‘Historic’ opioid trial raises questions, possible answers
What’s being called a historic trial is underway in Oklahoma — the first against a drugmaker accused of contributing to the opioid crisis.
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7th Circuit debt collection ruling creates split among circuits
A woman who wasn’t informed she needed to respond to a debt collection letter in writing lost at the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, whose ruling that the collection agency simply made a mistake that didn’t cause her any injury created a split among circuit courts. Three judges authored a published dissent from a subsequent denial of rehearing en banc.
Justices: Trucking contract jurisdiction dispute may yield new rules
The Indiana Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of a Hoosier trucking company’s amended complaint regarding a clause in a driver’s contract, although it found error with the dismissal’s basis on lack of personal jurisdiction. Justices also said this case will prompt consideration of rules so litigants can move to enforce contractual forum-selection clauses.
Judge to hear bid to block Indiana abortion procedure ban
A federal judge is set to take up the American Civil Liberties Union’s bid to block a new Indiana law that would ban a second-trimester abortion procedure. A judge in Indianapolis was scheduled to hear arguments Monday from the state’s attorneys and the ALCU of Indiana, which is seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent the ban on dilation and evacuation abortions from taking effect July 1.
Indianapolis Public Schools settles lawsuits tied to ex-counselor
The Indianapolis school district has reached confidential settlements in lawsuits related to a former counselor accused of having sex with two teenage students. The Indianapolis Star reports the settlements are with a student and two former employees.
Suit: Franklin schools failed to stop student from being bullied
A central Indiana teenager with special needs is suing her local school district, alleging it failed to stop “severe and pervasive” bullying she has faced in school. The federal lawsuit filed May 13 in Indianapolis against the Franklin Community School Corp. doesn’t identify the girl.
Purdue Title IX sexual assault lawsuit still awaiting 7th Circuit decision
The campus sexual assault lawsuit brought by an unidentified male student against Purdue University, which was one of the first such cases to be heard by a federal appellate court since the U.S. Department of Education issued its “Dear Colleague” letter in 2011, is still awaiting a ruling from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals while the number of similar complaints being added to the dockets of circuit courts around the country continues to grow.
7th Circuit vacates ruling in light of new uniform-rental law
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated in part a Southern District Court’s decision, asking it to reconsider whether an amended Indiana wage-deduction law could be retroactively applied to claims made against a former employer for withholding employee wages to rent work uniforms.
Fort Wayne electronic health records company to pay states $900K after data breach
A Fort-Wayne based electronic health records company has agreed to pay $900,000 to settle an Indiana-led multistate lawsuit filed after a data breach compromised the personal health information of nearly 4 million people.
Judgment for INDOT upheld in fatal crash litigation
Even though the Indiana Department of Transportation declined to install a traffic signal at a Tippecanoe County intersection where a deadly crash later occurred, the Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld summary judgment for the department, finding it was immune from liability under the Indiana Tort Claims Act.
Steak n Shake in growing legal battle over overtime pay
Steak n Shake is on the hook for a $7.7 million judgment after a jury found the Indianapolis-based burger chain improperly failed to pay overtime to 286 restaurant managers in the St. Louis market.
COA: No error in ruling over disputed gravel driveway
A dispute between two neighbors concerning who was permitted use a gravel driveway splitting their properties ended in favor of a woman who argued she paid taxes and had been using the entry for more than 20 years before her neighbors showed up.
Indiana files opioid suit against Purdue Pharma, Sackler family
The Indiana Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday announced a lawsuit against several owners and directors of pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma, alleging those members of the Sackler family have played a key role in contributing to Indiana’s opioid epidemic.
ACLU asks U.S. Supreme Court to allow Ohio remap process
Attorneys who gained a federal ruling to throw out Ohio’s congressional map are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to let procedures move forward to redraw House districts.
Supreme Court sends dispute over Fosamax back to lower court
The Supreme Court is sending a dispute between drugmaker Merck and patients who used its bone-strengthening drug Fosamax back to a lower court.
State argues more lawyers not needed in CHINS, TPR cases
In response to a lawsuit seeking to require the state appoint attorneys to represent children in termination of parental rights or children in need of services proceedings, Indiana is arguing that adding more lawyers would only flatter the legal professionals and not mollify tragic circumstances.
Justices affirm $176K award of fees to Lake Superior Court judges
Indiana Supreme Court justices affirmed a special judge’s ruling that 14 Lake Superior Court judges are entitled to recover nearly $176,500 to pay court staff, ending a two-year dispute.
Suit: Indiana’s absentee voter verification system unconstitutional
Common Cause Indiana and a group of registered voters in St. Joseph County are challenging the process Indiana uses to validate absentee ballots, calling it constitutionally flawed and asking a federal court to prohibit the state from rejecting absentee ballots based solely on perceived signature mismatches.
Fresh feud: Hill says Curry can’t hire city attorney in abortion case
A lawsuit challenging an Indiana abortion law has once again led to a public dispute between Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill and Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry.
Web Exclusive: Supported decision making makes strides
After three years of collaboration and research, efforts to create more options of independence for Hoosiers who face the confines of a guardianship have come to fruition. Those new options include legal recognition of supported decision making.