Articles

SCOTUS agrees to hear Indiana civil forfeiture challenge

A lawsuit challenging Indiana’s civil forfeiture procedures will be heard by the United States Supreme Court after the justices granted a writ of certiorari to a case that a national legal organization says will have significant implications on Eighth Amendment protections nationwide.

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COA discourages interlocutory appeals of CHINS status changes

The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed on interlocutory appeal a change the permanency plan for two children from reunification to termination of parental rights while also cautioning that such trial court rulings are “generally not suitable for interlocutory review.”

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Mediation halts negligence insurance question in murder

The Indiana Supreme Court is no longer tasked with providing clarification on two conflicting rulings related to insurance coverage for parties accused of acting negligently when a co-insured is accused of acting intentionally or criminally, now that the parties to the underlying case have submitted the case for mediation.

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Kentucky man sentenced to 30 days for assault on congressman

A Kentucky man who had “had enough” of his congressman neighbor edging too close to his yard has been sentenced to 30 days in prison after he ran onto Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s property and tackled him. Rene A. Boucher, 60, after he assaulted Paul on Nov. 3, 2017.

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Elkhart inmate files wrongful conviction petition claiming Elkhart Police coerced his statement

Nearly 13 years after he was found guilty of a murder he claims he did not commit and following a subsequent series of failed attempts at appellate and post-conviction relief, a developmentally disabled man has petitioned the Elkhart Circuit Court to overturn his conviction on the basis of new evidence he says proves his confession was coerced and his counsel was ineffective. Andrew Royer filed a petition to vacate the judgment against him on Wednesday.

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Mueller worries Russia could use court case to spy on probe

Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team is worried that Russian intelligence services will use a criminal case in Washington, D.C., to gather information about its investigation and U.S. intelligence-gathering methods. In court papers filed Tuesday, prosecutors asked a federal judge in D.C. to impose limits on the information that can be shared by attorneys in the first criminal case directly related to Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

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Muncie pain clinic doc convicted of forgery, Rx offenses

A jury has convicted a Muncie pain clinic doctor on three counts each of forgery and prescription-related registration offenses. The Delaware Circuit Court jury deliberated less than an hour before finding William Hedrick of Fort Wayne guilty of the six counts.

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Lack of inmate program recommendation no issue on appeal, COA rules

A man sentenced to six years in prison for battering his father lost his argument on appeal that the trial court failed to recommend him for participation in a substance abuse treatment program. Placement in such programs are left to the discretion of the Department of Correction, the court noted.

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Prison doctor must face inmate suit as judge seeks counsel

A prison doctor must face a lawsuit from an inmate who claims the physician didn’t follow a surgeon’s orders for pain medication and physical therapy after the inmate’s back surgery. The judge in the case also said he would solicit counsel to represent the inmate going forward.

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