Groups hail Indiana restrictions on stimulus check seizures
Creditors cannot seize federal coronavirus relief payments from Indiana residents under a ruling from the Indiana Supreme Court that was applauded by groups that sought the proscription.
Lawsuits
Articles
7th Circuit: Hostile work environment claim forfeited in military discrimination case
A former South Bend police officer who sued the city alleging unlawful discrimination based on his military status did not sway a 7th Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Friday that affirmed a ruling against him.
Charlestown zoo owner loses bid to reinstate federal license, overturn $340K fine
The owner of an embattled Charlestown roadside zoo has lost his bid to overturn an order revoking his federal exhibitor’s license and requiring him to pay more than $300,000 in civil penalties.
Hill accusers revive harassment suit with claims against Indiana Legislature
The federal litigation stemming from the sexual misconduct allegations against Attorney General Curtis Hill has been revived, this time with the plaintiffs suing the Indiana Legislature rather than the state. Hill’s accusers are also indicating that they plan to appeal the dismissal of several federal claims.
Federal Circuit tweaks statute to overcome constitutionality concerns with administrative patent judges
On Halloween 2019, a constitutional argument against the process for challenging patents not only convinced a federal appellate court but also inspired the judges to offer their own fix to the statute.
State moves to restrict access to big cats in Charlestown zoo
The state of Indiana has completed its first inspection of a controversial Charlestown roadside zoo and is asking a judge for a restraining order meant to protect zoo employees and volunteers, as well as the public.
US attorney reviewing polling places for ADA compliance
U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler said his office is reviewing all polling places in the Southern District of Indiana to see if they comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Charlestown zoo says state must provide inspector identities before inspection
The Charlestown zoo at the center both state and federal litigation is asking an Indianapolis court to delay an inspection scheduled to begin Friday until the identities of the inspectors are revealed, arguing the state litigation is being used to bolster federal claims brought by the animal-rights group PETA.
Indiana’s ‘IDEA’ touted as replacement for Crosscheck
After a federal appellate court stopped Indiana’s process for removing ineligible voters from the registration rolls, the state is still looking for a way to clean its voter lists. But a new system being considered by the Legislature is not gaining support among voting rights groups and could spark more litigation.
Legislation, lawsuits used to combat Indiana’s lead problem as contamination cases persist
Organizations and individuals around Indiana have been pushing for a solution to the lead problem. The toxin is everywhere and exposure, especially in very young children, can cause lifelong cognitive impairment.
Indiana ordered to pay $182K in abortion case attorney fees
The state of Indiana is on the hook for more than $182,000 in attorney fees and costs related to a long-fought legal battle over a controversial abortion law that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trump says Ginsburg, Sotomayor should sit out cases, but they decide
A month before the Supreme Court takes up cases over his tax returns and financial records, President Donald Trump on Tuesday made the unusual suggestion that two liberal justices should not take part in those or any other cases involving him or his administration.
High court closes courthouse door on slain Mexican teen’s family
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled 5-4 Tuesday to close the courthouse door on the parents of a Mexican teenager who was shot dead over the border by an American agent. The case tested a half-century-old Supreme Court decision that allows people to sue federal officials for constitutional violations.
Lake Michigan shore fight continues in court, Legislature
The years-long struggle between public and private rights along Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline continues in the Indiana Statehouse and in federal court, even as the state marks the two-year anniversary of a landmark Indiana Supreme Court decision that ruled in the public’s favor.
Boy Scouts file for bankruptcy due to sex-abuse lawsuits
Barraged by hundreds of sex-abuse lawsuits, the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday in hopes of working out a potentially mammoth victim compensation plan that will allow the 110-year-old organization to carry on.
Southern Indiana District Court serves breakfast thanks to pro bono attorneys
Lawyers who volunteered to handle pro se cases brought by inmates last year took the time Thursday to attend a special thank you event hosted by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
Indiana AG sues to shut down embattled Charlestown zoo
The owner a controversial Charlestown zoo who recently lost his federal exhibitor’s license is now also facing a state lawsuit that would shut down the zoo’s underlying nonprofit organization and remove him as its director, citing allegations of animal abuse, financial improprieties, intimidation and more.
Birth certificate ruling brings relief
In a cruel twist, Crystal and Noell Allen discovered even though Indiana prohibited them from being listed as parents on their twins’ birth certificates, the state did allow both mothers to be identified as parents on the babies’ death certificates. The couple prevailed in court, but their battle to be legally recognized as parents — along with other women in same-sex marriages — may not be over.
2 lawyers on Trump defense team shared Epstein as a client
Two of the lawyers on President Donald Trump’s impeachment defense team have shared another client: Alan Dershowitz and Ken Starr both helped the late hedge fund manager and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein win a lenient sentence for abusing underaged girls.
David & English: How marijuana use by commercial drivers is evaluated in Indiana
Despite the changing legal landscape, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. This tension between state and federal law has led to confusion and challenges in many industries, but for the trucking industry, little has changed.