Indiana Senate backs tougher law on passing stopped buses
Indiana drivers could face tougher penalties for passing stopped school buses under a bill advancing in the Legislature.
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House approves bill to lift light-rail ban in central Indiana
A bill that would end the prohibition on light-rail construction in Marion and six other central Indiana counties passed the Indiana House on Tuesday.
Justices: Drive-away driver properly classified as contractor
A “middleman” business that matches drivers with customers needing drive-away services properly classified one of its drivers as an independent contractor instead of an employee, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled in an opinion meant to resolve a conflict between two lower court rulings.
Thornburg & Wiser: On pre-emption of claims against freight brokers, shippers
The viability of theories of liability for shippers, freight brokers and other parties in the distribution chain in trucking accident litigation is now being tested across the country.
Feary & Cohen: Changes might affect transportation independent contractors
The “gig” economy has brought increased attention to the use and meaning of independent contractors in America. With increased focus comes a change in how states attempt to define the work status of independent contractors, and if paternal protections should be offered to such workers.
David & English: Is police body cam video admissible in transportation litigation?
Police body-worn camera footage is becoming more prevalent in transportation personal injury lawsuits, but there are some key considerations regarding admissibility.
Bill proposes notice for trains blocking crossings 10 minutes
After the Indiana Supreme Court struck down a state law allowing railroads to be fined for lengthy blockages of train crossings, legislation filed in the 2019 General Assembly seeks another avenue of relief for Hoosier motorists held up by trains, especially motorists driving emergency responders.
Truckers sue the state for increased toll road fees
A group of truck drivers is suing Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb for the increases in toll road fees that took effect last year along the 157-mile Indiana Toll Road across the northernmost counties of the state.
Indiana mom backing tougher bus law after children’s deaths
The mother of three children struck and killed while crossing a northern Indiana highway to board their school bus supports legislation for tougher penalties against drivers who pass buses with extended stop arms.
Justices to hear arguments in murder, jurisdiction cases
The Indiana Supreme Court is set to hear argument in several cases this week, including a man’s post-conviction appeal of his three separate sentences for murder in Floyd County.
Federal court rebuffs latest Monarch-linked liquor law challenge
An Indiana motor carrier’s attempt to transport liquor for a Michigan City wholesaler has been blocked by the Southern Indiana District Court, which found the proposed arrangement could potentially circumvent Indiana’s three-tiered alcohol distribution and sales system.
7th Circuit: Two years too late for manufacturer’s damages claim
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal of a manufacturer’s damages suit against a barge company when it found the claims were brought after the parties’ four-month limitations provision.
Appeal heard in fatal trucking product liability case
The Indiana Supreme Court heard oral argument Thursday morning on a product liability case, hearing a national motor company’s appeal in a matter involving a worker’s death that includes defective design claims.
California class action: Scooters a public nuisance, cause unrest
A class-action lawsuit filed in Los Angeles last week is taking aim at the rising prominence of pedestrian scooters across California, claiming the scooters’ manufacturers and distributers caused a public nuisance and civil unrest. The suit seeks to have two brands of scooters that also recently appeared on Indianapolis streets banned from the state.
Med-mal judgment for insurers against hospital reversed
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the grant of summary judgment for two insurance companies when it found they were estopped from denying the applicability of the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act to their claims.
Indiana Supreme Court greenlights blocked railroad crossings
A unanimous Indiana Supreme Court sent a message Tuesday to Hoosier motorists stuck at railroad crossings waiting for trains to pass: relax, you’re going to be there awhile. The court struck down a state law limiting blocked crossings to 10 minutes, holding that such regulations were pre-empted by federal law.
Indiana survivor’s suit seeks to halt duck boats
An Indiana woman whose husband and three children drowned when a duck boat sank in a Missouri lake has filed a federal lawsuit in Kansas City requesting an end to the manufacture and operation of the amphibious vehicles in the U.S. and elsewhere until they are redesigned for safety.
7th Circuit affirms dismissal of railroad worker’s injury suit
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of a train operator’s state common law claims for relief against a railroad company for injuries caused by locomotive equipment.
Survivor of duck boat sinking urges ban on such crafts
An Indiana woman whose husband and three children died when a duck boat sank last month in Missouri said Tuesday she hopes to save lives by backing an effort to ban the amphibious tourist boats.
Corrected exhibit slipped by COA; ‘disregard’ admonishment
The Indiana Court of Appeals, which issued a stern warning to defendants about misrepresenting their case, acknowledged an amended exhibit had been given to the trial court. While reaffirming its earlier decision, the panel noted that a harshly worded footnote criticizing defense counsel in the personal injury case "is to be disregarded."