AUG. 13-26, 2014
Indiana Justice Loretta Rush will be the state’s first female chief justice. Her selection was praised by the governor, attorney general and many others, including friends and former colleagues in her hometown of Lafayette, who say her personality and professionalism make her a natural choice for the position. With the increase in popularity of smartphones and tablets, more people are choosing to use their own devices at work. But attorneys caution that companies need to craft "bring your own device" policies. Lewis Wagner LLP partner Dina Cox explains some of the common mistakes young lawyers make and how they can be avoided.
Top StoriesBack to Top
Companies need to draft ‘bring your own device’ policies
While the convenience of handheld, portable computers enables employees to peruse email, communicate with clients and review documents without being tied to the office, the “bring your own device,” or BYOD, trend is creating tensions between how much access an employer can have to the worker-owned device and how much privacy an employee can expect.
Read More
Loretta Rush wins praise, makes history as new chief justice
Loretta Rush had dinner with friends awhile back in her hometown of Lafayette, but the upcoming chief justice selection didn’t come up. Robert Reiling recalls a nice time talking about family. “I’m sure in Indianapolis she’s Chief Justice Rush,” Reiling said. “In Lafayette, she’s Loretta to everyone.”
Read More
Federal judge, managing partner keep jazz on the radio in northwest Indiana
Each week longtime friends Bill Satterlee, managing partner at Hoeppner Wagner & Evans LLP in Valparaiso, and Kent Lindquist, senior judge for the Bankruptcy Court in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, share their mutual love of jazz by recording a two-hour show that airs Sunday nights on the local public radio station.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Workplace threat injunction deemed invalid
An employee’s reported threat to blow his boss’s head off resulted in an injunction barring him from the workplace, but the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed recently in a case that highlighted conflicting statutes aimed at preventing violence on the job.
Read More
Second court knocks out Indiana’s labor law on constitutional grounds
Two years after Indiana’s right-to-work law fought its way out of the Statehouse, the measure has suffered another knockout blow in a state court. Plaintiffs have successfully convinced two courts that the Indiana Constitution has given the controversial statute a glass jaw.
Read MoreColumn: ENDA would protect sexual orientation, gender identity
With same-sex marriage gaining momentum in Indiana and across the nation, it is no surprise that protection from discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity is most likely on the horizon.
Read MoreGruber: NLRB announcement shakes up joint-employer standard
It is ironic that the week after Burger King’s new CEO is heralded for a profitability plan designed around the increase of franchises and the reduction of company-owned locations, the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board directed officials to treat McDonald’s USA as a “joint employer” with its franchisees for purposes of the National Labor Relations Act.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
Cox: Common mistakes of young lawyers
The practice of law takes practice. Experience is required to hone the skills necessary to be an effective advocate and to keep existing clients satisfied as well as attract new clients. There are, however, some common mistakes made by young lawyers that, with forethought and planning, can be avoided. Work to avoid these bad habits and your learning curve will be significantly shorter.
Read MoreHammerle On … ‘Wish I Was Here,’ ‘Life Itself’
Bob Hammerle says “Wish I Was Here” is one of those overlooked films that answers the question, “Is there anything worth a damn playing in the theater?”
Read MoreRemembering former Indiana Justice Dixon W. Prentice
A former law clerk of Justice Dixon Prentice reflects on his time working with the justice.
Read MoreBook review: Divorce case allows glimpse into amusing law firm matters
It begins with a ten year old’s Happy New Year greeting to her grandpa, including the sentence, “Mommy and Daddy are cranky.” It ends with a brief reminder on a lawyer’s personal legal stationary. In between these handwritten notes, “The Divorce Papers” tells a story about a divorce through legal documents, emails, court filings, news articles, a psychiatric report, statutes, judicial opinions, billable hour reports, invitations, and, of course, offers and counter-offers.
Read MoreMaking Rain: When a room full of strangers freaks you out
As most good rainmakers know, it is all about networking, and sometimes this means talking to people who are total strangers. It can be daunting to attend an event that your firm is sponsoring or a conference that your target market attends and be expected to “go out there and make new friends.”
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
Plea deal rejected for ex-Indiana county auditor
Lawyers are reworking an agreement under which a former county auditor in southern Indiana was expected to plead guilty to criminal charges of wrongly paying personal expenses with county-issued credit cards.
Read MoreEx-US Attorney Hogsett eyes Indy mayoral run
Former U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett says he's considering a 2015 run for mayor of Indianapolis.
