Judge: No 2nd lawyer for defendant in Hartford City killings
A Blackford County judge has denied a request for a second court-appointed lawyer from an eastern Indiana man accused of killing a father and daughter.
Courts
Articles
Tsarnaev’s lawyer admits client carried out Boston bombing
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev went on trial for his life Wednesday in the Boston Marathon bombing with his own lawyer bluntly telling the jury he committed the crime. But she argued that he had fallen under the influence of his older brother.
Justices take environmental contamination appeal
The Indiana Supreme Court took just one case on transfer last week, a case involving a dispute over coverage for environmental contamination. The Court of Appeals ordered a trial on whether the known loss doctrine would bar insurance coverage, but later found that the “known claim” exclusion applies.
COA finds man justly fired for violating sexual harassment policy
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the decision by an administrative law judge that a nurse was not fired for just cause. The COA noted surprise that the man’s claims he was joking when he made sexually inappropriate comments to co-workers led the ALJ to decide the actions did not amount to violation of his employer’s sexual harassment policy.
Man, not state, had priority in breeder’s award proceeds
A Marshall County trial court erred when it granted summary judgment in favor of the Indiana Department of Revenue on a man’s attempt to collect breeder’s award proceeds owed to another man who had outstanding tax warrants.
Cumberland ups ante in fight to save historic church
Cumberland officials are stepping up their efforts to stop a supermarket and convenience store chain from demolishing a historic church by hiring one of Indianapolis’ top real estate attorneys to argue their appeal.
Judge’s order adds Griffith, Hammond back into state tourney
Two high school basketball teams kicked out of Indiana's state basketball tournament after a bench-clearing brawl have been allowed back in that tournament by a Lake County judge.
US Supreme Court allows challenge to Colorado Internet tax
A unanimous Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that federal courts can hear a dispute over Colorado's Internet tax law, a decision that could lay the groundwork for future changes in how states can tax retail sales to companies outside their borders.
CASA Day at Statehouse set for Monday
Hundreds of Indiana court-appointed special advocates will gather Monday for CASA Day at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. The event will be at noon in the north atrium.
7th Circuit reinstates alleged racketeering lawsuit
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision of a federal judge to dismiss a man’s lawsuit because it is barred by the Rooker-Feldman doctrine. A man who had his gas station foreclosed upon claimed the defendants acted in cahoots to defraud him out of his business.
COA affirms attorney fees in frivolous suit challenging Logansport P3 deal
A woman’s lawsuit that claimed the city of Logansport had to pass an ordinance formally adopting the Public-Private Agreements Act before entering into a P3 deal was frivolous and in bad faith, thus justifying the award of attorney fees to the city, the Court of Appeals affirmed.
Zoeller asks justices to uphold ‘Spice’ law COA struck down
Indiana’s ‘Spice’ law that a pair of divided Court of Appeals panels ruled unconstitutional last month should be reinstated, Attorney General Greg Zoeller argues in briefs asking the Indiana Supreme Court to review the decisions.
Chronic litigator’s suit seeking $3 trillion tossed with warning
A federal judge has had about enough from a litigant who has brought so many frivolous lawsuits that he may be barred from filing future complaints.
Woman may pursue negligence claim against pharmacist
The Indiana Court of Appeals sidestepped the question of whether a previous decision is valid when determining that a woman who brought a medical malpractice claim against a hospital can pursue a negligence claim against the hospital’s pharmacist. The plaintiff did not present that negligence claim before the medical review panel.
Applications open to replace Friedlander on Court of Appeals
Qualified applicants interested in being considered for a pending vacancy on the Indiana Court of Appeals may apply online through April 27.
Justices reverse grant of motion to suppress based on pat-down search
In a 4-1 decision Monday, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled it is not inherently coercive for police to give conditional permission to step out of a vehicle during a traffic stop, subject to the motorist’s consent to a pat-down search.
Nurse who survived Ebola sues Dallas hospital system
A 26-year-old nurse who contracted Ebola while caring for the first person in the U.S. diagnosed with the deadly disease has filed a lawsuit against the parent company of the Dallas hospital where she worked.
Military judge orders overseer of Gitmo cases replaced
A military judge is ordering the Pentagon to replace the overseer of war crimes tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Wife wins appeal of division of marital estate
The Indiana Court of Appeals agreed with a wife in a divorce proceeding that the trial court erred in how it calculated and divided the marital estate. The lower court incorrectly attributed the value of Florida real estate to the wife’s share of the marital pot as well as failed to credit her for paying the parties’ tax debt.
Search of home of man in community corrections based on reasonable suspicion
A trial court acted within its discretion in admitting evidence seized from a man’s home, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Friday. The police search was justified by reasonable suspicion that the man engaged in criminal activity and a search condition contained in his agreement with community corrections.