Opinion - The Indiana Lawyer

Column: Does Patchett v. Lee make patchwork of medical specials?

December 29, 2015

The Indiana Court of Appeals recently affirmed a ruling in Patchett v. Lee, 29A04-1501-CT-1 (Ind. Ct. App. Nov. 19, 2015), which held that government reimbursement rates are not an accurate reflection of the value of health care services, and thus are inadmissible as evidence of the reasonable value of medical services in personal-injury cases. The Patchett ruling signified a major shift in Indiana law on the determination of medical specials damages.

Nelson: A look back … and to the profession’s future

December 29, 2015

Birthdays, anniversaries, and a new year are good times for reflection and evaluation. That’s part of the reason we take a look back at the news we covered throughout the year in our last issue of the year and why we devoted stories each month in honor of our 25th anniversary in print.

Hammerle On… ‘Chi-Raq’

December 29, 2015

Bob Hammerle reviews “Chi-Raq” and also picks his top films of the year.

Technology Untangled: New year means time for a new hard drive

December 29, 2015

The start of the new year is always a good time to clean up computer files. Hard drive maintenance is often something that goes unattended until it is too late. Today’s article will describe an instance where I took some of my own advice and replaced and upgraded a hard drive before it failed.

Bell/Whelan: 3 things to know about civility and discipline

December 29, 2015

As it turns out, acting in a civil manner is not just a way of being polite, or being a good advocate or a way to make the profession look good. In fact, being uncivil in and of itself can lead to disciplinary sanctions.

Nguyen: Banking on intellecutal property

December 15, 2015

What do startups and high-growth companies have in common? Intellectual property is their most valuable asset, separating one company from the others in a fiercely competitive tech environment.

Warr: Cybersecurity lessons learned from an ostrich

December 15, 2015

When the topic of cybersecurity arises, many companies react by burying their heads in the sand. However, playing an ostrich when it comes to cybersecurity will not save you.

Schantz: Infringing IP in your home with 3-D printing

December 15, 2015

Adherence to a few principles will avoid many of the intellectual property potholes on the road of 3-D printing.

Hammerle on … ‘Brooklyn,’ ‘Creed’

December 15, 2015

Bob Hammerle says Sylvester Stallone is magnificent as an aging man searching for meaning in “Creed.”

Quick: Time to develop a social media marketing strategy

December 15, 2015

If I told you there was a way to market your law firm for absolutely no cost and get responses from thousands and thousands of people globally, would you be interested in doing it?

Neutral Corner: Case reaffirms enforceability of settlement agreements

December 15, 2015

A recent Indiana Court of Appeals opinion reaffirmed prior Indiana cases holding that settlement agreements, whether reached with or without mediation, are governed by the general principle of contract law and generally not required to be in writing.

Indiana Judges Association: 7 hopes on a judicial holiday wish list

December 15, 2015

As we complete a long, complicated year, my great judge journey leads me to a wish list. While wish lists are not uncommon for gift-giving season, or the start of a new year, this one is intended for regular rumination.

Start Page: Goal setting and habit development for the new year

December 15, 2015

This year, join me in a different approach: setting goals and developing habits. Neither concept is new and both take effort to be effective. Here are some pointers and tech tools you can use to help support achieving your goals and developing good habits in the new year.

Dean’s Desk: McKinney students receive honors for pro bono service

December 15, 2015

At our most recent Pro Bono and Clinical Program awards event, we celebrated – for the second year in a row – the fact that our graduating class had contributed more than 20,000 hours of pro bono service to the community during their law school careers.

Hammerle on … ‘Trumbo,’ ‘Spotlight’

December 1, 2015

Bob Hammerle says “Trumbo” is a study in American history that should not be forgotten.

Protecting Your Practice: Avoid problematic fee agreements

December 1, 2015

It is crucial to have a clear, written agreement with your client explaining not just the scope of your services, but how you will be paid for those services. Be careful that you don’t run afoul of your professional obligations in that fee agreement or in your billing.

Inside the Criminal Case: Gluten, grandpas and reasonable suspicion to stop a vehicle

December 1, 2015

“Back in our day,” reasonable suspicion for a traffic stop was based upon objective evidence that the suspect had committed a traffic violation.

Quality of Life: Make sure to protect yourself from any type of ‘fall’

December 1, 2015

At some point in life, you may have an experience that helps you to redefine your priorities. I had such an experience about three weeks ago, when I took a tumble, head first, down a long and steep staircase in my home.

Lucas: And the ‘Practicing Law in Indiana’ survey says …

December 1, 2015

Welcome to the Indiana Lawyer’s “survey issue”! I hope that you find the data revealed in the pages of this publication interesting and that it spurs conversation and serves as a catalyst for positive change in the legal community.

Marquez: Take simple steps to save your assets

November 17, 2015

We have all been there at some point: having spent an inordinate amount of time getting a document phrased perfectly and in an instant it is all gone.

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