Wiretapping complaint involving Pittsboro, Plainfield police will continue
A wiretapping complaint against a Plainfield police captain will continue after a district court judge partially denied the captain’s motion to dismiss.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
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COA sends environmental contamination case to Vanderburgh County
An environmental contamination complaint originally filed in Warrick County must be transferred to Vanderburgh County after the Indiana Court of Appeals found no statutory basis to deny a motion to transfer venue.
Conour still seeking counsel, may proceed pro se at resentencing
Convicted fraudster and former attorney William Conour may be forced to proceed pro se at his second resentencing later this month if his continued search for legal representation is unsuccessful.
Immigration protest’s human chain blocks traffic
A faith-based group critical of Indiana Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly's and Republican Sen. Todd Young's stances on immigration literally took to the streets Tuesday, blocking traffic in front of the federal courthouse in Indianapolis and near both senators' downtown offices.
Pryor joins Southern District as magistrate judge
A new magistrate judge has begun her duties in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, filling a vacancy created by the August death of Magistrate Judge Denise K. LaRue.
Civil forfeiture reform passes General Assembly
A bill to reform many aspects of Indiana’s civil forfeiture proceedings is headed to Gov. Eric Holcomb after receiving unanimous support on final passage from the House of Representatives on Monday. The legislation increases due process protections in such cases.
Retired attorney survives motion to dismiss copyright claim
A retired Indiana attorney has survived a motion to dismiss a copyright infringement claim against a fellow Indiana lawyer regarding a photo of the Indianapolis skyline, the most recent decision in a long line of copyright claims stemming from the disputed photo.
Judge certifies class in Hepatitis C case against DOC
A district court judge has certified a class action against the Indiana Department of Correction and various medical providers, alleging the defendants fail to provide adequate treatment for the class members’ Hepatitis C diagnoses.
Court rules for Amazon worker denied long-term disability
An insurance company’s denial of a long-term disability claim has been remanded by Jane Magnus-Stinson, chief judge for the U.S. District Court for Southern District of Indiana, who called the rejection “unreasonable.”
Bookkeeper pleads guilty to defrauding employer of over $315,000
An Indianapolis woman has agreed to plead guilty to fraud in what prosecutors say was a scheme that over two years nearly bankrupted her employer. The plea was announced Friday by U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler of the Southern District of Indiana, who said Erica Howard, 30, siphoned funds from a family-owned construction company in Franklin.
7th Circuit hears challenge to ‘discriminatory’ abortion ban
A challenge to Indiana’s oft-disputed abortion laws went before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, with the state and ACLU of Indiana once again squaring off on what limits, if any, the state can place on a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy.
Former youth pastor indicted on child exploitation, pornography charges
Federal sex crime charges have been filed against a former youth minister at an Indianapolis church.
Lawyer warned again about criticizing magistrate judge
A lawyer’s arguments on behalf of a client suing Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology for alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act has drawn a second written warning for his claims that a magistrate judge is biased.
Judge ends ‘Tiger Baby Playtime’, halts cub declawing
A federal judge Monday shut down a southern Indiana attraction’s public encounters with tiger cubs. The judge also halted the declawing of tiger cubs and separating them from their mothers so they could be used in “Tiger Baby Playtime” events where people pay to mingle with declawed big cat cubs.
7th Circuit affirms dismissal of Mexican complaints against Indiana company
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the dismissal of a Mexican company’s fraud claims against an Indiana-based Fortune 500 company, finding the Mexican entity failed to allege the company, rather than its Mexican subsidiary, committed any wrongs.
Sweeney nomination sails through Judiciary Committee
The nomination of James Sweeney II to the Southern Indiana District Court brought bipartisan unity Thursday to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary that was divided over other nominees to the federal bench.
Judge orders ex-CEO to pay nearly $850K in SEC farm loan case
A former finance company chief who a court noted had a history of securities law violations has been ordered to pay almost $850,000 in connection with the sale of allegedly shady securities based on farm loans.
Fogle’s errant filing: Being mom to teen girls makes judge biased
Disgraced Subway pitchman Jared Fogle has moved for District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt’s recusal from his child pornography case, alleging the fact that she has teenage daughters creates a bias against him. A major problem with his argument: Pratt has no teenage daughters.
7th Circuit reverses, orders special needs trust group to pay estate
The estate of a woman whose special needs trust was drained under questionable circumstances prevailed Wednesday before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. The founder of the organization that took the money is a suspended Indiana attorney facing charges that he stole from other clients’ trusts. The organization must now repay the estate more than $200,000.
Summary judgment vacated for prison officers accused of beating prisoner
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated summary judgment for two correctional officers accused of attacking a prisoner unprovoked, determining the evidence could support the inference that the prisoner did all he could to exhaust his administrative remedies, yet was prevented from doing so.