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.
Transportation
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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."
COA: Suit can’t be filed in Indiana when contract says Texas
A contract between two Hoosier trucking companies requiring any litigation between them to be filed in Texas and not Indiana was enforceable and valid, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed Thursday.
Council OKs new fees, regulations for scooter-rental companies
The Indianapolis City-County Council on Monday night approved rules and the basics of a permitting structure that would regulate the dockless electric scooter-rental companies such as Bird and Lime that popped up in the city last month. The proposal, passed 19-6 by the council, requires companies to apply for and receive a permit from the city before operating their services.
Scooters halted in Indy for now; cities address sudden issue
Scooter rental service Bird has changed its mind about maintaining operations in Indianapolis while it waits for city officials to come up with regulations. Bird began removing scooters from the city Wednesday. City-County Council members are expected to vote on an ordinance regulating scooter-rental services on Monday.
Celadon admits it is under federal criminal investigation
Indianapolis-based trucking firm Celadon Group Inc. says federal investigators are conducting a criminal investigation of the financial-reporting issues that the company has been working to resolve for more than a year.
Judge gives transportation museum two weeks to leave Noblesville park
A judge has given the Indiana Transportation Museum until July 12 to vacate its longtime home at Forest Park in Noblesville.
State, railroad argue over blocked crossings before Supreme Court
The Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday heard oral arguments in a case to determine whether state or federal law controls how long trains may block road crossings. Norfolk Southern Railway challenged the state’s blocked crossing statute after receiving 23 citations for blocking a crossing for more than 10 minutes.
Justices to hear argument in blocked railroad crossings case
The question of whether state or federal law determines how long trains can block traffic at railroad crossings will come before the Indiana Supreme Court during oral argument this week. These case is one of three that justices will hear Thursday.
COA finds warehouse not liable for cargo-related deaths
An Indianapolis-based warehouse facility has been cleared of liability in a tractor-trailer accident that killed three and injured one after the Indiana Court of Appeals found the warehouse had neither a contractual nor a common law duty to the victims.
Indiana Transportation Museum sues Noblesville, Fishers, Hamilton County
The Indiana Transportation Museum has filed two lawsuits against Hamilton County government officials, including one that alleges Noblesville is planning to evict the museum from Forest Park by June 1 to seize the museum’s equipment.