Incomes up, bankruptcy filings down in 2016
Bankruptcy filings in Indiana slipped slightly in 2016 while average monthly income inched higher, mirroring a national trend highlighted in the annual report filed by the Judiciary with the U.S. Congress.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
Articles
Lake County sheriff granted summary judgment in deputy sexual assault case
A northern Indiana sheriff has been cleared of liability relating to an alleged sexual assault of a Lake County resident by a sheriff’s deputy after a magistrate judge concluded the alleged victim failed to present evidence that the sheriff had a duty to her.
Suit alleges Allen County sheriff denied vote to those in jail
Lawyers for inmates of the Allen County Jail and for the sheriff conferred in federal court Tuesday as a lawsuit proceeds alleging detainees were denied their right to vote.
Judge won’t bifurcate ‘Texas’ steakhouses’ trademark trial
A federal judge refused to order separate trials on liability and damages for a Merrillville-based steakhouse chain accused of copying the trade dress and trademarks of a larger Texas-themed competitor.
Judge dismisses claims against hospital in discovery dispute
A federal judge has dismissed a man’s claims in a complaint accusing the Indiana Supreme Court, a hospital and the chair of a medical review panel of violating his due process rights. The judge found that federal precedent and a failure to state a claim barred the man’s claims against the hospital.
Ruling for doctor reversed in inmate’s gluten-free diet suit
A doctor made “misleading, inaccurate, and perhaps even false statements” in an inmate’s lawsuit that alleges the doctor intentionally failed to provide a medically prescribed gluten-free diet, a northern Indiana federal judge has ruled.
Court rules Notre Dame must allow dismissed student to take final exams
A senior at the University of Notre Dame will sit for the last two final exams of his undergraduate career this week after a federal judge ruled the university could not prevent him from taking the exams even though he was dismissed from the campus after a disciplinary action.
Merrillville attorney convicted of mail fraud
A Merrillville attorney who was disbarred nearly two years ago for embezzling from a receivership has been convicted of mail fraud in federal court related to that theft.
Judge approves $227M in FedEx driver suit settlements
FedEx Corp. will pay more than $227 million to settle some of the long-running lawsuits brought by drivers in Indiana and 18 others states who claim they were undercompensated because the company classified them as independent contractors rather than full-time workers.
Disbarred Merrillville lawyer to face second mail fraud trial
The federal government will try again next month to convince a jury that disbarred Merrillville attorney Robert Stochel should be found guilty of mail fraud for allegedly embezzling more than $330,000 from a receivership he administered.
Capp praised for work in U.S. Attorney’s Office
David Capp, who stepped down as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana over the weekend, is being remembered as a lawyer’s lawyer who was loyal and had a clear sense of right and wrong.
District court again rules against Concord Schools on ‘Christmas Spectacular’
A district court judge has once again entered judgment against a northern Indiana school district after finding it has not made “absolutely clear” that it will permanently nix overtly religious content from its annual Christmas program.
Applications being sought for federal judicial, US Attorney vacancies
Indiana Sen. Todd Young is taking applications for several vacancies in federal court as well as U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal positions.
Pot-legalization group wins injunction against Tippecanoe County rally ban
A group advocating the legalization of marijuana that was denied permission to hold a rally at the courthouse in Lafayette won an injunction against the county in federal court.
Lake County sheriff’s official pleads guilty to wire fraud
The second-in-command at the Lake County Sheriff’s Department pleaded guilty to wire fraud Friday in a bribery case in which the sheriff and a tow truck operator also are charged.
RV plant-closing lawsuit proceeds
Workers at a northern Indiana recreational vehicle plant that closed in June may proceed with a lawsuit alleging company management failed to notify workers about the closing as federal law requires.
Lake County sheriff, Portage mayor charged in towing-bribe schemes
Lake County Sheriff and county Democratic Party Chairman John Buncich and Portage Mayor James Snyder have been indicted on public corruption and bribery charges handed down by a grand jury.
District court fees to increase Dec. 1
Several fees included on the U.S. District Court’s Miscellaneous Fee Schedule will soon increase after the Judicial Conference approved fee changes at its September 2016 session.
Suspended lawyer ‘cannot take no for an answer,’ must pay sanctions
A suspended Gary lawyer continues to pursue cases that federal judges have ruled frivolous, and a judge in Hammond this week rejected his claim that he couldn’t afford to pay a $500 sanction imposed in one of the cases.
Judge limits expert testimony in Simon antitrust suit
Expert witnesses for Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group and a competing shopping center developer will be barred from testifying on certain subjects in an antitrust lawsuit against Simon, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.