Judge accepts 3rd plea deal in Granger party overdose case
A South Bend judge has accepted a third plea agreement for a teenager accused of bringing drugs to a party that two brothers attended before dying of overdoses.
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Conour victims ask 7th Circuit for fees awarded to creditor
Judges on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals appeared sympathetic to victims of former attorney William Conour during oral arguments Wednesday over legal fees that a District Court judge ordered paid to a Conour creditor rather than to defrauded clients who were shut out of the case.
Telamon suffers new setback in $5M insurance lawsuit
A judge has dismissed the final count in a lawsuit that Carmel-based Telamon Corp. filed against its insurers in an effort to recoup more than $5 million in losses caused by a former employee’s thievery.
COA: Fees can be charged in case without indigency hearing
The Indiana Court of Appeals said an indigency hearing is not required before determining fees in a court case, though it should be conducted at some point, in a case where a man was charged more than $1,000 in court fees without a hearing. It also said the court cannot impose requirements that he maintain a “C” average in his school and have full-time employment.
Opinions April 14, 2016
Indiana Court of Appeals
Mason W. Meunier-Short v. State of Indiana
32A01-1507-CR-968
Criminal. Remands to trial court to conduct an indigency hearing at some point before Mason Meunier-Short’s probation ends. Vacates part of order imposing a $200 substance abuse fee and $200 alcohol and drug countermeasures fee. Reverses condition that would require Meunier-Short to go to school and maintain a “C” average and remands for the court to amend the probation order to give him the option to maintain fulltime employment or faithfully pursue a course of study that will equip him for suitable employment.
Maine senator restates support of hearings for Garland
Maine Sen. Angus King says he is “more convinced than ever” that the Senate should hold nomination hearings for Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland.
Obama’s power over immigration drives Supreme Court dispute
The raging political fight over immigration comes to the Supreme Court on Monday in a dispute that could affect millions of people who are in the United States illegally.
US Attorney General Lynch commends Indianapolis police
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has commended the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s officer safety and wellness program.
Judge gives Texas ‘affluenza’ teen nearly 2 years in jail
A judge in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday ordered a teenager who used an “affluenza” defense in a fatal drunken-driving wreck to serve nearly two years in jail, a surprising sanction that far exceeds the several months in jail that prosecutors initially said they would pursue.
Opinions April 13, 2016
Indiana Supreme Court
The following opinions were issued after IL deadline Tuesday.
William Clyde Gibson III v State of Indiana
22S00-1206-DP-00360.
Criminal. Affirms death sentence for William Clyde Gibson in murder of Stephanie Kirk, finding the trial court did not err and the sentence is not inappropriate.
Lawyers, judges visit schools to mark bicentennial
Lawyers and judges will visit schools around the state as part of the Indiana Supreme Court’s observation of Indiana’s bicentennial. The court announced Wednesday that more than 2,000 students will meet a judge or lawyer to learn more about the courts and judiciary.
Judge clears ‘Stairway to Heaven’ copyright case for trial
A trial is needed to determine if Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” copies its opening notes from a song performed by the rock band Spirit, a federal judge has ruled.
COA: Venue convenience does not trump precedence
The Indiana Court of Appeals said convenience does not trump precedence and reversed and remanded a transfer of venue that would have taken an auto insurance complaint from Marion to Johnson County.
Police cleared in Fort Wayne gunman’s shooting death
A prosecutor has decided two police officers who fatally shot a Fort Wayne man last month won’t face charges because they acted in self-defense.
Coats, Donnelly ask HUD to adopt new definition of RVs
U.S. Sens. Dan Coats and Joe Donnelly have asked the Department of Housing and Urban Development to adopt a new definition of recreation vehicles they say is clear.
Peabody, largest US coal miner, files for bankruptcy
Peabody Energy, the nation’s largest coal miner, filed for bankruptcy protection Wednesday as a crosscurrent of environmental, technological and economic changes wreak havoc across the industry.
Justices: Custody petition permitted during CHINS case
The Indiana Supreme Court reversed a trial court, ruling an aunt and uncle could bring a custody action despite a child in need of services case that was pending for the child in Posey Circuit Court.
Supreme Court upholds man’s death sentence
The Indiana Supreme Court affirmed a man’s death sentence Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to brutally murdering a woman.
Investigators visit Panama Papers law firm’s office
Panamanian prosecutors have visited the offices of the Mossack Fonseca law firm to look into its allegations that a computer hacker was behind the leak of a trove of financial documents about tax havens the firm set up to benefit influential people around the globe.
Immigration opponent to testify before Indiana Senate committee
A Kansas state official who is claiming he wrote parts of Donald Trump’s plan to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border is scheduled to testify April 19 before a newly formed Indiana Senate committee on immigration.