7th Circuit upholds child porn convictions
A man convicted on multiple child pornography charges has lost his appeal before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals after the appellate panel found no error warranting reversal of his convictions.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
Articles
7th Circuit upholds resentencing in mortgage fraud scheme
A northern Indiana couple convicted in a mortgage fraud scheme has lost its second appeal of the spouses’ sentences, with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in its second opinion in the case that the district court did not err in calculating loss or imposing time served.
South Bend settles excessive force lawsuit for $15K
The city of South Bend agreed to pay a man $15,000 to end a federal lawsuit alleging that a police officer used excessive force while arresting him during a 2014 traffic stop.
7th Circuit: District courts can order federal, state sentences to run concurrently
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated an Indiana man’s enhanced sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm after finding the district court erred in not recognizing its discretion to require the man’s federal sentence to run concurrent to his unrelated state court sentence.
Timeliness hurdle blocks attempt to intervene in consent decree
Although a federal judge sympathized the with East Chicago residents who have been waiting years for their neighborhoods to be decontaminated, he ultimately held that their quest to intervene in a consent decree was untimely.
Indiana town paying $150K to settle sex harassment claim
The northwestern Indiana town of St. John has agreed to pay a former police dispatcher $150,000 to settle her sexual harassment claim against a former police official and town councilman.
Suit from truck driver shot by Merrillville police proceeds
The town of Merrillville and one of its police officers lost their bid for summary judgment on a truck driver’s excessive force claim after a district court judge determined questions of fact exist as to whether the officer was justified in shooting the driver during an altercation.
Excessive force case will proceed against officer who shot unarmed robbery suspect
An excessive force claim against a Fort Wayne police officer who shot an unarmed robber will continue after the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana denied the officer’s motion for summary judgment.
IRS: 26 sentenced in Indiana last year on federal tax violations
A total of 26 people were sentenced for criminal federal tax violations in Indiana in 2017, according to the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division. Agents said $2.5 billion in fraud was identified and boasted a 91.5 percent conviction rate.
Ex-Merrillville councilman pleads guilty to bribery
A former northwest Indiana town councilman has pleaded guilty to bribery for his role in an influence-buying scheme for towing contracts. The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported Thomas Goralczyk, 51, entered the plea Wednesday in federal court.
Ex-Lake County sheriff appealing federal conviction
A former Lake County sheriff is appealing his conviction in a public corruption case.
East Chicago facility settles suit over Clean Air Act violations
Cokenergy, SunCoke Energy and its subsidiary Indiana Harbor Coke Co. have reached a settlement including $5 million in penalties with the state and federal governments to clean up operations in East Chicago, resolving a case that involved hundreds of violations of federal pollution standards.
Keeping East Chicago lead cleanup a priority
Two Statehouse Democrats from northwest Indiana know the cleanup of the contamination site in East Chicago will not only take years but also a steady state commitment. Their legislation — and affected residents’ federal court cases — aim to keep the issue in the spotlight.
Federal courts open during government shutdown
With Congress failing to pass a budget measure by the deadline of midnight Saturday, and the federal government beginning the workweek amid a shutdown, federal judiciary officials sought to assure the public they are still open – for now.
Elkhart denies wrongful conviction amid Cooper lawsuit
A northern Indiana city is maintaining the guilt of a Chicago man convicted in a 1996 shooting after the man filed a lawsuit following his pardon.
Huntington chief deputy prosecutor appointed to Circuit Court bench
The Huntington County chief deputy prosecutor will soon transition to a judicial role on the Circuit Court bench.
Judge’s bid to seal exhibits denied in sex-based harassment case
A district court judge has struck down most aspects of a Huntington Circuit Court judge’s request to seal exhibits submitted as part of a sex-based harassment claim against him, finding the majority of the exhibits in question contain personal content not eligible to be kept from public view.
Gay inmate loses medical care, punitive segregation suit
A gay inmate who uses a man’s name but identifies as a woman has lost a summary judgment challenge in Indiana’s Northern District Court, where the inmate alleged she was intentionally assigned to medical segregation as a punitive measure.
School district cleared after teacher convicted of child seduction
A northern Indiana school corporation has been cleared of legal wrongdoing in the events leading up to the arrest of a high school teacher who was having a sexual relationship with a student. A district court judge granted the school district’s motions for summary judgment on Thursday.
Northern District Bankruptcy Court amends two local rules
The Indiana Northern District Bankruptcy Court has amended two of its local rules relating to costs and pre-trial procedures.