South Bend settles excessive force lawsuit for $15K
The city of South Bend agreed to pay a man $15,000 to end a federal lawsuit alleging that a police officer used excessive force while arresting him during a 2014 traffic stop.
7th Circuit Court of Appeals
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7th Circuit: District courts can order federal, state sentences to run concurrently
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated an Indiana man’s enhanced sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm after finding the district court erred in not recognizing its discretion to require the man’s federal sentence to run concurrent to his unrelated state court sentence.
7th Circuit asks Indiana justices’ guidance in fantasy sports suit
A federal right-to-publicity lawsuit brought against online fantasy sports sites by three former college football players — including a former Indiana University player — may hinge on a question certified to the Indiana Supreme Court by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday.
Indiana law school deans part of effort to revamp clerkship hiring
The deans of Indiana’s four law schools were part of the successful push to change hiring practices for federal judicial clerkship and allow first year students to concentrate on “learning for its own sake.”
Divided 7th Circuit upholds dismissal of transgender man’s name-change suit
A Mexican native with asylum in the United States cannot continue with his suit against various Indiana officials challenging the citizenship requirement in Indiana’s name-change statute after a divided panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found he lacked standing to bring his case.
Hill asks full 7th Circuit to reinstate death penalty for Baer
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill has asked the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate the death penalty for an Indiana man convicted of the “heinous” murders of a Madison County mother and her 4-year-old daughter after a 7th Circuit panel overturned the man’s death penalty sentence last month.
2nd Circuit joins 7th in extending Title VII protections
About 11 months after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals issued its landmark ruling which found Title VII does prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has reached the same conclusion.
U.S. courts seek comments on sexual misconduct in judiciary
Current and former federal judiciary law clerks and other employees can now voice their opinions about sexual misconduct and other inappropriate conduct in the U.S. Courts.
Slower pace follows flurry of same-sex marriage decisions
From the filing of the first complaint in 2014 to an appellate court decision, Indiana’s ban on same-sex marriage was overturned in a little less than seven months. Subsequent cases regarding rights and discrimination against gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender individuals have slowed considerably.
Indiana Court decisions – Feb. 1-14, 2018
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the latest reporting period.
7th Circuit hears challenge to ‘discriminatory’ abortion ban
A challenge to Indiana’s oft-disputed abortion laws went before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, with the state and ACLU of Indiana once again squaring off on what limits, if any, the state can place on a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy.
Republican votes push 7th Circuit nominee Brennan to full Senate
Michael Brennan, Wisconsin nominee to the 7th Circuit of Appeals, was narrowly approved by the U.S. Committee on the Judiciary on a party-line vote Thursday. His nomination now proceeds to the U.S. Senate for a confirmation vote.
7th Circuit to hear arguments over Indiana’s abortion law
Indiana’s controversial law that limits a woman’s ability to obtain an abortion will be argued before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday morning. The 2016 law that was barred from taking effect by a federal judge in Indianapolis will be the subject of oral arguments in an appeal brought by the state.
7th Circuit upholds $87,000 verdict against insurer after house fire
An insurance company must pay $87,000 in damages to an Indiana homeowner whose house burned to the ground after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals determined there was sufficient evidence to support the jury’s damages award.
Trump makes two nominations to 7th Circuit bench
President Donald Trump has nominated two Illinois legal professionals with experience in government litigation for judgeships on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
7th Circuit affirms dismissal of Mexican complaints against Indiana company
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the dismissal of a Mexican company’s fraud claims against an Indiana-based Fortune 500 company, finding the Mexican entity failed to allege the company, rather than its Mexican subsidiary, committed any wrongs.
7th Circuit reverses, orders special needs trust group to pay estate
The estate of a woman whose special needs trust was drained under questionable circumstances prevailed Wednesday before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. The founder of the organization that took the money is a suspended Indiana attorney facing charges that he stole from other clients’ trusts. The organization must now repay the estate more than $200,000.
Summary judgment vacated for prison officers accused of beating prisoner
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated summary judgment for two correctional officers accused of attacking a prisoner unprovoked, determining the evidence could support the inference that the prisoner did all he could to exhaust his administrative remedies, yet was prevented from doing so.
Indiana Court Decisions — Jan. 17-31, 2018
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the latest reporting period.
German company loses appeal of denial of protective order modification
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against a German company seeking to modify a protective order that kept confidential certain discovery documents used in European trade secrets litigation, finding the company failed to show good cause to modify the order.