Five more senior judges certified, re-certified for 2019
The Indiana Supreme Court has certified and re-certified an additional five judicial officers as senior judges for 2019.
Courts
Articles
Medicaid thief loses appeal of ‘vulnerable victim’ convictions
A woman who defrauded a technology illiterate physician out of more than $80,000 lost her appeal Thursday when the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found the woman took advantage of the doctor’s "remarkable" computer illiteracy for personal financial gain.
Wave of concussion lawsuits to test NCAA’s liability
The Indianapolis-based NCAA is facing more than 300 lawsuits from former college football players who claim their concussions were mistreated, leading to medical problems spanning from headaches to depression and, in some cases, early onset Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.
Man arrested for breaking into Mellencamp’s Indiana home
An Indianapolis man has been arrested after ramming his SUV through a security gate at the home of rocker John Mellencamp and kicking in a door. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department said 48-year-old Robert P. Carter was arrested about 6 a.m. Thursday by officers responding to an alarm at Mellencamp’s home outside Bloomington.
Northern District nominees sent to Senate floor after judiciary committee votes
Holly Brady and Damon Leichty, nominees to the Northern Indiana District Court, are a step closer to confirmation after the US. Senate Committee on the Judiciary voted in favor of their nominations Thursday and sent their names to the Senate floor.
Indiana, Ohio leading 6th Circuit appeal supporting law regulating Kentucky abortion clinics
The Hoosier state has filed its second abortion-related appeal this week, this time urging a federal appeals court to uphold states’ authority to regulate abortion clinics. Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill joined forces with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to lead a 16-state coalition in favor of a Kentucky law requiring abortion clinics to maintain transfer-and-transportation agreements with local hospitals and ambulance services.
7th Circuit dismisses ex-bank worker’s appeal of district court remand to state court
A former bank employee lost his appeal of a remand order that moved his lawsuit from federal to state court and imposed sanctions for wrongful removal, with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals finding there was no abuse of discretion and that the untimeliness of the initial removal to federal court was not made in ignorance.
Retired driver Derek Daly seeks at least $25M from WISH-TV in defamation suit
Retired race car driver and former motorsports broadcaster Derek Daly on Thursday filed a defamation lawsuit in Hamilton County seeking at least $25 million from his former employer, WISH-TV Channel 8, and its parent company, Irving, Texas-based Nexstar Media Group Inc.
Judicial clerkship pilot to expose Maurer 1Ls to rural practice
The Indiana University Maurer School of Law and the Indiana Supreme Court have announced a pilot program in which up to five 1L students committed to public service will work with judges throughout the state.
Holcomb appoints prosecutor as newest Lake County judge
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has appointed a prosecuting attorney with violent crimes experience to fill a judicial vacancy on the Lake County bench. Holcomb announced Wednesday that Aleksandra Dimitrijevic will succeed Lake Superior Judge Jesse M. Villalpando.
Officers recognize, arrest woman who barked at police dog
An Indiana woman who barked at a police dog attracted the attention of officers, who then arrested her on outstanding warrants. Lafayette police say officers were conducting a traffic stop Monday when 20-year-old Kiana Champagne Fletcher, who was standing in front of her home, began barking at a police dog sniffing the stopped car.
Prosecutors: Hoosier man, ex-girlfriend plotted to kill ex-wife in New Jersey
Authorities say an Indiana man and his former girlfriend plotted to have his ex-wife killed in New Jersey. Federal prosecutors say Narsan Lingala, a 55-year-old Middlesex County, New Jersey, resident, and 52-year-old Sandya Reddy, both of Noblesville, are each charged with murder-for-hire.
Bill: Public servants who steal would repay from pensions
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code on Wednesday unanimously stripped a proposed bill of language that would have required Indiana public officials to serve prison time for theft of taxpayer dollars. In its place, the committee added a provision to recoup any monetary losses from the pension funds of officials convicted of theft.
State, national groups support Indiana public defense reform
Leaders of state and national criminal justice organizations are declaring their support for the Indiana Public Defender Commission’s reform initiative, which the commission is presenting to the Indiana General Assembly this year in an effort to secure additional funds to expand and improve indigent defense services statewide.
Suit seeks to require counsel for kids in CHINS cases
A national child advocacy organization filed a lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in Indianapolis asserting that Indiana is violating the rights of abused and neglected children by failing to provide them legal counsel in children in need of services and termination of parental rights hearings.
Final Cook Medical bellwether trial ends with verdict for plaintiff
The third and final bellwether trial over Cook Medical’s blood clot filters has concluded with the jury returning a $3 million verdict Feb. 1 for a plaintiff who claims because of the defendants’ defective product she faces numerous health risks including the risk of death.
House panel votes to send Russia transcripts to Mueller
In the panel’s first act since Democrats took the majority, the House intelligence Committee voted Wednesday to send more than 50 interview transcripts from its now-closed Russia investigation to special counsel Robert Mueller.
Indiana GOP seeks abortion ban blocked in 7 other states
Indiana Republicans eager for a rare legal victory in their efforts to restrict abortion rights are seeking to outlaw a second-trimester procedure, hopeful an increasingly conservative U.S. Supreme Court will back a ban that courts have blocked in seven other states.
Terre Haute denied summary judgment on ex-employee’s retaliation, negligence claims
A man who claims he was fired from his employment with the city of Terre Haute for defending a co-worker partially defeated a motion for summary judgment, with a judge finding the man’s claims of negligent supervision and retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act can proceed.
Convicted ex-ASC chief Burkhart loses bid to stay civil lawsuit
The former CEO of a nursing home company now serving prison time for his major role in a corporate fraud scheme has lost his bid to stay additional civil proceedings against him while he fights to have his convictions tossed on the basis of an alleged “profound conflict of interest” on the part of Indianapolis law firm Barnes & Thornburg.