Editor

Olivia joined Indiana Lawyer as a reporter in September 2016 and was promoted to managing editor in April 2018. Olivia has experience reporting on local, state, and federal government entities, including the state and federal court systems. She has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists for her work individually and with the Indiana Lawyer staff each year since she joined IBJ Media.

First job: Watering flowers around the yard for my dad
Favorite movie: Tie between The Devils Wear Prada and Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Favorite book: Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (seeing a pattern?)
Personal hype song: “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
Hobbies: Reading, biking, taking walks, listening to music

Articles

District court strikes part of state’s civil forfeiture law

Amid discussions on legislative reform to Indiana’s civil forfeiture framework, a federal judge has ruled part of that framework unconstitutional, determining the process by which the state can seize someone’s property before an official forfeiture action violates due process protections.

Read More

7th Circuit upholds sex discrimination judgment for employer

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a woman’s sex discrimination and retaliation claims against her former employer, finding she failed to prove she was fired from her longtime job because of her gender or because she took protected medical leave.

Read More

7th Circuit affirms convictions in heroin conspiracy

A couple convicted in a heroin conspiracy will not have their convictions overturned after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals determined the district court did not err in its rulings on the composition of the jury, jury instructions or sentencing decisions.

Read More

Indy-based Wine & Canvas loses trademark infringement appeal

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the grant of summary judgment to a California wine and canvas company on a series of trademark infringement claims, finding the original Indiana parent company to the California business failed to prove any of its claims on appeal.

Read More

Law enforcement granted summary judgment after mistaken arrest

Despite a typographical error that prompted northern Indiana law enforcement officers to arrest, and later release, a man who was mistakenly alleged to have violated a protective order, a district court judge has granted summary judgment to the officers on the man’s wrongful arrest claims, finding the officers had arguable probable cause to make the arrest.

Read More

Supreme Court: Union County lacks standing to sue INDOT

The Indiana Supreme Court has affirmed the dismissal of a case seeking declaratory judgment and an injunction against the Indiana Department of Transportation, finding the local government entity bringing the action against INDOT lacked standing to do so.

Read More

COA: Attack on wrestling event attendee was unforeseeable

A woman who was injured in an attack while walking from a Bartholomew County wrestling event to her car cannot succeed on her negligence claim against the wrestling company because the attack was not foreseeable, so the company did not owe a duty to her, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled.

Read More

High court defers to jury’s judgment, affirms enhanced meth conviction

Deferring to the role of a jury to hear evidence and draw related inferences, the Indiana Supreme Court has affirmed a man’s enhanced conviction of dealing meth within 500 feet of a public park, finding the jury was in the best position to determine if children were “reasonably expected” to be at the park at the time of the crimes.

Read More

Life without parole affirmed for second brother in Richmond Hill explosion

A man convicted as one of the masterminds of a deadly conspiracy to blow up a home on the south side of Indianapolis and collect the insurance money will spend the rest of his life in prison after the Indiana Supreme Court affirmed his murder convictions and the constitutionality of Indiana’s life without parole statute.

Read More

COA approves permit for Traders Point-area gas station

An Indianapolis property developer can move forward with his plans to build a gas station and convenience story in the city after the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday the developer was properly awarded a permit for his building project.

Read More

Probation revocation affirmed for man convicted of raping 92-year-old woman

An Indiana trial court was not required to hold a competency hearing before revoking a man’s probation on a rape conviction because the man did not request such a hearing and did not prove that his mental illness was so severe as to relieve him of criminal responsibility for violating his probation, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.

Read More