Lake County seeks repayment for police fugitive manhunt
A northwestern Indiana county is seeking repayment of more than $30,000 from a private transport company for a manhunt police mounted after a fugitive escaped while being extradited from Texas.
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Articles
Indiana House panel OKs bill recognizing tribal court orders
For the second year in a row, the Indiana House Judiciary Committee has endorsed legislation to extend full faith and credit to tribal orders issued in Indiana by the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Indians.
Ownership fight could leave new Gary casino empty
The legal fight over ownership of a new $300 million casino in northwestern Indiana could leave it sitting unused for possibly months after construction work is completed.
Suspended attorney sentenced to 2 years in federal prison for tax evasion
A former Schererville personal injury and medical malpractice attorney who pleaded guilty to tax evasion has been sentenced to two years in federal prison. The attorney, who was suspended from the practice of law last year, also was ordered to make restitution of more than $1.7 million.
7th Circuit extinguishes fraudster-arsonist’s appeal
A convicted insurance fraudster whose M.O. was arson has lost his appeal of his mail fraud convictions, with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals rejecting his argument that evidence of arson was improperly admitted at his fraud trial.
Hammond man facing federal drug sentence charged in Capitol breach
A Northwest Indiana man charged with participating in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol could face trial in Washington on misdemeanor counts. The man had been awaiting sentencing in a separate case involving gang-related drug conspiracy charges.
Ex-lawyer accused of stealing from estate scrutinized for land deals
A one-time northern Indiana judge and lawyer who resigned amid a disciplinary case alleging he and his law firm stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from a widow client’s estate may have used ill-gotten money to pay down his home mortgage, a court filing suggests.
Northern District seeking new clerk as Trgovich to retire
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana is accepting applications for a new clerk of court in anticipation of a vacancy in the post this summer. The current clerk, Robert N. Trgovich, has announced he will retire this summer.
Former Whiting mayor who stole money to gamble avoids prison
A former Whiting mayor who pleaded guilty to charges that he spent about a quarter-million dollars in campaign funds to gamble and pay personal bills avoided prison on Wednesday when a federal judge ordered he be placed on two years’ probation and home detention for one year.
Tax Court remands valuation of Elkhart property
The Indiana Board of Tax Review must revisit its valuations of land owned by a northern Indiana manufacturer, the Indiana Tax Court has ruled.
Senior judges appointed following judicial illness, death
Senior judges are presiding over trial courts in two northern Indiana counties due to judicial vacancies resulting from the death of a judge and another’s inability to serve due for health reasons.
Nursing home patient, family seek to enforce rights as to care
A case pending before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals brought on behalf of a northwest Indiana man suffering from dementia asks whether a patient in a long-term care facility can enforce rights under the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act.
Tax Court affirms, remands in real property dispute over Hobart shopping mall
The Indiana Tax Court has partially affirmed and remanded a final determination from the Indiana Board of Tax Review for a longtime northern Indiana shopping mall.
Unwanted exposure: In right of publicity suits, models seek damages from adult clubs they say used images without permission
Professional models from across the globe are suing four Indiana strip clubs for using their photos without permission to advertise establishments located in Fort Wayne, Hammond and Indianapolis. The models are invoking Indiana’s Right of Publicity Statute, one of the strongest such laws in the nation.
Settlement of $66.5M resolves 262 lawsuits alleging unnecessary cardiology procedures
With the announcement of a multi-million-dollar settlement last month, long-running litigation against a northwest Indiana cardiologist and his associates is seemingly drawing to a close. But the scale and specifics of the allegations against Dr. Arvind Gandhi and his colleagues at Cardiology Associates of Northwest Indiana P.C. are still difficult to discern.
Senate Committee holds Kirsch’s nomination to succeed Barrett
The Senate Judiciary Committee held consideration of Thomas Kirsch’s nomination until its Dec. 10 meeting, putting the U.S. Attorney for the Northern Indiana District’s confirmation to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in a tight race against the clock.
Federal courts invite families to celebrate Bill of Rights through virtual event
As courts nationwide are celebrating the anniversary of the ratification of the Constitution’s first 10 Amendments during the month of December, families are invited to join in during a Wednesday evening event.
Kirsch questioned about Chicago crime guns during confirmation hearing
During his allotted time to question Thomas Kirsch II about his potential confirmation to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, bypassed all inquiries about the judiciary and pressed the nominee on the flow of guns from Indiana to Chicago.
Ex-Purdue prof, wife get probation for research funds fraud
A former Purdue University professor and his wife have been sentenced to probation and ordered to pay a combined $1.6 million in restitution after pleading guilty to using more than $1 million in federal research funds for their own personal expenses.
Kirsch pressed on originalism at 7th Circuit confirmation hearing
As many judicial nominees before him have done, Thomas Kirsch II told the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee that he would apply the law as written but his explanations of how he would interpret statutes brought intense scrutiny from senators on both sides of aisle.