Manufacturing & Technology - The Indiana Lawyer

Seeking a safe harbor: Manufacturers call for liability protections amid COVID-19 efforts

June 24, 2020 | Olivia Covington

As the novel coronavirus began its spread across the United States, virtually every industry adjusted operations. That includes the manufacturing industry, which was faced with the dichotomy of the need for layoffs and the need for additional output. But as these businesses have aided in the effort to slow the spread of the virus, industry experts say there’s a shadow over their work: the fear of liability lawsuits.

Divided 7th Circuit reinstates manufacturing sales commission dispute

June 2, 2020 | Olivia Covington

A divided panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a sales commission dispute, though the dissenting judge would hold that the Northern District of Indiana’s grant of summary judgment was proper.

COA upholds millions in damages for centrifuge company against ex-employees

May 8, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed an award of millions to a centrifuge company after two of its former employees took thousands of protected files in the creation of their own startup competitor company.

3M files suit over alleged scam that targeted Indiana for billions of dollars

May 1, 2020 | Indianapolis Business Journal Staff and IL Staff

In its complaint, filed Thursday in the Indianapolis division of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, 3M accuses Reno, Nevada-based Zenger LLC and its agent, Zachary Puznak, of contacting high-ranking Indiana officials and offering to sell them up to 100 million N95 respirators on behalf of 3M.

Injured wood trimmer operator loses appeal against manufacturer

April 13, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

A Southern Indiana machinery worker’s failure to follow warnings and instructions on a woodcutting machine he was using were the cause of injuries he sustained on the job, the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded on Monday. As such, the machinery’s manufacturer couldn’t have reasonably expected the accident.

Thomas: EPA declares war against aftermarket defeat devices

March 4, 2020

Volkswagen’s recent emissions scandal triggered criminal and civil prosecution by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 2017, Volkswagen’s estimated cost resulting from the scandal was more than $30 billion, and that number is growing. In the wake of this scandal, the EPA has declared “war” on an entire subindustry — aftermarket parts — and anyone who manufactures, sells or installs devices that allow drivers to tamper with their vehicle emissions.

House passes bill to prevent companies from forcing employees to be microchipped

January 22, 2020 | Associated Press

The Indiana House passed a bill Tuesday that would prevent companies from requiring their employees to be microchipped. The bill passed without a vote in opposition and moves to the state Senate.

IU Maurer cybersecurity programs keep pace with technology

January 22, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

In his practice at Mallor Grodner in Bloomington, attorney D. Michael Allen is seeing more and more cases that have a digital component. While he learned on the job, he also enrolled in the IU Maurer School of Law cybersecurity master’s program.

Groups want tougher U.S. Steel fine for Lake Michigan spill

December 31, 2019 | Associated Press

The leaders of 18 environmental and civic groups have joined a push for U.S. Steel to face tougher penalties over a spill of hazardous substances from a northwestern Indiana plant into Lake Michigan.

Environmental groups sue steel mill over lake chemical spill

December 13, 2019 | Associated Press

Two environmental groups are suing a steelmaker for allegedly violating the Clean Water Act at its northwestern Indiana facility more than 100 times in the past five years, including an August spill that killed more than 3,000 fish.

Justices steer defective dump-truck suit back to trial court

November 12, 2019 | Dave Stafford

A lawsuit alleging an Indianapolis manufacturer delivered dozens of defective dump trucks in 2005 has taken a U-turn back to the trial court after the Indiana Supreme Court found it could not grant summary judgment sought by the truck builder in litigation brought against it by the truck buyers.

Internet of things in manufacturing creates new data, cybersecurity questions

June 25, 2019

These are the days of manufacturing 4.0, the name of the fourth industrial revolution marked by connectivity among the devices that keep a factory running. In an “internet of things” world, the industrial internet of things allows plant machinery and products to talk to each other and provide real-time data and updates on how the equipment is operating and how the products are functioning out in the market, creating new challenges for lawyers.

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