NOV. 6-19, 2013
Fort Wayne attorney Bob Kistler uses his military experience and legal expertise to lift Honor Flights to new heights.The Kokomo attorney who skipped town left his practice "a mess," according to the attorney surrogate appointed by the court. The idea of limited legal licensing programs are gaining traction in the legal community, concerning some practicing attorneys.
Top StoriesBack to Top
Kokomo lawyer skips town, leaving ‘mess’ behind
A Kokomo lawyer’s sudden abandonment of his law practice has left the local legal community scrambling to clean up a mess involving scores of ripped-off clients, some of whom learned of their attorney’s disappearance when they showed up for court dates and he didn’t.
Read More
County official puts Indiana’s expungement statute on trial
Morgan County Prosecutor Steve Sonnega has heard the criticism that he’s on the wrong side of the law when he argues that Indiana’s expungement statute is unconstitutional. But he insists he’s right.
Read MoreIs a death certificate public information?
Differing interpretations of statutory language puts the state of Indiana and the Court of Appeals at odds.
Read MoreLimited licensing programs gain traction in the legal community
The idea of non-lawyers practicing law sparks howls of protest from attorneys but with a handful of state seriously considering the proposition and a national committee recommending the concept, the push toward limited licenses is gaining momentum.
Read MoreFilings continue to drop, as does funding for Indiana courts
A sharp decline in infraction and ordinance-violation cases is among factors that resulted in courts around the state collecting considerably less revenue, according to data released in the annual Judicial Service Reports.
Read More
Lawyer expertise and experience lift Honor Flight to new heights
Law brings people together but not often for positive reasons. Fortunately for Bob Kistler, an associate at Faegre Baker Daniels LLP in Fort Wayne, the law and a fellow lawyer forged his connection to Honor Flight.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Technology levels the legal playing field
Attorneys find hardware and software make them more effective and efficient.
Read More
Program provides lawyers trial run at oral argument
A novel program offered by the Indianapolis Bar Association and the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, the Indiana Appellate Institute gives lawyers a trial run in which they can practice their arguments before a panel of volunteer lawyers and sometimes former judges and justices.
Read MoreColumn: The changing landscape of determining venue
Following the United States Supreme Court’s decision in M/S Bremen v. Zapata Off-Shore Co., 407 U.S. 1 (1972), many Circuit courts have held that a valid forum-selection clause renders venue “improper” in a forum other than the one designated by contract. This term, the U.S. Supreme Court will address whether forum-selection clauses in contracts warrant dismissal or transfer of a case filed in an appropriate federal venue but in contravention of the forum-selection clauses.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
Dean’s Desk: Law schools can’t be good, fast and cheap
It is no secret that legal education has faced criticism in recent years. In fact, a virtual cottage industry has developed around the topic. Entire websites and blogs are devoted to the theme, some specializing in cynical and sarcastic commentary.
Read MoreColumn: Decision provides protection from ERISA retaliation
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a key decision affecting the rights of employees who complain internally to their employers about failures to properly fund employee benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
Read MoreHammerle on … ‘Rush,’ ‘The Counselor’
Bob Hammerle says you could have no interest in Formula One racing but still enjoy “Rush.”
Read MoreSidebars: Westville eatery delights with oven-baked items
We give Olga’s Place Pizzeria & Restaurant 4 gavels!
Read MoreStart Page: Voices from the cloud
VOIP offers many attractive features. Among them, “cloud based” access to your office phone system. Conferencing, voice mail-to-email, call attendant services, cheap long distance, find me/follow me, etc., are the new normal.
Read MoreFinney: Is trial technology a reasonable and necessary expense?
A recent decision from the Nevada District Court, Clark County, demonstrated that technology at trial is a valued component and not merely a dog-and-pony show. The dispute at hand centered upon unpaid expenses for trial technology that had been deemed as not a “reasonable and necessary” expense.
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
Law School Briefs – 11/6/13
Law School Briefs highlights news from law schools in Indiana.
Read More
David, Massa stake key positions on court
A review of the work of the Indiana Supreme Court in 2012 by Barnes & Thornburg LLP attorneys finds Justices Steven David and Mark Massa establishing themselves respectively as swing votes and active dissenters.
Read MoreSpecial SBack to Top
Indiana Court Decisions – Oct. 16 to 29, 2013
Read recent decisions from Indiana’s appellate courts.
Read MoreDisciplinary ActionsBack to Top
Bar AssociationsBack to Top
DTCI: What is the proper jury instruction on the state-of-the-art presumption?
This is a bait-and-switch article. It applies to instructing the jury on the continuing effect of rebuttable presumptions in all civil cases. It just so happens that one of the best examples is the presumption of no liability under Indiana’s Product Liability Act. That presumption is broader than just the state-of-the-art defense.
Read MoreDTCI: Trimble receives ISBA Presidential Citation
John C. Trimble, former president of DTCI, was honored with a Presidential Citation by the Indiana State Bar Association for his exceptional contribution to the profession of law and the residents of Indiana.
Read MoreBlomquist: A Shout Out for Humility and Knowing When to Ask
You are probably receiving your IndyBar membership renewal forms right about now. Take a moment to review the new format to realize that the legal world is indeed your oyster.
Read MoreIndyBar Green Legal Initiative Recognizes 27 Firms, Legal Departments for 2013
The IndyBar Go Green Committee, a sub-committee of the Young Lawyers Division, has released its list of Green Legal Initiative firms for 2013. Now in its second year, the program recognizes legal businesses, including law practices, legal departments, courts, agencies, legal support services and other members of the community that have committed to engaging in environmentally responsible business operations.
Read MoreAround the IndyBar: Hon. Tanya Walton Pratt Honored with 2013 Antoinette Dakin Leach Award
Hon. Tanya Walton Pratt of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana was honored with the Women and the Law Division’s Antoinette Dakin Leach Award at the Antoinette Dakin Leach Award Celebration Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 25.
Read MoreHelp Others and Get Free CLE: IndyBar to Co-Host Pro Bono Trainings
The IndyBar Pro Bono Standing Committee, along with other legal and community organizations, will co-host two pro bono program trainings in the coming weeks.
Read MoreIndyBar: Plus CLE Expanded to All Sections, Divisions for 2014
Times are changing in the world of mandatory continuing legal education (CLE). At one time, few providers for continuing legal education existed in the state. Now, a simple Google search for continuing legal education in Indianapolis nets more than 80,000 results.
Read MoreIndyBar: Public Outreach Committee Hosts Mock Election
Students at Shortridge Magnet High School for Law and Public Policy got a first-hand taste of the democratic process on Thursday, Oct. 31 as the IndyBar Public Outreach Committee hosted a mock election among eighth graders for a class representative to the school’s Student Council.
Read More