Supreme Court reverses breach judgment against heart hospital
A longstanding dispute between a cardiologist and his former employer has ended with the Indiana Supreme Court overturning a $470,000 judgment against a heart hospital.
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Divided Supreme Court: Mother was justified in not communicating with child for a year
Despite her failure to significantly communicate with her child for a one-year period, a Greene County mother’s consent to the child’s adoption was required because she spent that year working toward recovery from a drug addiction, a majority of Indiana Supreme Court justices have ruled.
Ex-Indianapolis officer sentenced for shooting detective
A former Indianapolis police officer has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for shooting a detective who was investigating a domestic violence dispute between the officer and his estranged wife.
Conour spars with court at resentencing hearing
If you ask convicted fraudster William Conour how many victims he’s liable to, he’d tell you only one – and even that one isn’t entitled to any money. The disgraced attorney was resentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday, but not before an hourlong presentation detailing why he believed the court’s findings after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud were inaccurate.
Justices to decide if sex offender dad can go to son’s school activities
The Indiana Supreme Court must decide if a Howard County father can attend his son’s school activities despite his serious sex offender status after hearing arguments Thursday on an ex post facto claim.
7th Circuit affirms judgment for Walgreens in slip-and-fall case
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed summary judgment for a national drugstore chain after finding that an woman who fell in a Walgreens store in Hebron failed to prove the store had knowledge of a hazard on its premises.
Jeffersonville man accused of molesting 19 kids faces sixth suit
A Jeffersonville man charged with molesting 19 children faces a sixth civil lawsuit stemming from that alleged abuse. The lawsuit filed March 12 on behalf of one of Michael Begin Jr.’s alleged victims names the 18-year-old Jeffersonville man, the Greater Clark School Corporation and YMCA of Southern Indiana Inc. as defendants.
Defiant Conour sentenced to 10 years for third time
Disgraced former Indianapolis attorney William Conour has been resentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud — the same conviction that was originally imposed on him five years ago. The judge appeared puzzled, though, by Conour's assertion that the millions of dollars in losses for which he was ordered to make restitution to his ex-clients was inaccurate.
Companies move to dismiss East Chicago lead contamination suit
Companies taken to court over property damage from the contaminated USS Lead Superfund site in East Chicago have asked a federal judge to dismiss the case.
Supreme Court hears criminal gang enhancement case
After his criminal gang enhancement was vacated on appeal, a Vanderburgh County man’s sentence for various armed robbery charges reduced from 60 to 30 years. Now, the state is arguing the trial court should have discretion to resentence the defendant in accordance with his crimes, but the defendant claims no such discretion exists.
Despite ‘role of Grinch,’ 7th Circuit won’t stop Christmas show
An Elkhart high school’s traditional “Christmas Spectacular” production that was canceled by a northern Indiana federal court because of its overt religiosity, then passed muster when Christian elements no longer took a leading role in a revival, won the reluctant blessing of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
COA tosses drug evidence after arrest lacking probable cause
Indianapolis police who approached a vehicle with guns drawn after a man exited lacked probable cause, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday, suppressing evidence of drugs found in the vehicle.
Neighbor lacks case despite ‘havoc’ after home built on higher land
While agreeing that water flowing from a neighbor’s property after construction of a new home on higher ground “wreaks havoc” on the property below, a trial court’s decision that the owner of the lower ground has no right of action was affirmed Thursday by the Indiana Court of Appeals.
7th Circuit upholds summary judgment for debt collector
A debt collection agency that reported an Indiana woman’s disputed debt to two national credit reporting agencies did not violate federal law relating to debt collection and credit reporting actions, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed.
Justices to hear sentencing, sex offender, parental rights cases
The Indiana Supreme Court will consider sentencing practices, sex offender restrictions and parental rights when it hears oral arguments in three cases Thursday.
Hendricks Regional, Hall Render face $50M lawsuit over failed deal
A lawsuit against Hendricks Regional Health and an Indianapolis law firm representing the hospital group alleges they used “malicious, oppressive, willful, wanton, and/or reckless conduct,” conspiring to squelch a competitor’s deal to operate 23 Indiana care facilities after Hendricks’ contract was terminated.
Little confrontation at 7th Circuit nominees’ hearing
Amy St. Eve and Michael Scudder, the two nominees for the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, breezed through their confirmation hearing Wednesday, facing few pointed questions and not being called to defend any of their past actions.
COA orders bank to release mortgage on Adams County farmland
An Adams County couple will be released from the mortgage on their farmland after the Indiana Court of Appeals determined the bank altered the terms of the promissory note secured by the mortgage, entitling the couple to release.
Supreme Court limits reach of tax crime statute
The Supreme Court is making it harder for the federal government to use a section of the tax law to convict someone of a crime. The court Wednesday limited the application of a statute that the government had interpreted to give it a broad ability to charge someone with obstructing or impeding the work of the Internal Revenue Service.
Round 1: Marion County panel gives 17 judges retention nod
After roughly eight hours of interviews, dozens of documents and one unanimous vote, 17 Marion Superior judges have been recommended for retention by a recently created committee whose existence marks a new era for the Indianapolis judiciary.