7th: No evidence supports race discrimination claim by IU professor
Lack of evidence doomed a black professor's argument that he was denied tenure at Indiana University because of his race, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found Tuesday.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
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Sweeney first judge in 8 years confirmed to Southern District
James Sweeney was confirmed by a voice vote in a rare show of Senate bipartisanship. The next day, a Barnes & Thornburg colleague saw him at work and wondered why he was not taking at least a little time off. Sweeney said he wanted to pull his weight.
Sweeney set to join busy Southern Indiana District Court
With the confirmation of James Sweeney II to the federal bench, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana will be getting a much-needed judge to fill a longstanding vacancy and help handle one of the heaviest dockets in the country.
Judge rejects bid to slash jury’s $15M med-mal award
A jury’s verdict awarding $15 million to a woman and her husband after her cancer was not detected on a CT scan will stand, a federal judge ruled, rejecting defense appeals that included Indiana’s cap on medical malpractice damages.
Sweeney confirmed to Southern District bench
James Sweeney, partner at Barnes & Thornburg, has been confirmed to the Southern Indiana District Court. He was nominated by President Donald Trump in November 2017 to fill a vacancy created when Judge Sarah Evans Barker took senior status.
Indiana consumer bankruptcies fall faster than U.S. average
Personal bankruptcy filings due to consumer debt tumbled in Indiana last year at a much faster pace than an overall national decline, according to federal bankruptcy court data released Monday. Hoosiers filed a combined 7.4 percent fewer petitions for Chapter 7, Chapter 11 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy in 2017.
IndyCar awarded $3.9M for scrubbed Boston races
A race organizer’s failure to bring promised IndyCar Boston Grand Prix Labor Day weekend races to the finish line has resulted in an award of nearly $4 million in damages to the Indianapolis-based open-wheel racing series, but it’s unclear how much IndyCar may be able to recoup from bankrupt promoters.
Former office manager gets nearly 5 years in prison for fraud
A bookkeeper who pleaded guilty to defrauding a small Franklin construction company out of hundreds of thousands of dollars has been sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison.
Hill enduring backlash in voting lawsuits
Even as the office of embattled Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is pleading for more time to challenge a ruling that found changes to the state's voter registration statute violated federal law, it's taking another election dispute to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Prosecutors cite ethics rules to Hill in abortion lawsuit
Three Indiana prosecutors are renewing their calls for Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill to concede on their behalf the merits of lawsuit that blocked a 2018 abortion law and told the AG's staff in an email that Hill is obligated under the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct to follow their directive as his clients. Hill, however, maintains he is authorized to defend the statute on behalf of his "ultimate client:" the people of Indiana.
Judge lets Marion County inmate suicide suit proceed
A lawsuit claiming the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and one of its deputies violated an inmate’s constitutional rights by leaving him unattended long enough for the inmate to kill himself will continue after a district court judge declined to fully grant summary judgment to the county.
7th Circuit remands mandatory-minimum drug case for resentencing
A “dangerous drug” conviction in Arizona is not considered a felony drug offense qualifying for particular federal mandatory minimum sentencing in Indiana under because of differences in definitions, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals determined.
Federal courts propose broad evidence, civil, bankruptcy rule changes
Proposed federal court rule changes released for public comment Wednesday would impose new duties on prosecutors who seek to introduce evidence of a criminal defendant’s prior crimes and on lawyers involved in depositions, among other changes.
Judge: IPS leader may be named in firing suits in student sex case
A federal judge has ruled that Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Lewis Ferebee and other high-ranking IPS officials may be named as defendants in lawsuits by two former school employees. The employees claim they were wrongly fired after IPS botched a response to reports of a sexual relationship between a student and a school counselor.
AG Hill appeals Marion County early voting plan to 7th Circuit
After Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker on Thursday afternoon rejected his motion objecting to Marion County’s plan for early voting, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill turned to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Hill is proceeding over the objection of Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson, whose office is charged by law with election oversight.
AG Hill moves to block Marion County early voting sites
Marion County’s decision to open additional voting centers is being contested by Attorney General Curtis Hill, but the Marion County Election Board disputes his assertion that the agreement to offer more early voting sites is contrary to Indiana law or that the board lacked a unanimous vote.
7th Circuit upholds brother’s liability for $7 million judgment
A caustic business dispute between brothers has resulted in one brother being held personally liable for a $7 million judgment after the 7th Court of Appeals found his conduct supported a piercing the corporate veil judgment against him.
Marion County Jail beating lawsuit proceeds
A judge has refused to dismiss a federal lawsuit in which a man claims guards at the Marion County Jail stomped and beat him, leaving him with broken ribs, then refused to allow him to file a grievance.
Reversal: Plasterer union’s ‘alter ego’ lawsuit reinstated
A union lawsuit alleging that a family plastering business invented an “alter ego” to dodge a judgment against it of nearly $200,000 was reinstated Tuesday by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Attorney awarded $150K for infringement of Indy photo
An Indiana attorney and hobbyist photographer who has sued dozens of people for the unauthorized use of a copyrighted image has been awarded more than $150,000 for the willful infringement of his photo of the Indianapolis skyline.