Frost Brown Todd motors into Michigan, opens Ann Arbor office
Frost Brown Todd has expanded its midwestern footprint by opening an office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, its first in the state.
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Indiana logs on to Facebook investigation
The Indiana Attorney General’s office is among the 47 nationwide that have joined a multistate antitrust investigation into Facebook, focusing on the social media giant’s dominance in the industry and the potential for anticompetitive conduct.
COA affirms for insurer in litigation dispute
Deciding an issue of first impression, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a favorable ruling for an insurance company following arguments that it had no obligation to defend former customers in outside litigation.
Supreme Court takes oral argument to Parke Heritage High School
Indiana Supreme Court justices will travel to Parke Heritage High School on Tuesday to hear oral arguments in the civil negligence case of Cavanaugh’s Sports Bar & Eatery, Ltd. v. Eric Porterfield, 18A-CT-1814.
Divided COA dismisses negligence suit in fatal helicopter crash
A divided Indiana Court of Appeals panel ruled for three aerospace defendants in a negligence case brought by victims of a fatal helicopter crash that took place in Mississippi, finding Indiana has no personal jurisdiction in the matter.
Founder of Scotty’s restaurants says chain’s failure led to personal bankruptcy
Scott Wise, the founder and former owner of the Scotty’s Brewhouse chain, has filed for personal bankruptcy — a situation he says was brought on by the failure of his former business.
What’s the next step? The nuances of business succession planning
Indiana estate planning and business succession attorneys say often, business owners don’t like to think about what might happen to their company if they were no longer able to run it. This is also true nationwide, with Forbes reporting that 30% of businesses don’t have a formal estate plan in place.
Federal agents shut down Indianapolis gun dealer, seize more than 300 firearms
ATF and local law enforcement agents shut down an Indianapolis gun dealer accused of being operated by a felon banned from possessing or selling firearms. Authorities seized about 390 firearms Tuesday after the dealer’s operator was previously charged with violating federal firearms law.
7th Circuit: Corruption concerns regarding ex-Biomet employee not defamation
A former Biomet employee has lost his argument before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that he was defamed by his former employer when it included his name in a list for the Department of Justice as part of a corruption investigation.
Lawyer who owns Brown County’s Story Inn dies at 63
Richard “Rick” Hofstetter, the lawyer-turned-businessman who operated the popular Story Inn in southern Brown County, died Oct. 1. He was 63.
Justices to hear sales rep’s nonsolicitation dispute with ex-employer
Indiana Supreme Court justices will hear oral argument next week in a dispute between a medical components company and one of its former employees after several other former employees left the company to take sales positions together elsewhere.
Pharmacy owner sentenced to 33 months for making over-potent drugs
The former owner and CEO of Pharmakon Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Noblesville was sentenced Wednesday to 33 months in prison for manufacturing and selling drugs that were as much as 25 times more potent than they should have been.
Ruling for Madison County upheld in inmate housing lease dispute
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a ruling for Madison County in a lease dispute with a property manager that housed county inmates before the county backed out of the agreement years early.
Maxim party host that sued IMS, then lost $75K in countersuit, loses appeal
A federal appeals court upheld a jury’s award of $75,000 to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a breach of contract lawsuit brought by an event-planning company that had sued IMS due to poor ticket sales at a party marking the 100th running of the Indy 500.
Growing for success: Law firms still looking for merger opportunities, but fewer partners available
With its impending entrance into the Minneapolis market, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is set to expand its footprint to 12 cities, grow its roster of attorneys to more than 600 and take a step closer to its goal of becoming a regionally dominant law firm. While law firm merger activity in the Hoosier State is increasing, the recently announced Taft deal is among the largest in recent years.
IU Maurer launches nation’s first family office practice program
Students interested in working for family offices or firms with family office service practices can now receive training through a newly launched Indiana University Maurer School of Law program. IU Maurer’s family office practice program will be the first in the nation to target the specific practice area, the school announced Thursday.
Judge to rule on unsealing redacted Equifax complaint
An Indianapolis judge is deciding whether information in a complaint alleging Equifax could have, but failed to, prevent one of the largest cybersecurity breaches in United States history must be unsealed and made accessible to the public.
COA reinstates car seller’s defamation, breach suit
An auto financing company took a hit after the Indiana Court of Appeals reinstated a car dealer’s breach of contract and defamation complaints in a dispute over vehicles purchased at auction.
Reports: OxyContin maker negotiating possible $12B settlement
Purdue Pharma and the thousands of state and local governments suing the maker of OxyContin over the nation’s deadly opioid crisis are negotiating a $10 billion to $12 billion settlement under which the Sackler family would give up ownership of the company, according to published reports.
Ethanol producer blames Cloverdale plant closure on Trump EPA
The owner of a western Indiana ethanol plant is blaming its shutdown on the Trump administration allowing some refineries to not blend ethanol with gasoline as required under federal law.