Read MoreMcDermott to seek another term as Hammond mayor
Attorney and Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. says he'll seek re-election to that post but still is considering a run for governor in 2016.
Read MoreState courts open bidding for e-filing manager
The Indiana Division of State Court Administration is soliciting competitive bids for a statewide electronic filing manager to assist with the coming requirement for electronic filing in trial courts.
Read MorePublic asked to comment on magistrate’s reappointment
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is accepting comments on whether Magistrate Judge Craig M. McKee should be recommended for reappointment.
Read MoreChange to public employee annuities spurs exodus in Porter County
A northwestern Indiana judge will lose a combined 67 years of experience this month when all three of his employees retire.
Read MoreIU Maurer IP clinic joins select U.S. Patent Office pilot program
The intellectual property clinical program, established earlier this year at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, has been certified for pro bono practice before the U.S. Patent Office.
Read MoreSupreme Court denies blogger’s petition for rehearing
The Indiana Supreme Court will not reconsider its decision affirming Daniel Brewington’s intimidation convictions, which arose from inflammatory posts on a blog that threatened a judge.
Read MoreSpecial SBack to Top
Indiana Court Decisions – July 23 to Aug. 5, 2104
Read recent Indiana opinions from appellate courts.
Read MoreDisciplinary ActionsBack to Top
Bar AssociationsBack to Top
DTCI: The sleeping giant – Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act
Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act, I.C. 24-5-0.5 et seq., is a fairly complicated statute clothed in relative obscurity. The DCSA’s complexity is due partly to the way it is written, its scope, and the numerous cross-references to other conduct and statutes that fall within its purview. This article will introduce the statute, discuss its uses, implications, and its application to various types of transactions.
Read MoreDTCI: Paralegal summer social
The DTCI Paralegal Section Summer Social was held July 17 at The Slippery Noodle Inn in Indianapolis. Twenty current and prospective members of the section attended to hear DTCI director Kevin Tyra speak – and to take advantage of the complimentary refreshments offered by the event sponsor, Connor Reporting.
Read MoreDTCI: North Central Region Trial Academy
Need to enhance your skills as a litigator? Searching for a good trial advocacy seminar? If so, be sure to register today for the 2014 North Central Region Trial Academy! The academy is the only in-depth trial tactics seminar in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin designed by defense attorneys for defense attorneys.
Read MoreAbrams: Sections, Committees and Divisions, Oh My!
Each quarter, I have the opportunity to listen to the chairs of all the Indianapolis Bar Association’s sections, committees and divisions describe accomplishments they have achieved during the past quarter as well as forecast great things to come throughout the balance of the year. There is some amazing work done by these groups – not all of which is known to our members.
Read MoreIndyBar: Indiana Appellate Institute Moots Eight Cases, Raises Thousands for Scholarships
The Indiana Appellate Institute was created by the IndyBar Appellate Practice Section in 2010 as a resource for lawyers throughout the state who have oral arguments scheduled before the Indiana Supreme Court or Indiana Court of Appeals.
Read MoreIndyBar: Road Mapping with 2015 IndyBar President John C. Trimble
The nominations for IndyBar’s 2015 Board of Directors are now open, and it’s up to you to help determine the future of your local bar association! We talked to next year’s president, John C. Trimble of Lewis Wagner LLP, to get a roadmap of what board members can expect from board participation in 2015.
Read MoreIndyBar Names Dickson and Kappes Recipients of 2014 Professionalism Awards
The IndyBar Professionalism Committee has named Chief Justice Brent Dickson of the Indiana Supreme Court the 2014 recipient of the Silver Gavel Award, while Philip “Skip” Kappes of Lewis & Kappes has been awarded the bar’s Professionalism Award.
Read MoreIndyBar to Host Criminal Justice Complex Forum
IndyBar members are invited to attend an upcoming open forum on plans for the city’s proposed consolidated criminal justice complex. The forum will take place Monday, Aug. 18 from 4 to 5 p.m. in the IndyBar Education Center. It is offered to IndyBar members at no charge. Pre-registration is not required.
Read MoreIndyBar: Pro Bono in the Fast Lane!
In the mood for meaningful pro bono service without the long-term commitment? Check out two one-day-only pro bono opportunities coming up soon with the IndyBar!
Read MoreIndyBar: Fellows Demonstrate Community Commitment at Service Events
The Indianapolis Bar Foundation (IBF), the charitable arm of the Indianapolis Bar Association, chooses a new class of Distinguished Fellows each year. Fellows commit to contributing financially to the IBF, but there is also a service component that helps the Fellows give back to the community in a non-legal way.
Read More