Courts announce closures in advance of winter storm
The winter storm predicted to dump several inches of snow on Indiana is disrupting courts around the Hoosier State, causing cancellations of some proceedings and closing courthouses.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
Articles
7th Circuit: No ‘qualitative’ limitations in disability denial
An Indiana woman who was denied Social Security disability benefits failed to convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that an administrative law judge erred by not considering the mental difficulty she experienced when being around more than five people at once.
Maley: Insights from the Indiana federal bench
At the annual federal civil practice seminar held in December, federal judges and staff offered practical insights and information.
7th Circuit upholds dismissal of trailer company’s suit against insurer
A trailer company’s lawsuit brought against its insurer after the company was sued by a competitor for a breach of contract was properly dismissed, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed.
Justices take certified questions, rule Gary death row inmate didn’t ‘properly’ file PCR petition
A Gary man sentenced to death did not “properly file” a post-conviction petition in 2016, and an Indiana Supreme Court order in 2017 to file the deficient PCR petition did not render it proper, the Supreme Court has ruled in response to certified questions from a federal judge.
7th Circuit affirms enhanced sentencing despite SCOTUS changes to Armed Career Criminal Act
A “violent felon” will not have his enhanced sentence vacated after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals determined he still met the provisions of the Armed Career Criminal Act despite a 2015 Supreme Court order that found part of the statute unconstitutionally vague.
Northern District dismisses patent infringement claims against major retailers
A man who claimed that several major retailers were liable to him for patent and trade dress infringement has had his complaint against them dismissed by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.
7th Circuit upholds denial of disability benefits
An Indiana woman will not receive Social Security disability benefits after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed her ailments don’t limit her from, at a minimum, sedentary work.
7th Circuit orders district court to resentence fleeing defendant
A Northern Indiana District Court judge who sentenced a defendant to the maximum will have to go back for a do-over after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the prison term because of procedural errors that could not be deemed harmless.
Plaintiffs trying to overturn Lake County JNC tap brakes on court proceeding as judicial selection moves forward
A federal court has granted a request by the plaintiffs challenging the judicial selection process in Lake County to toss their previously filed motion for a preliminary injunction, which sought to stop the local nominating commission from filling the superior court vacancy created by the death of Judge Diane Boswell. Meanwhile, the Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission is preparing for interviews with 12 candidates vying to fill the Lake Superior Court vacancy.
Citing confusion in circuit courts, Health and Hospital Corp. urges SCOTUS to take appeal over nursing home resident rights of action
The Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to stop a lawsuit brought on behalf of an Indiana nursing home resident that raises the question of whether the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act allows residents to bring claims regarding their care and treatment.
White high school athletic director loses ‘reverse race discrimination’ case in federal court
A former South Bend high school athletic director claiming “reverse race discrimination” has lost on his claims that he was discriminated and retaliated against when he didn’t receive job offers for positions he applied for within the school corporation.
Northern District Court offering training on prisoner civil rights litigation
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana will host a training session for attorneys on prisoner civil rights litigation on Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. EST via Zoom.
Gary man gets 35 years in slaying of pizza delivery driver
A Gary man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison in the slaying of a pizza delivery driver he and another man lured to an abandoned house for a planned robbery.
Indiana Northern District Court seeking comment on proposed rule amendments
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana is requesting feedback for proposed local rule changes.
Indianapolis man found guilty of securities fraud
An Indianapolis businessman who was accused of taking part in a Ponzi-like scheme that robbed numerous investors of their retirement savings has been convicted of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, federal authorities announced Monday.
Gary officer indicted for deprivation of civil rights against arrestee
A former Gary police officer is facing a federal criminal charge for allegedly slamming a citizen’s head against a vehicle during an arrest.
Federal grand jury indicts 16 for Gary motorcycle club crimes
A federal grand jury has indicted 16 men mostly from northwest Indiana on charges they committed murder, robbery and drug dealing for Gary’s Sin City Deciples motorcycle club.
Indiana district courts preparing for e-filing upgrade
Attorneys practicing in both the Indiana Northern and Southern District Courts will soon see changes to the courts’ electronic filing system.
Family of Black man killed by South Bend officer taking civil rights case to 7th Circuit
The family of a Black South Bend man who was fatally shot more than two years ago by a white police officer plans to ask the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a ruling in favor of the officer.