‘Historic’ opioid trial raises questions, possible answers
What’s being called a historic trial is underway in Oklahoma — the first against a drugmaker accused of contributing to the opioid crisis.
Olivia Covington
Articles
Hendricks Superior Judge Freese suspended for 45 days
Hendricks Superior Judge Robert W. Freese has been suspended from judicial office without pay for 45 days after appointing a friend as a trustee of an estate case he was presiding over and failing to take action when the friend did not fulfill his duties, resulting in a “massive theft.” Freese’s judicial suspension will take […]
Boom or bust? As firm profits soar, some bracing for recession
The question of another economic recession in the United States is not if it will happen, but when. Roughly a decade since the end of the Great Recession, most economists predict the U.S. economy will take another dip some time in 2020. Businesses, including law firms, are starting to prepare.
Indiana abortion cases highlight rift as fate of Roe uncertain
As legal and moral questions surrounding abortion continue to divide the country, Indiana has been at the center of a wave of new restrictions, with the United States Supreme Court last month issuing a per curiam opinion partially upholding a 2016 Hoosier law.
DNA testing developing, strengthening wrongful conviction cases
The science of DNA testing is evolving, and that’s a good thing for wrongful conviction reform advocates like Fran Watson. She talked about the changes Friday before a session of the Indiana State Bar Association Solo/Small Firm Conference in French Lick.
Supreme Court justices become ‘potential jurors’ at ISBA panel
The tables were turned on the Indiana Supreme Court justices Friday morning. Instead of being the ones to ask the questions, the five justices were treated as potential jurors during a panel discussion at the Indiana State Bar Association Solo/Small Firm Conference in French Lick.
Unruly defendant rightly tossed from court, COA rules
A Montgomery County man thrown out of his own trial for disruptive conduct has failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that he was wrongly denied his right to be present. But the appellate panel did vacate one of the man’s convictions on double jeopardy grounds.
Hendricks Judge Freese suspended 45 days over friend’s estate theft
Hendricks Superior Judge Robert W. Freese has been suspended from judicial office without pay for 45 days after appointing a friend as a trustee of an estate case he was presiding over and failing to take action when the friend did not fulfill his duties, resulting in a “massive theft.”
Supreme Court upholds father’s removal as administrator of son’s estate
The Indiana Supreme Court has upheld the removal of a father as the special administrator of his deceased son’s estate, writing that trial courts should hold hearings on special administrator appointments to avoid confusion caused by a “race to the courthouse.”
Divided Supreme Court upholds suppression of child molesting statements
An accused child molester who was not convicted due to a mistrial has won his argument that incriminating statements he made during a police interrogation were rightfully suppressed during trial because he was not read his Miranda warnings.
Fort Wayne electronic health records company to pay states $900K after data breach
A Fort-Wayne based electronic health records company has agreed to pay $900,000 to settle an Indiana-led multistate lawsuit filed after a data breach compromised the personal health information of nearly 4 million people.
Res judicata leads to remand of CHINS determination
Saying it was “troubled” by how the Department of Child Services chose to litigate two nearly back-to-back child welfare cases, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ordered a trial court to re-evaluate a 2018 CHINS petition without relying on facts that were available for litigation during a 2017 CHINS proceeding.
Judgment for INDOT upheld in fatal crash litigation
Even though the Indiana Department of Transportation declined to install a traffic signal at a Tippecanoe County intersection where a deadly crash later occurred, the Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld summary judgment for the department, finding it was immune from liability under the Indiana Tort Claims Act.
Hill discipline hearing to begin Oct. 21 at Statehouse
The disciplinary case against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is now officially scheduled to be heard during the week of Oct. 21 at the Indiana Statehouse.
Cass County auditor loses appeal of contempt finding
A Cass County elected official who refused to pay out a payroll voucher has failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals to overturn the local trial court’s imposition of a contempt finding against her.
Appeals court upholds removal of Gary reserve officer
A Gary reserve officer suspended but later reinstated must now remain off the force after the Indiana Court of Appeals agreed that the Gary Police Department presented evidence of the reserve officer’s “repeated and blatant noncompliance” with orders.
Tough transition: Young lawyers say early struggles lead to attorney growth
A recent survey of young Florida attorneys found that roughly 58 percent say the practice of law has become “less desirable” to them as their years in practice have increased. But facing difficulties doesn’t mean the next generation of Indiana lawyers are preparing to switch careers. Rather, they say the struggles they encountered, though painful at the time, have improved their skills as client advocates.
Hearing officer Selby sets Hill’s disciplinary case for October
The formal attorney discipline hearing against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill will likely be held in late October, according to former Indiana Supreme Court Justice Myra Selby, the hearing officer in his legal ethics case over accusations of sexual misconduct.
‘Red flag law’ changes narrow language, information gaps
Indiana is considered a leader in the red flag law movement that allows firearms to be confiscated from people deemed dangerous. But with language that some experts considered overly broad and potentially unconstitutional, the Indiana General Assembly revisited that legislation, known as the Jake Laird Law, during the 2019 legislative session.
Civil commitment laws shifting across states
While Indiana justices recently stressed the great public importance of proper adjudication of soaring mental health filings, states across the country are dealing with rising caseloads in no uniform way.