Hamilton to lead 7th Circuit review of harassment policies
Judge David Hamilton of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has been appointed to chair a committee to review policies for reporting and handling harassment within the federal jurisdiction.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Articles
Two ex-nursing home execs to plead guilty in kickback scheme
Two former executives with a company that operates dozens of Indiana nursing homes have agreed to plead guilty in a kickback scheme involving millions of dollars. Court documents unsealed this week show that former American Senior Communities CEO James Burkhart and former Chief Operating Officer Daniel Benson, both 52, have reached plea deals.
IU wins after sued by fired director accused of sexual harassment
A district court judge has granted summary judgment to Indiana University’s School of Dentistry and high-ranking members of its faculty after finding the school did not violate a former clinic director’s rights by firing him for alleged sexual harassment of students.
7th Circuit affirms ruling for employer on discrimination claims
Indiana’s Southern District Court properly granted summary judgment to a black man on a discrimination case against his former employer after finding the man failed to prove his termination was based on discriminatory practices, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.
District court rules language in Indiana abortion statute void for vagueness
In the most recent decision in a lengthy legal battle over the constitutionality of Indiana’s abortion laws, a district court judge has struck down language that would prohibit the receipt, sale, transfer or acquiring of aborted fetal tissue.
Top 10 legal stories of 2017 focus on law schools, court changes
The closing of 4-year-old Indiana Tech Law School in Fort Wayne, and the revelation that 138-year-old Valparaiso University Law School faced an uncertain future, made law school troubles the top legal news story of 2017, as determined by the staff of Indiana Lawyer. Changes on the federal and state bench also were among the year’s top stories.
Amended Southern District rules to take effect Jan. 1
The Indiana Southern District Court will implement new rules relating to Social Security appeals and indigent defense fee agreements when two amendments take effect on Jan. 1.
Ex-Vigo school administrator convicted in kickback scheme
A former Vigo County school district administrator has been convicted in a multi-year kickback scheme that federal authorities say cost the district more than $100,000.
Attorney sanctioned $500 for ‘frivolous and misleading motion’
The most recent development in copyright litigation challenging the use of a retired attorney’s copyrighted photo of the Indianapolis skyline has resulted in another Indianapolis attorney being sanctioned in federal court for filing a frivolous and misleading motion.
Judge gives Fogle another avenue to challenge sentence
A federal judge is giving former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle another chance to seek relief from his 15-year prison sentence after striking down the most recent of his objections to his sentence on Wednesday.
Southern District’s Lawrence to take senior status in 2018
Judge William T. Lawrence for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, has announced his decision to take senior status July 1, 2018, creating another opening in the Southern District that already has one judicial vacancy and is still recovering from the loss of two colleagues.
Civic education endowment started in McKinney’s honor
To support its civic education programs, the Indiana Bar Foundation is starting an endowment and will name it after one of the civic education’s biggest cheerleaders – the late Larry McKinney, senior judge with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
7th Circuit upholds qualified immunity
The Department of Correction’s religious director was entitled to qualified immunity on a complaint alleging he violated two Jewish plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights by failing to delay their transfer to a facility that did not offer Jewish group worship services, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday.
Hill moves to intervene in case restricting local ICE detentions
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill has filed a motion to intervene in a federal immigration case after a district court judge entered a consent decree barring the Marion County Sheriff’s Office from detaining illegal immigrants for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement without a warrant or probable cause. The decree implicates the state’s ability to enforce its own statutes, Hill argued, thus creating the need for the state to intervene and file an appeal.
Citing civil forfeiture ruling, trial court returns seized property
Nearly four months after a district court judge struck down portions of Indiana’s civil forfeiture statute as unconstitutional, the effects of that decision are now being felt in Indiana’s trial courts, where a judge has ordered the return of seized property pursuant to the district court’s ruling.
Negligence claim against GM, contractor to continue after deadly explosion
A negligence claim against General Motors and two independent contractors stemming from a deadly explosion at a Grant County GM plant will continue after a district court judge denied in part the defendants’ motions for summary judgment.
Indianapolis attorney pleads guilty to immigration fraud
An Indianapolis immigration attorney has pleaded guilty to filing false visa applications for more than 250 clients and collecting $750,000 in fraudulent fees.
First Amendment suit challenging Charter School Act proceeds
A federal lawsuit alleging Indiana’s Charter School Act violates the First Amendment Establishment Clause will proceed after a district court judge declined to dismiss a portion of the complaint against a Monroe County charter school.
Magnus-Stinson, Minkler warn Hoosiers of jury duty scam
A federal judge and prosecutor in Indianapolis are warning Hoosiers about a nationwide jury duty scam that threatens people with arrest if they don’t pay up.
Indiana Bar Foundation to honor servant-leaders in law and education
Fifteen Hoosiers will be honored during the Indiana Bar Foundation’s recognition dinner in December for their contributions to the legal profession, pro bono legal services, civic education, and the public through community service.