone. It’s no secret that attorneys – whether as individuals or as a combined effort of attorneys in a firm – contribute to campaigns. In federal campaigns in 2004 and so far this year, Indiana lawyers are listed as…

Read More

Attorney, ICLU founder dies

A prominent and well-respected labor attorney who had a great impact on Indianapolis and the legal community died July 27.Alan T. Nolan, an attorney, author, and historian, was 85. Calling and a memorial service will be Aug. 10 and 11.Nolan was born in Evansville and moved to Indianapolis at the age of 10. He attended Harvard Law School and clerked for Sherman Minton at the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. He returned to Indianapolis in 1948 and practiced law…

Read More

Two Indy firms join ‘green’ initiative

Two central Indiana law firms have been recognized by the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce as being “green.” Bose McKinney & Evans and Ice Miller were accepted into the chamber’s new Green Business initiative along with four other businesses. The initiative requires applicants to meet certain requirements – be a current member of the chamber, be at least a bronze member of the Central Indiana Clean Air Partnership, and complete an application for review. In addition, members of the Green Business…

Read More

Missing attorney found dead

A Bremen attorney was found dead Oct. 20 by police in a field in northern Indiana. Ronald Sowers, 70, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

Read More

Girl allowed to try out for baseball team

An Indiana high school junior who was prevented from trying out for her school’s baseball team because she is female will now be allowed to participate in tryouts. Heather Bauduin, a baseball player who relocated to Wabash, Ind., from California, was not allowed under an Indiana High School Athletic Association rule to try out for Wabash High School’s baseball team. Public Justice, a public interest law firm in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia firm Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin, represented Bauduin and…

Read More

Peace of mind restored: Cemetery trust case results in multi-million dollar settlement

It was bad enough that Cecilia Means had to watch as her grandmother’s casket was pulled from a waterlogged gravesite where it had been buried for 17 years. On that day in March 2007, the southeast Indiana woman stood covering her mouth and sobbing as workers pulled the stainless steel casket from several feet of muddy brown water and a steady stream of water leaked from where the lid joined the sides. That day seemed liked a nightmare at the 40-acre…

Read More

Asian American Alliance to host reception

The Asian American Alliance Inc. will host a reception to celebrate its professional leadership program, cAtAlyst, and the organization’s efforts to inspire Asian Americans to lead and serve. The reception will be from 5 to 7 p.m. March 12 at Indianapolis law firm Bingham McHale. To attend, contact Pam Dove at (317) 968-5352 or [email protected] by March 10. For more information about the organization, visit AAAI’s Web site.

Read More

Indy firm expands practice into Chicago

Indianapolis-based law firm Baker & Daniels has opened a new law office in downtown Chicago with seven attorneys who recently left the same Chicago firm. The firm previously established B&D Equity Property Tax Group in the city, which will now join the law firm in the same office. The goal of the expansion is to meet the growing needs of its Midwest clients as well as establish a presence in Chicago. The firm hopes to grow its new office to 50-plus…

Read More

Indiana-based firm named best for women

Indianapolis-based law firm Ice Miller has been ranked as one of the 50 best law firms in the country for women, according to Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers. It is the only Indiana-based law firm to make the list this year.The firm was chosen based on the fact that it allows attorneys to work reduced hours on a case-by-case basis, the number of leadership roles held by women in the firm, and establishment of a “mothers’ lounge” for women who…

Read More

ISBA adds 3 new memberships

The Indiana State Bar Association has approved three new membership categories, describing the recent additions as a way to have the entire legal community represented within its membership ranks.On June 30, the Board of Governors added the categories of law librarians, legal administrators, and court administrators as affiliate members. They join the paralegal class in that ranking, meaning the four professional groups can serve on committees or join sections, but they cannot vote on issues or hold office.”This is a natural…

Read More

U.S. Attorney stepping down

Susan Brooks, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, is stepping down from her post at the end of September to join Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana as general counsel. Her first day will be Oct. 1. Brooks wasn’t considering leaving her position as U.S. Attorney, but when the opportunity to join Ivy Tech came in the middle of the summer and she saw what the college was doing in the state, she decided to take the position. “I…

Read More

Marion County still battling juror no-shows

Half of jurors called to serve in Marion County are failing to appear.Local judges are talking about it and changing policy to give no-show jurors a second chance to show up if they’ve ignored one summons, and from there implementing potential penalties ranging from fees to community service.Improvements have come since Indiana altered its jury pool list last year to include more than voter-registration records full of outdated addresses, but about 52 percent failed to show up on assigned days, court…

Read More

Bingham McHale forms economic development affiliate

Indianapolis law firm Bingham McHale has created its own independently operated and managed affiliate focused on economic development relating to site-selection analysis, incentive procurement and fulfillment, and community development and planning. The firm announced today the formation of Bingham Economic Development Advisors LLC (BEDA), recruiting five professionals from Carmel consulting firm Ginovus LLC. Leaving Ginovus late last week were Jay Walters, Jenny Massey, Suzanne Davis, Linda Williamson, and Sara McGoun, according to the law firm.The new Bingham McHale practice will be…

Read More