DTCI: Finding positives: Togetherness in social distancing
Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana member Megan Culp reflects on the positive things I’ve experienced during the COVID-19 crisis to give others a small distraction from the negatives.
Technology
Articles
Public, press can be included in electronic federal court proceedings
Federal courts that have been forced to close courthouses to the public because of the novel coronavirus pandemic have been authorized to use technology to provide the public and press with continued access to court proceedings.
Northern District OKs video, phone conferencing in criminal cases
Some criminal proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, including pleas and sentencings, are now authorized to take place virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the district court announced this week.
Allen County video explains court stay of residential evictions
One Indiana court is taking steps to better inform its community about changes to eviction proceedings as a result of the novel coronavirus crisis through a personal, virtual message.
Working through it: Law firms scramble to practice remotely amid pandemic
Numerous orders put in place to protect Hoosiers from the spread of the novel coronavirus during the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic have abruptly halted that routine for attorneys statewide. Unable to get into their brick-and-mortar locations for the foreseeable future, some lawyers with more traditional practices are scrambling to get up to speed in a virtual world.
Quick: The law and COVID-19: Virtual connections
When I started writing this article, it was to be about the usefulness of apps for attorneys and law offices. Since then, the world has dramatically changed, and most lawyers have realized that it is now a high priority to find ways to work with clients virtually.
COA rules for insurer that declined to cover ransom paid to hacker
A Hoosier oil company that suffered monetary losses after a ransomware attack on its computer system did not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that its insurance policy included coverage for such attacks.
Federal courts get approval for remote access
The Judicial Conference of the United States is temporarily allowing federal courts to use video and teleconferencing for certain criminal proceedings as well as teleconferencing for civil proceedings during the COVID-19 national emergency.
Less than half of law firms have disaster plans, ABA report finds
As more and more attorneys and law firms work remotely in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of those lawyers don’t have plans for disaster recovery or business continuity, according to a 2019 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report.
How are you dealing with ‘the new normal’? Let IL know in words, photos
As courts, law schools and law offices close around the country in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus, Indiana Lawyer wants to know how you’re handling “the new normal” of self-isolation, social distancing and working remotely. Please share your thoughts and photos showing how life has changed amid the COVID-19 pandemic with Indiana Lawyer reporter Katie Stancombe at [email protected].
Holcomb signs bills related to health care, distracted driving
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed 84 bills Wednesday, including some that aimed to tackle health care costs, distracted driving and regional development.
Firms to get ‘up to speed’ with virtual model at IndyBar COVID-19 webinar
The Indianapolis Bar Association will be hosting a webinar Wednesday detailing how traditional law firms can quickly ramp up to a virtual business model, both from a marketing and technological perspective, in response to COVID-19.
Conviction upheld for ex-Gary city employee who ordered, sold iPads
A former employee of the City of Gary who purchased more than $1.3 million in computer equipment and resold it for cash lost an appeal of her conviction and sentence before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday.
Distracted driving legislation approved by both chambers, heads to Holcomb
Get ready to put your cell phones down in the car. Legislation that bans drivers from holding or using cellphones while operating a motor vehicle passed the Indiana House and Senate on Tuesday and heads to Gov. Eric Holcomb, who is expected to sign it into law.
Marquez: The power of ‘Teams’ gives boost to Office 365
Although Microsoft Teams was initially released more than three years ago, it is “still on the front end of the adoption curve” by users, according to the company’s corporate vice president for Microsoft 365. The ultimate mission is to persuade us to replace the combination of products many currently use for instant messaging, video conferencing, screen sharing, task management and file sharing with a central “Teams” hub.
Indiana Senate passes ban on holding cellphones while driving
The Indiana Senate has approved legislation that would ban drivers from holding cellphones while operating a motor vehicle.
Carmel man indicted on 28 fraud charges related to scheme using PayPal, eBay
A Carmel man has been indicted on 28 federal offenses including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, credit card fraud and money laundering related to fraudulent PayPal and eBay accounts, Southern Indiana District U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler announced Friday.
Indiana panel backs ban on drivers using handheld phones
A proposal to ban drivers from using handheld cellphones on Indiana roads is advancing in the state Legislature after testimony from people who have been injured or lost loved ones in traffic crashes caused by distracted drivers.
Start Page: Want a fresh perspective in 2020? Try changing your Outlook
Many lawyers are already familiar with Outlook on their desktop computer and have it set up to help them manage their emails. The problem is that emails come in at all times of the day (and night), and having a device that is connected outside of the office means you are constantly connected to email. There are times when that is a good and necessary thing, but there are other times when it interferes with what you are trying to get done. So, what do you do to keep email under control? Change your perspective by using a different version of Outlook.
Audit: 2 Indiana online schools misspent nearly $86 million
Two Indiana online charter schools that have been under federal investigation over allegations of padding their enrollments inappropriately paid nearly $86 million to companies linked to the schools’ founder or his associates, according to a new state audit report.