Articles

Indiana leads 20-state coalition’s whistleblower brief

A scheme to award a multi-million-dollar no-bid subcontract to provide security in Iraq during the cleanup of munitions has put the spotlight on the federal False Claims Act and raised concerns among states, including Indiana, that a narrower interpretation of the long-standing statute could impact their ability to recover in whistleblower complaints.

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Charlestown residents challenging sale of water utility

A group of residents from Charlestown is challenging the sale of the local water utility to Indiana-American Water, a transaction that comes with a $13.4 million price tag. Charlestown officials say the sale will improve the local water quality in the long run while mitigating rate increases, but the challenging residents claim the opposite.

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Legal aid initiative enables those with disabilities

Tangram, a nonprofit in Indianapolis that provides support for individuals with disabilities, joined forces in 2016 with Indiana Legal Services to launch the Providing Legal Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities initiative. PLAID assistance has since improved the lives of hundreds of clients statewide.

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Judiciary faces ‘political’ task in border wall emergency declaration

The question for courts hearing challenges to President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration is not as simple as deciding whetherthe action is legal; they also must determine the extent of congressional and presidential powers, the meaning of relevant statutes and how much deference to give a president asserting executive authority.

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SCOTUS to determine when permits are necessary to pollute navigable waters

The US Supreme Court is reviewing a lower court ruling that seemingly expands the Clean Water Act. Under the 9th Circuit’s decision, any pollutant found in navigable water that is “fairly traceable” to a permittable discharge source is subject to permitting requirements, even if the source of the pollutant does not discharge directly into a navigable water.

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SCOTUS decision in Timbs civil forfeiture case just a start

The US Supreme Court decision in a landmark Indiana civil forfeiture case ruled that the Eighth Amendment Excessive Fines Clause is incorporated to the states, but Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s opinion declined to answer one key question: When does the Eighth Amendment prohibit civil forfeiture?

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Legislation aims to tame ‘Wild West’ nature of land contracts

A bill that passed through the Indiana House 82-14 and is now in the Senate would protect families from predatory land contracts. Provisions would require buyers be told the value of the property and how much they will ultimately pay for it if they complete the terms of the agreement, among other protections.

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Dialysis facility’s breach of contract claims pre-empted

A medical facility that provided regular, life-sustaining dialysis treatments lost its appeal seeking to recover more than $1.5 million from its patients’ benefit plans when the Indiana Court of Appeals found the facility’s claims were pre-empted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

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Jennings County escape suspect gets away at courthouse

Authorities are searching for a southern Indiana jail inmate who has escaped from custody. Law enforcement officials say Jennings County Jail inmate Kimlynn Patton escaped Friday in the area of the Jennings County Courthouse in Vernon.

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Boy, 17, to face murder charges in case of 2 missing teens

A prosecutor says a teenage boy will be charged with murder in connection with the disappearance of two northwestern Indiana teenagers. Porter County Prosecutor Gary Germann said Sunday the 17-year-old boy is expected to be charged Monday with two counts of murder related to the disappearance of eighteen-year-old Thomas M. Grill, Jr. and 19-year-old Molley R. Lanham.

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Howard County sending texts to defendants about hearings

A central Indiana county has started sending text messages to criminal defendants to remind them about their upcoming court hearings. Howard County authorities hope the texting service that began in February can hold down the county jail’s population and reduce the resources law enforcement must devote to tracking down people who miss court appearances.

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