Judges disagree on punitive damages award
The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a compensatory damage award today for a couple that was attacked, but the majority remanded the trial court's punitive damage award because it was excessive.
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The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a compensatory damage award today for a couple that was attacked, but the majority remanded the trial court's punitive damage award because it was excessive.
After spending 22 years as the Indiana Supreme Court’s director of information management, John Newman has decided it’s time to leave state government to pursue his passion for writing. Newman’s last day is July 25. Newman started his career in state government in 1970, taking oral history interviews for the Indiana State Library. He was later named Indiana’s state archivist, a position he held until 1986 when he became the director of information management for the Supreme Court.As court records manager,…
After 17 years on the appellate bench, Judge John T. Sharpnack is retiring today from the Indiana Court of Appeals.Though he’s stepping down as a full-time jurist, Judge Sharpnack plans to continue his work as a senior judge starting Monday; he reaches the constitutionally mandated retirement age of 75 May 7.A 3 p.m. retirement ceremony was planned to mark his departure from the court, with Chief Judge John Baker presiding. Judge Sharpnack’s family, colleagues, former law clerks, and special guests were…
The chief judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals is calling a majority’s decision today a “radical act” in reversing a $45,000 jury verdict in favor of a former Butler University football player who was suspended from the school after being accused of raping a female volleyball player.In Susana Henri v. Stephen Curto, No. 49A02-0709-CV-777, Chief Judge John G. Baker disagreed with his two colleagues – authoring Judge Patricia Riley and Judge Margret Robb, who reversed the Marion County jury decision and…
To help with rising gas prices, the Indiana State Bar Association is offering its employees the option of working just four days a week, although the office will remain open five days a week.About half of the bar association’s 18 employees have taken advantage of the change, allowing them to work four extended days instead of five days with typical business hours. The bar association offices remain open Monday through Friday, and employees stagger their work schedules so the office is…
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles is again involved in a lawsuit involving the use of "God" on a license plate.
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court’s ruling on when an attorney could receive his compensation under a contingency fee agreement, even though the attorney didn’t submit a transcript of the bench trial detailing the trial court’s findings. In Thomas J. Herr v. Carter Lumber Inc., The Carter Jones Lumber Company, and Brian L. Oaks, No. 79A02-0803-CV-290, before ruling on the issue Thomas Herr was appealing – whether the trial court erred in ordering he receive compensation under a…
Attorneys are needed to serve as coaches for mock trial teams at Marian High School in Mishawaka.
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has some practical advice for criminal law attorneys who go before federal judges: have handy a copy of federal criminal procedure rules, particularly those involving plea discussions at sentencing, and don’t be afraid to correct or point out omissions to a judge.
Protecting investments in intellectual property created at life sciences companies is the focus of the seminar in the 2008-2009 Indiana Life Sciences Collaboration Conference Series in Bloomington Nov. 14. This is the second seminar in the series.
A U.S. District magistrate judge granted a joint motion Sept. 2 to vacate a jury verdict in favor of a man wrongfully imprisoned for rape, allowing a settlement reached between the man and the city of Hammond to be approved.
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a trial court’s dismissal of an action against the Family and Social Services Administration regarding the denial of Medicaid applications, finding the FSSA relied on an incorrect statute to justify the denial of new evidence supporting a disability claim on the appellate level. In William Curtis, Gary Stewart, and Walter Raines, on behalf of themselves and those similarly situated v. E. Mitchell Roob Jr., as Secretary of Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, and Jeff…
The state’s highest court has agreed to hear a case involving $16 million of East Chicago riverboat casino revenues and whether a private business can shield its financial records from the public.The Indiana Supreme Court granted transfer Aug. 14 in Steve Carter v. East Chicago Second Century, et al., No. 49A02-0708-CV-722. The case concerns the attorney general’s request last year for a public accounting of money disbursed to Second Century from the state-licensed riverboat, which eventually became Harrah’s.In a March ruling,…
The Indiana Court of Appeals this week declined to take an interlocutory appeal on a case accusing the Archdiocese of Indianapolis of covering up an ex-priest’s history of sexual abuse.In denying the case of Archdiocese of Indianapolis, et al. v. John Doe NM, 49A05-0802-CV-00075, the court has given its go ahead for the Marion County civil suit to proceed to trial; it would be the first of 13 against the archdiocese to survive summary judgment. The suit was brought by a…
The Indiana Supreme Court is one of 13 international finalists being recognized for recent technology efforts, which include the case management system being phased in statewide to connect all county courts.
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a grant of summary judgment in favor of a national pizza chain and its employee, finding there were genuine issues of fact as to whether the employee’s statement to police was protected by privilege. In Thomas Williams and Sanford Kelsey v. Kelly Eugene Tharp and Papa John’s U.S.A. Inc., No. 29A02-0707-CV-625, Thomas Williams and Sanford Kelsey appealed the trial court grant of summary judgment in favor of Papa John’s on their claims for defamation, false imprisonment,…
The Indiana Supreme Court granted transfer to five cases Aug. 14, including a case that asks whether a defendant has the right to confront the lab technician who prepared a certificate of analysis. The high court granted transfer to Richard Pendergrass v. State of Indiana, No. 71A03-0712-CR-588, in which the Indiana Court of Appeals in July affirmed Richard Pendergrass’ convictions of child molesting. The appellate court ruled Pendergrass’ Sixth Amendment right to confrontation wasn’t violated with the admittance of a certificate of analysis…
Indianapolis attorney and businessman Michael Maurer is giving $35 million to the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington, which has been renamed in his honor.
The 7th Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions Committee is accepting public comments regarding the proposed Family and Medical Leave Act pattern civil jury instructions for the Circuit Court. The committee welcomes comment before submission to the Circuit Council for approval and promulgation. Congress on Jan. 28 extended FMLA eligibility to include employees who need time off to handle certain qualifying “exigencies” related to certain family members’ service or call-up for service in a war, national emergency, or military operation designated by the…
Hoosiers will soon be asked whether “ambulance chasing” attorneys should have to wait 30 days after an accident or injury before directly contacting potential clients by mail.