Court rejects challenge to regulation of gun silencers
The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to federal regulation of gun silencers Monday, just days after a gunman used one in a shooting rampage that killed 12 people in Virginia.
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Justices hear 3 transfer cases, split over 3 more
Out of 25 cases, the Indiana Supreme Court chose only to hear three on petition to transfer, all of which the justices decided last week. Justices unanimously agreed to deny transfer in most of the cases but split over three cases it ultimately rejected to hear.
COA to hear wrongful death appeal at Indy community center
Whether claims from a deceased man’s estate allege facts that fall under Indiana’s Medical Malpractice Act after he died from a leg injury will be argued during an Appeals on Wheels oral argument Wednesday at the Indianapolis Jewish Community Center.
Judge denies police defamation claims in Indiana wiretapping
A northern Indiana judge has ruled that a former South Bend councilman did not defame four police officers targeted in a long-running wiretapping case when he sought a federal probe of potential racial bias in the police department.
Judge: School district violated transgender students’ rights
A federal judge has found that an Indiana school district violated a transgender student’s civil rights by not allowing him to use male bathrooms at school.
COA affirms BZA’s denial of fire department’s residential property use
A Southern Indiana volunteer fire department faced the heat after the Indiana Court of Appeals sided with a local board of zoning appeals to deny the department’s application to use a residential home as an emergency sub-station.
7th Circuit debt collection ruling creates split among circuits
A woman who wasn’t informed she needed to respond to a debt collection letter in writing lost at the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, whose ruling that the collection agency simply made a mistake that didn’t cause her any injury created a split among circuit courts. Three judges authored a published dissent from a subsequent denial of rehearing en banc.
Justices: Trucking contract jurisdiction dispute may yield new rules
The Indiana Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of a Hoosier trucking company’s amended complaint regarding a clause in a driver’s contract, although it found error with the dismissal’s basis on lack of personal jurisdiction. Justices also said this case will prompt consideration of rules so litigants can move to enforce contractual forum-selection clauses.
Judge questions reasons for Indiana abortion procedure ban
A federal judge grilled an attorney for the state of Indiana on Monday over whether the Legislature had legitimate reasons for approving a law that would largely ban a second-trimester abortion procedure.
Supreme Court upholds father’s removal as administrator of son’s estate
The Indiana Supreme Court has upheld the removal of a father as the special administrator of his deceased son’s estate, writing that trial courts should hold hearings on special administrator appointments to avoid confusion caused by a “race to the courthouse.”
South Bend abortion clinic gets go-ahead from federal judge
A federal judge has granted an abortion provider’s motion for a preliminary injunction to open the doors of a South Bend abortion clinic without a state-required license, prompting an immediate appeal from the state.
Fort Wayne electronic health records company to pay states $900K after data breach
A Fort-Wayne based electronic health records company has agreed to pay $900,000 to settle an Indiana-led multistate lawsuit filed after a data breach compromised the personal health information of nearly 4 million people.
Amish couple settles lawsuit over photos their faith forbids
An Amish couple with 13 children settled a lawsuit that accused federal officials of violating their constitutional rights by insisting they provide photographs of themselves before the Canadian wife’s request to become a permanent U.S. resident can be approved.
Judgment for INDOT upheld in fatal crash litigation
Even though the Indiana Department of Transportation declined to install a traffic signal at a Tippecanoe County intersection where a deadly crash later occurred, the Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld summary judgment for the department, finding it was immune from liability under the Indiana Tort Claims Act.
Web Exclusive: Free expungement service coming to Bloomington
A new partnership has formed between Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Indiana Legal Services and New Leaf New Life to launch an Expungement Help Desk in Bloomington this fall.
‘Red flag law’ changes narrow language, information gaps
Indiana is considered a leader in the red flag law movement that allows firearms to be confiscated from people deemed dangerous. But with language that some experts considered overly broad and potentially unconstitutional, the Indiana General Assembly revisited that legislation, known as the Jake Laird Law, during the 2019 legislative session.
Civil commitment laws shifting across states
While Indiana justices recently stressed the great public importance of proper adjudication of soaring mental health filings, states across the country are dealing with rising caseloads in no uniform way.
Judge rules for Hendricks County deputy in mentally ill man’s slaying
A federal judge has ruled in favor of several parties, including a Hendricks County sheriff’s deputy, after a mentally ill man was fatally shot during a welfare check.
U.S. House committee approves $135 million boost to legal aid funding
The Legal Services Corporation got a fast start in the federal budget process Wednesday after the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved a large financial boost of $550 million to the civil legal aid organization.
COA: No error in ruling over disputed gravel driveway
A dispute between two neighbors concerning who was permitted use a gravel driveway splitting their properties ended in favor of a woman who argued she paid taxes and had been using the entry for more than 20 years before her neighbors showed up.