7th Circuit dogs insurer’s defense
An insurance company’s argument that a houseguest injured by the family dog was legally responsible was mauled, chewed and spit out by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
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Indianapolis woman sues over police dog attack
A woman is suing Indianapolis police after a department police dog injured her while the animal was chasing a suspect last year.
COA affirms plaintiff can’t succeed on environmental action claims
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed Thursday that based on the statute of limitations the owners of contaminated land can’t assert environmental claims against previous owners of the land who contributed to the contamination.
Plaintiffs lose state court challenge to anti-conflict of interest law
The five northern Indiana police officers or firefighters who challenged a state law that would prohibit them from simultaneously also serving in elected office had their suit challenging the 2013 law dismissed Tuesday.
7th Circuit: Insurer must defend against pill mill lawsuit
An insurance company will have to defend its client pharmaceutical distributor in fending off a West Virginia lawsuit seeking restitution for the epidemic of prescription drug abuse.
Judges reinstate woman’s legal malpractice claim
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal of a woman’s complaint against her attorney, finding the trial court improperly dismissed it pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule 12(B)(6).
SCOTUS says judges can recall discharged juries
The Supreme Court of the United States said Thursday that judges may — in rare circumstances — call a jury back to the courtroom after it has delivered a verdict and been dismissed.
Task force debates putting pre-conviction filings online
The Indiana Supreme Court’s Advisory Task Force on Remote Access to and Privacy of Electronic Court Records voted Friday to recommend attorneys and clients have access online to all criminal case filings they are party to after the conviction has been entered, but did not set a date for when that would be available. The task force is considering whether pre-conviction criminal case filings should go online.
Man loses home damage appeal that blamed neighbor’s watering
A man whose Monroe County home was lost to mold contamination lost his appeal of a jury verdict in favor of his neighbor. The homeowner had claimed his neighbor’s excessive watering of her lawn caused water damage to the basement of his home.
COA: Lack of warning signs reinstates suit in fatal crash
The Indiana Court of Appeals found the Hancock County Board of Commissioners was not liable for the way an intersection was designed but found there was an issue of material fact as to whether the county should have installed warning signs there. A man was killed at the intersection in 2009 in a crash with another vehicle, triggering a lawsuit.
Newborn blood sample case appealed to Indiana’s high court
An Indiana couple seeking the destruction of millions of newborn blood samples stored in a state warehouse is appealing their case to the Indiana Supreme Court. The couple’s attorney filed a petition Thursday asking the state high court to take up the case.
Ex-credit union chief loses defamation per se appeal
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for an employer after the president of a company was fired over an executive’s hotline call. The president claimed defamation per se and considered the hotline company liable, but the COA ruled comments made during the call were not defamatory.
COA reinstates ex-boyfriend’s complaint for damages
The Indiana Court of Appeals found a man’s complaints for compensation against his girlfriend for work he did on two houses, including a house they both lived in, should not have been dismissed. The case was remanded to the trial court.
US backs Syrian refugees against Pence at 7th Circuit
The Department of Justice is urging the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago to affirm an Indianapolis district court judge’s ruling that blocked Gov. Mike Pence’s directive to suspend federal aid to Syrian refugees resettled in Indiana.
Judge dismisses sludge lawsuit against Terre Haute
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that alleged the city of Terre Haute and its officials defaulted on an agreement to take out water from waste and use the sludge to make fuel.
Appraiser has no duty of care to real estate seller
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled an appraiser has no duty of care to a seller after he appraised a house for much less than the proposed purchase price. The COA upheld summary judgment for the appraiser in a case where the seller alleged negligence, fraud and slander of title.
Justices give win to Internet site in false data case
The Supreme Court says an Internet search site that posted false information about people can be sued only if the errors caused actual harm.
Civil trial over Colorado theater shooting security begins
Nine months after the Colorado theater shooter was sentenced to life in prison, some victims returned to the same courtroom Monday in hopes of holding the company that owns the suburban Denver movie theater accountable for not doing more to prevent his bloody rampage.
Appellate pleadings and motions going online pushed to July 1
In its third meeting, the Advisory Task Force on Remote Access to and Privacy of Electronic Court Records shifted discussion to what types of trial court cases should be made available online at mycase.in.gov and any potential issues in doing so.
7th Circuit: Company responsible for debts
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a company and its principals need to pay more than $3.5 million to a company it bought supplies from, even though the purchaser accused the seller of price-gouging.